Why a CSA using six farms?  Why not do it ourselves?

It took me one season to realize that we did not have the land (Although we are farming almost every inch of 30 acres and looking for more land.) nor the equipment to grow what we needed to be competitive.

I also saw local farms that did a few products well such as corn and organic greens but did not have enough markets for their products and so under-produced.  Some small local growers wanted to farm on a few acres but needed a buyer that would provide a fair price.  More and more I heard that local “amateur farmers” really liked to grow certain things but disliked others.  “I like to grow greens, but hate growing beans.”  Everyone has their skill set.

I started a partnership with these “gardeners” in Dartmouth and Westport that are near our little village of Russells Mills and found that this worked well for everyone!  Farmers are making a living wage because we are providing a lucrative market for them.  When people make more money they can continue to farm.  We in turn have great fresh, local produce and stimulate the agricultural economy in the Dartmouth and Westport area.

Because of this approach, more land is farmed, more income is generated, less farmland is sold for non-agricultural purposes and we all do better.  One of the farmers we work with has dramatically increased the acreage he cultivates now that we buy 40% of his sweet corn crop.  He is selling more than ever, and has a big smile on his face.

I grew up in Dartmouth and believe that the southwestern section is one of the most beautiful areas of the country.  I am really happy our farm is doing our part to preserve that beauty.  I have figured that we are utilizing a several hundred acres of local farm land for our farmers markets and the CSA.  That makes me very happy!

In October of 2008 I sat in an international conference with 7000 other participants from 153 countries and listened to a group of speaker’s discuss how to bring fresh, quality food into poorer sections of cities.  People from all over the globe spoke about lack of access, high cost and an absence of solutions.  I was beaming like a fool, smiling from ear to ear.  Why?  Because world food experts had no idea how to work on this problem, but some bright young women in Dorchester, Massachusetts had found a solution, and we were part of their plan!

Family Inc. and the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester, MA operate one of the most unique markets in the world.  They encourage the Health Facility Staff to purchase CSA shares in advance of the farmers market insuring the farmer a set amount of sales each day the market is held.

Not only does it provide a base for the market, but it provides an Example for their clients.  Patients shop alongside the medical director and the nurses and doctors they see at the facility.  Talk about walking the walk!

Our farm is able to lower our prices at this market to provide greater benefit for the local consumers many of whom reside in one of the lower income areas of Boston.  This is an area where this type of selection quality, freshness and service is a rarity.  Customers love the fresh seasonal product.  Neighbors shop at the market as do senior citizens from a facility across the street.  Local children help set up and tear down the market and bring good food home as well.

This market works on so many levels!  In this model, health care workers can deliver excellent health care and be a role model for their patients.

As a farm we are very proud of the women, especially Cynthia from Family Inc. who worked so hard to make this happen.  My beaming smile at this large conference was due to the brilliance of these young women in Dorchester.

The sustainability office of the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth works with us to reduce their food waste while we acquire an organic source of food for our chickens.

One year ago we started collecting the preparation food waste from the university food service including vegetable, fruit and bread scraps. Previously the waste had been tossed in a dumpster and taken to the land fill. Now we collect barrels of waste each day and use the calories to supplement the grain we feed our hens.

The girls love it. They hear the tractor coming and run to see what goodies are arriving. They chow down, and there is not much left after the little composters are through.

In return the chickens get a varied, healthy diet. The more vegetable material they receive, the darker the yolks, and the more healthy the bird.

Our chickens provide us with eggs, fertilizer, chicks and occasionally meat. The eggs are so tasty we always sell out. All this from something headed to the dump!

How does saving this “waste” save petroleum? Grain is a heavy user of petroleum not only through the growing process but transporting it around the country. The less grain we use, the less oil is burned. Our fields are then nourished by manure fertilizer instead of petroleum based chemicals, even better!

We are pursuing a similar arrangement with Dartmouth High School. Any other suggestions are welcome!

This process is the easiest, cheapest and most beneficial recycling there is: Waste to food and fertilizer for healthy land, what could be better?

Many thanks to The University of Massachusetts, M.C. at Sodexo, a brilliant and far-sighted executive and to Susan Jennings at the UMD Sustainability Office. Kudos to Ellie Early for helping to facilitate the project.

1. 20% of all petroleum in the US is used in Agriculture – Equivalent to the petroleum usage of all the autos in the US.

2. Each American consumes 400 gallons of petroleum/year just eating! For every One calorie of Food at Shaws – You consume 5-10 calories of Petroleum to get it there. This is referred to as the “Carbon Foot Print” of the food.

3. SOOOO…If each American was to eat locally one meal a week – The Nation would save 1.1 million BARRELs of Oil per WEEK! Talk about easy conservation!

4. Processed foods are the cheapest because the government subsidizes Commodity Corn and Soy growers rather than your local vegetable and Fruit growers ( then, strangely, tells people to eat more vegetables and fruit). Obesity is rampant in our nation -60 % of the population – processed foods provide empty, cheap, fattening calories.

5. For every $1 a consumer spends on processed food, the processors make 85 cents. Eating locally grown food means that every $1 spent goes to the local farmer and on to the local economy.

6. Local farms provide local jobs, keep money in the community, provide open space, maintain local food traditions and let the consumers see how they produce. (Consider visiting a large, industrial agriculture , animal confined, 100 acre feed lot with your family vs. visiting your local family farm. Those two visits will completely convince you about transparency, animal treatment and worker safety in each environment. Oh, sorry, the large agribusinesses won’t let you visit…why?)

7. Local food is healthy, tasty , transparent and environmentally friendly.

8. While 1 in 4 Americans eat at a fast food restaurant every day (1 in 3 Children), this latest generation will be the first to have less longevity than previous generations due to obesitiy. Eating locally means substituting processed foods for vitamin rich fruits and veggies – which reduces obesity!

9. Hidden Costs of “Cheaper Supermarket Foods”: Taxes (subsidies) $22billion for agricultural fuel, $3 billion for direct corn and wheat subsidies, $10billion for food related diseases, agricultural chemical cleanup costs $17billion, collateral cost of Pesticide use $8billion, cost of erosion $20billion to a breakdown of $725/household.

10. Future healthcare costs projected with a current 60% obese population is staggering.

11. Eating locally is EASY, FUN, and an INEXPENSIVE way to reduce your petroleum usage, stimulate the local economy, educate your children about healthy eating and connect to our growing Heritage.