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Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture
To an increasing number of American families the CSA (community supported agriculture) is the answer to the globalization of our food supply. The premise is simple: create a partnership between local farmers and nearby consumers, who become members or subscribers in support of the farm. In exchange for paying in advance—at the beginning of the growing season, when the farm needs financing—CSA members receive the freshest, healthiest produce throughout the season and keep money, jobs, and farms in their own community.
In this thoroughly revised and expanded edition of a Chelsea Green classic, authors Henderson and Van En provide new insight into making CSA not only a viable economic model, but the right choice for food lovers and farmers alike. Thinking and buying local is quickly moving from a novel idea to a mainstream activity. The groundbreaking first edition helped spark a movement and, with this revised edition, Sharing the Harvest is poised to lead the way toward a revitalized agriculture.
In this thoroughly revised and expanded edition of a Chelsea Green classic, authors Henderson and Van En provide new insight into making CSA not only a viable economic model, but the right choice for food lovers and farmers alike. Thinking and buying local is quickly moving from a novel idea to a mainstream activity. The groundbreaking first edition helped spark a movement and, with this revised edition, Sharing the Harvest is poised to lead the way toward a revitalized agriculture.
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 7, 2008
Lately I've begun to consider the morality of my purchases. Are my dollars not votes? What exactly am I voting for by buying supermarket food and electronics? It is that spirit that brought me to this book, which sells itself as a how-to guide to CSA.
I don't intend on running a CSA, but I am interested in the rationale. The book is indeed touchy-feely, but it also justifies its feelings through recognizing the difference between small and industrial farms, then making a judgment call on whether reality fits the paradigm. This paradigm has many bullet points, representing an idyllic, harmonious society.
I see nothing wrong with that. Although their marketing strikes me as hippie, their true nature is actually noble. While I like modern life very much, I think I may buy from one of these farms in the future.
That's my vote.
I don't intend on running a CSA, but I am interested in the rationale. The book is indeed touchy-feely, but it also justifies its feelings through recognizing the difference between small and industrial farms, then making a judgment call on whether reality fits the paradigm. This paradigm has many bullet points, representing an idyllic, harmonious society.
I see nothing wrong with that. Although their marketing strikes me as hippie, their true nature is actually noble. While I like modern life very much, I think I may buy from one of these farms in the future.
That's my vote.
May 25, 2009
This book is a wonderful tool for those interested in community supported agriculture! It gives a complete how-to for the small home gardener or the larger scale farmer~ wonderful ideas-history-facts and inspiration...Hopefully by next year I will have mine up and running~I would like to have it enclude veggies-fruits-berries- medicinal and kitchen herbs- fresh cut flowers-home-made salves and tinctures, tea blends,and infused oils~ and a news letter with recipes- ideas- community bartering trades for sustainable happy livin!~the possibilities are endless!
February 22, 2009
I'm really enjoying this book so far. I just picked it up because I've been interested in CSA's the last few years. This book talks about the use of an account for CSA to allow those on foodstamps (which is now on a debit like card) to access CSA's. So, I guess I'll start searching for one that might possible accept my card. I would love to see some of my food money go somewhere better. The town we live in now is just not as supportive of an organic lifestyle.
February 28, 2008
Great resource for CSA farmers or hopefuls. There's lots of good information to start with, including a wealth of data on planting and harvesting, but it's not a substitute for old-fashioned trial and error on your own terrain. Great inspirational reading for community farmers and those stuck in midwinter and dreaming of spring...
March 22, 2009
Great tables in here for planning how much seed will plant how many row feet, how much to include in a CSA share, etc. I recently bought this book after borrowing it from the library. I still haven't read the whole thing cover to cover, but I like what I've read.
June 13, 2012
This is a great resource for those who want to do crop planning, or who want to go whole-hog and start a Community Supported Agriculture program. It was the recommended text for my Summer CSA class in 2010. Another resource book I haven't read cover-to-cover.
January 28, 2009
Inspiring. Has made me want to rethink the organization of my CSA.
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April 16, 2009A good book for those interested in starting, buying from or just learning more about the csa concept. Well written, lots of information, but nothing works better than experience!
February 7, 2013
Skimmed through this again about 4 years after I first read it. great information for CSAs - communities of eaters or farmers can learn a lot from what Elizabeth Henderson has compiled.
February 14, 2009
Just starting to read this. A how to for starting a CSA with stories!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews