WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO FILLING UP! 36 members signed up and 40 is our goal.
Weekly Box Letters for the CSA:
For three years now Prairie Bottom Farm has been offering a Community Supported Agriculture program to residents of Whidbey Island. The membership is growing each year and we are continuing to add members this season. A C.S.A. is a unique relationship where a member purchases a share of the farm's produce and the farmer provides produce throughout the growing season. The members share in the risks and the benefits of the program. When there is a bounty of goods everyone shares in that, if certain crops produce poorly they receive alternatives to those crops.
The farmer benefits in this relationship as it removes the financial burden most large farms have of purchasing on credit all their seed, fertilizer, and other supplies. The farmer gets to know their customers and many unique relationships develop. We have gotten to know so many of our members, and they have gotten to know each other.
The members benefit by receiving locally grown fresh produce. Something that many people don't know is that fresh from the garden means that the produce you receive was allowed to fully develop and reach it's height of development instead of being picked early and shipped across the world. Another benefit to the members is learning how to eat what is in season, which is something we often forget in today's highly transportable world. Members are encouraged to get out in the field and pick from the bounty, many a youngster is now eating salad and veggies because they have developed a relationship with their food, besides, who doesn't love picking fresh raspberries and popping a few in their mouths? The members also have access to the member herb garden and the member flower gardens.
We offer two different share sizes this year. We offer a full share and a partial share. You should consider your share size carefully as the full share is designed for a family of four that is going to eat three to four servings of vegetables at least five times a week, while a partial share is more appropriate for couples or individuals who may not eat as much vegetables as larger families. A partial share is about 2/3 the number of items included in a full share, there is no decrease in the amount of certain vegetables, just the variety in the box.
