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Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Benefits for the Growers

1.     CSAs are not at the mercy of the weather on market days, unlike farmers markets.

2.     CSAs return retail dollars for wholesale quantities of produce.

3.     They concentrate your marketing efforts and save time and running around.

4.     CSA farmers become a known/valuable member of the community and help to lessen isolation and foster new friendships.

5.     Risk is shared among shareholders and the growers.

6.     In some CSAs, labor is shared, especially on certain crops.

7.     CSAs allow for the grower to diversify the farm into many crops and extend production seasons.

8.     CSAs allow flexibility in products delivered

Benefits for the Customers

1.     Fresh, sustainably produced food. 

2.     Increased knowledge of food, natural systems, seasonality, the environment.

3.     Broadened, healthier diets.

4.     Support for the local economy.

5.     Reduced carbon footprint and increased food security

6.     Support for open space, our agrarian heritage, and knowledge of where and how our food is produced

7.     New friends

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a program that provides a direct connection between the farmer and the consumer.  CSA’s reconnect these relationships through maintaining open communication and distributing farming’s inherent risks.  Participants purchase a share of the season’s harvest, which ultimately supports the farm’s early season start up expenses such as seeds, irrigation, fuel, labor, and tractor maintenance.  In return, shareholders receive a weekly box of healthy, fresh, sustainably raised produce, fruits, meat, poultry or eggs throughout the season. For those looking for more information on CSAs please click here, and for growers looking for more information on how to start a CSA please click here!

Rewards and Risks

Because you are investing in a farm, the grower will strive to provide you with an abundance of fresh farm products each week, but because variations in climate, soil, and pests exist, they cannot offer guarantees.  You will help shoulder farming’s inherent risks that they face every season. The connection between a producer and a consumer is rebuilt through personal relationships and sharing the risks of farming in the Lowcountry. 

CSAs in the Lowcountry!

2009 CSA News

Pinckney's Produce Announces their 2009 CSA!

Our family farm is located near Holly Hill, South Carolina. It is our goal to provide fresh, naturally-grown, environmentally-friendly products while in a friendly family atmosphere. We are proud of our family stewardship of the land. Julius Pinckney Thompson, Sr. began growing and providing vegetables to consumers in 1944. Since this beginning in the Lowcountry of SC., our farm has adjusted to the multiple changes of food production agriculture. Now, after more than 65 years and three generations, we continue this desire to produce and provide fresh, healthy, pesticide-free foods. We invite you to be a part of our farm through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

With a pre-season payment, you may purchase a share of the farms Spring and Summer Harvest. You then receive a weekly box of fresh produce through our 12 week harvest cycle, mid-April thru Mid-July. In signing up, you dedicate yourself to being our customer for the season.  Please visit our website for share pricing and availability.

Rosebank Farms Launches their 2009 CSA

Rosebank Farms is a Certified South Carolina farm operated on John’s Island by Sidi Limehouse and Louise Bennett.  For residents of the downtown Charleston area, Rosebank is pleased to offer membership in their new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.  This opportunity allows members to invest in the farm.  In return, Rosebank provides members with a regular share of fresh, seasonal, and local fruits and vegetables – delivered each week to their door in a cooler to keep items fresh.

Participating in the Rosebank Farms CSA provides members with a wonderful opportunity to improve the quality of the food that is available to them.  “We look upon the members of our CSA as partners in healthy eating habits,” says Sidi.  “We sell our produce to some of the finest restaurants in the Charleston area – why shouldn’t your family enjoy the same quality and freshness?” For more information on prices and specifics see below.  For share availability visit their website or contact the farm at 843-768-0508.

OPTION 1: Doorstep cooler delivery (limited to the peninsula of Charleston)

Vegetable & Herb Share
Small (Family of 1-2): $240 per season or $720 per year
Medium (Family of 3-4): $360 per season or $1080 per year
Large (Family of 5-6): $480 per season or $1440 per year
Xtra Large (Family of 7-8): $600 per season or $1800 per year

OPTION 2: Pick-up (Pick-up points currently limited to James Island & West Ashley. We will add more districts when in demand. Specific locations TBA)

Vegetable & Herb Share
Small (Family of 1-2): $160 per season or $480 per year
Medium (Family of 3-4): $250 per season or $750 per year
Large (Family of 5-6): $375 per season or $1125 per year
Xtra Large (Family of 7-8): $450 per season or $1350 per year

Legare Farms has opened their Community Supported Agriculture program to new members.

