The months of March and April typically mark the beginning of the new garden and growing season. It also marks the beginning months of the growing season of a Community Supported Agriculture farm, or CSA.

CSA’s are not new; they were started in New England in the mid 80’s by people who wanted local and organic production of food, the sharing of costs with the farmers and a responsibility and commitment to a sense of community. By the mid to late 80’s, the CSA movement had migrated into the Midwest and Wisconsin. In the Madison area, most of the local CSA’s belong to the Madison Area CSA Coalition, or MACSAC. MACSAC, formed 8 years ago, helps to facilitate the direct relationship between farmer and members.

A cornerstone of the CSA movement is have households participate by becoming members in the CSA farm. An important philosophy is that of eating locally and eating seasonally which benefits our society environmentally and through reduced shipping costs. According to MACSAC, "The average food item travels 1300 miles to reach our dinner plate." A sense of community also figures prominently with CSA’s holding many events for members during the season. In addition to the membership, many CSA’s will sell their produce at farmers’ market and to local businesses.

Below are the accounts by neighbors who belong to local CSA’s.

25 MARCH "SPRING EVENT" AT OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS 1-4 PM

MEMBER FARM EXHIBITS

Located on Madison's south side, Drumlin Community

Farms may be the most urban of the Madison area's

CSAs. This year, Drumlin's sixth, head growers Mike

Moon and Doug Wubben will draw on their considerable

experience to bring members a fair share of

vegetables, herbs and flowers. With a little luck,

the beekeepers, Jason Mills and I, hope to include a

delivery of fresh comb honey. Drumlin will also

continue their tradition of having various

get-togethers at the farm for members and friends.

Weekly shipments of food begin as early as May and run

through the middle of October. And for Eastsiders,

there is a handy drop-off site on Sommers Avenue, one

block off Atwood. Food can also be picked up at the

farm or a west side location. A full share runs $435,

with a partial share, $285. Shares are also available

for people wishing to work at the farm and for people

with low incomes. Call for details.

If you are interested in purchasing one of a limited

number of shares in Drumlin, you can contact the farm

at (608) 271-4839. I recommend moving quickly

because shares tend to sell out early. Drumlin's

herbs and veggies are also found at the Farmer's

Market on the square and at the Willy Street Co-op.

-Douglas J. Buege

Our house is a drop-off site for Harmony Valley Farm, a participant of the

Community Supported Agriculture program. Harmony Valley Farm is located

near Viroqua in western Wisconsin. The approximately 50 acres produce

organic fruits and vegetables for families, retail and restaurants in the

LaCrosse to Madison areas.

Starting the first weekend in May and continuing into December, Harmony

Valley delivers boxes of fresh organic produce every week (becomes every

other week in November). The boxes include a variety and abundance of

familiar and unfamiliar fruits, herbs, and vegetables of about 50 different types!

As a drop-off site, the boxes are brought to us each Saturday morning.

Members can pick up boxes throughout the day. Often families or individuals

share a box since there is such an abundance of food. Also available to

purchase throughout the season are apples, beef, cheese, bulk orders, and

gift packages. Often there is also a box of extra items that you can take

or not take to your liking.

For more information, call Harmony Valley at 608-483-2143 or check out their

website at www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com.

• Jennifer Essak

The Perkins Family, Barb, Dave, Jesse,. Becky and Eric, lived close to

Marquette/O'Keefe schools when I moved into the neighborhood. They were

active and involved neighbors and we shared a neighborhood soccer team

experience. Dave and Barb had agricultural backgrounds and an itching to

get back to the land.

After several years of planning, the Perkins Family bought the farm on Vermont Creek near Black Earth and began the Vermont Valley Farm, a CSA. A good part of the soccer team and the Tenney-Lapham/Marquette neighborhood followed them out to Vermont Valley as members and friends.

The food, of course, is wonderful, organic and varied. What is particularly

special with the Perkins' farm is its beauty and hospitality. Each summer,

we look forward to the Pesto Fest, Corn Boil and the Pumpkin Pick. Each

event is a gathering that features the sharing of great food, recipes,

gardening tips, friends and beer. Somehow they always order perfect

weather for the festivals. A membership in the farm is not just the receipt

of organic produce, it's also a place in the country.

For further information, contact Barb & Dave Perkins at Vermont Valley Community Farm, 767-3860.

Jim Sturm

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