So where did CSA come from and what does it mean?

Thanks to our CSA directory members at Seven Springs Farm  : Lorrina TASMANIA
 
Well the time has rolled around for the Summer CSA shares to become available for sign up but maybe you’re asking yourself, ