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Community Supported Agriculture 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. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing.

We are fortunate to have several CSA’s available to us this year:

Angelic Organics is located in Caledonia, Illinois, is one of the largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in the United States, feeding more than 1400 families or over 5000 individuals. Angelic started their CSA program in 1993, this season it will be there 17 season.

Erehwon Farm started their farm in 2001 and is run by Tim Fuller and Beth Propst. They named the farm Erehwon after a mythical place where most everything was backwards. ” We were surrounded with large farms growing crops for distant markets using large doses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  We, on the other hand, wanted to be small, to grow in an environmentally friendly way for local markets.  Hence the name Erehwon“.  In 2002 they did a pilot CSA program for two families and have been doing a CSA ever since. Since 2005 Erehwon Farm has been farming at Mongerson Farm (part of the Campton Historical Agricultural Lands associated with Garfield Farm Museum).

Green Earth Institute is a non for profit organization that started in eight years ago in 2002. There goal is to promote nutritional health and environmental. sustainability. The Green Earth Institute is situated on a 60 acre property, The McDonald Farm, in Naperville. In addition to the traditional summer CSA option they offer a spring and late fall share. The Institute grows over 40 varieties of vegetables. Additionally all of the produce meets federal organic standards

Heritage Prairie Market began a new system of farming, designed to enable a small acreage farm to produce food during all four seasons in late 2007.  Simply put, it means that HPM farm can bring fresh produce to customers all year long. In 2009, they acquired the rights to grow on a substantial parcel of land adjacent to the farm.  In addition to the traditional summer season share, Heritage Prairie Market is also offering 2 holiday shares—one each before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Sweet Home Organics home is at Primrose Farm Park, a 1930s heritage dairy/livestock farm in St. Charles, IL. By partnering with Primrose they are able to utilize their excess animal manure to feed the soils, learn from Primrose’s knowledegable farmers and better connect with the community. Kim Marsin and Rachel Reklau run Sweet Home Organics, on leased four acres of land as part of Primrose Farm Park’s incubator program. Production, beginning this spring, will focus on organically grown vegetables and herbs. They will be transitioning to certified organic over the next three years.

For additional CSA options and information on family farms, farmers market’s and organic food visit Local Harvest.

There are several advantages of having a CSA share: It’s a great way to be exposed to varieties of vegetables that you wouldn’t normally purchase or can’t purchase because stores can’t or won’t carry them. A close consumer-producer relationship is usually established, where consumers know what methods their foods are gown. Increased freshness and flavor because produce is usually within several hours from the time you get it home. Recipes and farm newsletters usually accompany the boxes or arrive via email. Events such a tours of the farm and work days are scheduled where  CSA members can meet one another and help out .