The vegetable delivery for the CSA will cover 15 weeks - 9 weeks in the spring/summer, then a mid summer break and 6 more weeks in the fall.

The shares include a half bushel of vegetables per week. The cost is $330.00 with a $25 registration fee for a total of $355.00. The deadline for joining is February 15th.

Legare Farms is also offering a Kitchen Garden in your yard. The kitchen garden will consist of a raised cypress wooden bed 4 feet X 8 feet with composted enriched soil planted with your choice of vegetable plants or herbs in your yard. These Kitchen Gardens are reminiscent of the Victory Gardens of World War II. Legare Farms staff will also offer technical advice during the growing season.

The cost of each 4X8 bed is $750.00.  The garden belongs to the homeowner and can be replanted each season by Legare Farms staff for an additional fee or they may replant the garden themselves. The Kitchen Gardens are a good companion to the CSA shares.Legare Farms is also offering Fruit Trees for purchase in early February. They will offer installation, and/or delivery or you may pick them up. Having your own fruit trees is another good companion to both the CSA and the Kitchen Gardens.

Finally, Legare Farms is launching a composting program for those interested.  For participants, composting bins and worm bins will be delivered and installed in your yard. Proper composting and recycling can help to eliminate garbage pickup.

For more info on any of the above, call 843.559.0788 or e-mail legarefarms@bellsouth.net

and

Ambrose Family Farms CSA

has around 100 slots left for new members for Spring 2009 Season, first of April through 1st of July (about 12 weeks)

• Small size  (Single person) $160

• Medium Size (2 adults-2 children or 2 serious vegetarians) $250

• Large (family of 5 to 6) $375

• Xtra large (Family of 8,or for canning and freezing) $450  This share is being used by small office groups sharing the weekly delivery among themselves
  

Ambrose Family Farms is increasing their membership this season.  They will not close membership until March 10, 2009 or until they have 800 to 900 members.  Anyone interested can visit their web site, www.ambrosefamilyfarm.com and view all CSA info, pick up points-days and times, sign up, and make a credit card payment online.  If someone prefers to visit the farm or market before signing up, we welcome them.  Come by and pick up a registration form, complete it at home or in the shop.  Checks are also accepted as payment on site, but if members sign up online and wish to pay by check, it must be mailed to 2414 Rockland Ave, Wadmalaw Island, SC  29487.

Finally,

Rita’s Roots and Thackeray Farms present:

2009 Spring and Summer CSA

Rita’s Roots has teamed up with Thackeray Farms on Wadmalaw Island to bring you fresh, local, chemical free produce for the Spring and Summer of 2009.  The boxes each week will contain 8-10 varieties of produce amounting to ½ - ¾ bushel of goods, enough for a family of two to four.  This season’s program will run from the week of April 5 through July 11 for 14 weeks.

Costs are as follows:

• Vegetable boxes only:  $350 - this price includes boxes, fuel, administration costs as well as the vegetable production investment.

• A fresh bouquet each week for 14 weeks:  $130 (basically, you get a bouquet for free, same for potted plants)

• A selection of 6 potted herbs give with the first box (basil, sage, thyme, oregano, chives, parsley):  $15

• A selection of 5 heirloom tomatoes and one pepper plant for your garden:  $15

 
Boxes will be delivered to specified pick up locations at certain times on certain days for the customer to retrieve.  The locations are as follows:

• Marion Square downtown on Saturday Mornings at our market booth.

• James Island (they have not found a specific location yet) on Tuesdays

• Mt. Pleasant at the Sprout on Thursday afternoons from 5-7

• Thackeray Farms on Wadmalaw Island. on Fridays from 9-5.

 
To sign up for the program please contact Rita at vegitup@yahoo.com for registration details.