Does anyone run a CSA program ( community supported/shared agriculture )...

[hennible]

I'm looking to connect to people running community supported agriculture programs, or others who are doing as I am and trying to start them. Please chime in share ideas, stories, what you grow, who your customers are, and how you got your start...
Hoping to hear from people in farming, and people who get produce from CSA's.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Starting one!
Be vegetables first, then going to ad fruits, nuts and berries. Hoping in time to ad meats, eggs, honey, and other stuff.

 

[hennible]

Me too! Nuts don't grow here but everything else does... Business plan just hit 26 pages... Need some funding. Well keep me posted on your progress, and good luck.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Still in the planning stages here. Hoping to start next season with 20 shares and work my way up.

 

[hennible]

Nice I'm aiming at a max 45 after 5 years. Hoping to do meat and egg options. Maybe 15 shares as a test run next year.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

I'm aiming for 20 shares to start because that would be enough coming in to be able to make farming my main job again. Everything is super expensive here in central Florida, but there is a huge market base too and near year-round growing season. We have about three months in the summer that is just too hot for most crops, but very mild winters. With the greenhouse I plan on using I'm hoping for about a 38 week season.
I really haven't thought about the max number of shares because I want to keep it to where I can do everything myself if needed.
I'm thinking about an open house twice a year, farm tours, internships, farm-to-table farm dinners once a year.... lots of ideas.

 

[hennible]

I don't want to do farm tours, most everything will be so tightly packed in greenhouses in a permaculture style... Too easy to damage... I have a few cafés I sell produce to, hoping to turn those into " farm to table programs " with contracts so paid up front like CSA... Hoping for a 22 week season and then winter baskets done once a month all storage crops like winter squash potatoes etc. I'd like to offer work shares to people, and donate extra food to the food bank. I want to branch into seed sales as well because I save seed any way... Yeah lots of ideas maybe too many.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Can't ever have too many ideas!

 

[hennible]

Ok yeah, your right.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

I'm still trying to think of a way to sell shares to folk who can't afford the cost up front too. Thinking maybe offer (at slightly higher prices) the ability to pay a down payment then weekly or montly payments.
The main reason I want to do farm tours is because I really want people to "connect" with where their food comes from. To smell the blooms, feel the soil in their hands, really connect.

I'm too much a dreamer I guess.