2/22/11:
An Organic Solution,
Our very own Banana
Coordinator, Nicole Vitello, is also an organic farmer, and has used coffee
grounds in her compost pile for years. "As an organic farmer, compost is
a key ingredient in soil fertility but also in improving soil tilth,"
Vitello said. "Tilth is the structure of the soil and relates directly to
its ability to aerate plant roots and both hold and shed moisture. In New
England, farmers often have to contend with high clay concentrations in the
soil which can make it heavy and difficult for plant roots to penetrate and
access available nutrients."
The tiny spinach transplants at Langwater Farm in Easton are still covered with a protective cloth. But soon, the spinach and other crops will make a hearty offering for the 60 people enrolled in the farm’s community-supported agriculture program.
Or at least, that’s what Kevin O’Dwyer and his three co-owners are banking on.
“(The customers) are investing with us, and in return we’re going to produce food for them,” said O’Dwyer.
Community-supported agriculture programs, or CSAs, have become increasingly popular in recent years. They allow consumers to pay for a share of a farm’s harvest ahead of time and then receive weekly offerings of produce through the summer and fall. O’Dwyer said his farm already has a waiting list of 15 to 20 people.
James Reynolds, who runs The Dahlia Farm in Middleboro, said his farm started receiving requests for CSA shares in December.
“Last year, we were just flooded with interest. This year, it’s been even bigger,” said Reynolds.
On the eve of Earth Day, which is celebrated on Thursday, Reynolds attributed that popularity to a growing awareness of the benefits of buying local, healthy food.
“I think it’s more of a paradigm shift in the consumer mind,” said Reynolds. “I think the average American is becoming more aware of exactly the food that we’re eating, the environment that we live in, the global community.”
Last year, Reynolds provided a basket of vegetables, greens, flowers and herbs to CSA customers every week for 20 weeks in return for $500. Reynolds also sells egg shares and half-shares.
Community-supported agriculture programs began in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 1986, said Katie Cavanagh, Farms Forever coordinator at the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership. There are now 22 registered CSAs in Southeastern Massachusetts alone, Cavanagh said.
“They’ve grown more in popularity recently as farmers have realized the benefits of selling directly,” said Cavanagh.
She said Massachusetts farmers sell more farm products directly to consumers than farmers in any other state.
“Because we’re primarily small farms, we have that close relationship with the consumer,” Cavanagh said.
Not all farms have a CSA program. Carlton Smith, co-owner at C.N. Smith Farm in East Bridgewater, said his 90-plus-acre farm raises enough revenue from retail, wholesale and farm-stand sales that they don’t need a CSA.
But for farmers like Kevin O’Dwyer who have just started new, smaller farms, CSA programs provide revenue before a harvest, when farmers need it most.
In return, customers are offered a chance to meet their farmer and see the source of their food. Some programs even allow CSA members to pick their own produce.
The only downside is that there may one day be more interested consumers than available shares.
“Just within Massachusetts, there’s more of a demand than a supply,” said Reynolds. “There’s only so much land that’s available, in addition to resources, capital and people who are willing to work as farmers in a modern society.”
Amy Littlefield may be reached at alittlef@enterprisenews.com.
By Alice Elwell
1 comments:
We raised chickens many years ago. Trust me, there is no comparison between fresh and store bought eggs. Although I will be growing my own garden, I will still buy CSA shares for the eggs and cut flowers. What a great idea!