Community Supported Agriculture is an Affordable and Eco-friendly Way To Get Your Veggies

// March 17th, 2008

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Shopping locally has been the new buzz in sustainable living. Environmentalists are touting the carbon emission that’s created by transporting goods all around the world to be detrimental to the environment. Ideal Bite claims in their daily tip that buying non-organic produce locally is more Eco-friendly and green than buying an Organic banana shipped from Peru. Of course there has been the argument that driving your SUV to the local grocery store emits more carbon emission than the trip the bananas take to get into your hands.

All arguments aside, I think practically that knowing where your fruits and veggies come from and developing a relationship with the local farmers can be a more affordable option as well as environmentally sound. The extra perk is knowing that you are helping out the local farmers and keeping it in the community.  The hottest trend right now is called community supported agriculture (CSA) . According to USDA:

CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or “share-holders” of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production.

In some cooperatives, you don’t even have to lift a finger; you just invest with your moola and take part in the bounty. To find one near you, check out Local Harvest to locate a Farmer’s market or CSA near you.

Bear in mind that even if some farms are not Organically certified; they are more likely to use natural farming methods(not genetically modified, non-homone enhanced or no antiobiotics) and utilize humane methods because the farm is not mass produced. So you can get a grain fed meat or Cage free, hormone free eggs at much less cost than what you would find at your local grocery stores. Now that’s really Jollylicious and Green.

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