CSA SHARES ON SALE

Well folks, the day is here. CSA shares are officially on sale, and for us this is when shit gets real. We’re realizing that this is the real deal. One of the coolest things about this class is that we are running an actual farm for production- it’s not some hypothetical conception that we draft an outline for, hoping all goes well and shrugging our shoulders if it doesn’t. Thus, the reality of it is also one of the most daunting aspects.

For those unfamiliar with the CSA model, it stands for Community Supported Agriculture: community members pay a certain fee to the farmer before the season begins, essentially making an investment in the farm, and in return receive a box of produce weekly as the season progresses. This means that the money we need to do anything is very much dependent on how many CSA shares we sell.

I had a boss that used to joke, “I got into farming for the money!” Indeed, we are told in class to reject the idea of the poor farmer (farm smarter, not harder!). I don’t know for sure if you can make money farming, but I know for a fact that each person in this class is not farming for this reason- we are doing it for the sense of community found through farming, a desire to work with the Earth and use our bodies, to provide healthy, local food for our community, to engage in sustainable work that doesn’t contribute to the climate crisis… the list goes on. We are now, however, aware that it’s going to take some money to be able to do that, and that it’s up to us to make it all happen.

So while we are sending e-mails, making awkward phone calls, postering everything everywhere and bombarding people through social media, tabling and vegetable costumes, we hope you will consider making an investment in us, because we are nothing without you!

 

Umass students, staff and faculty: click on the link below to support us by signing up for a CSA share! 25lb of fresh, organic produce a week! Heck yeah!

https://stockbridge.cns.umass.edu/buy-csa-membership

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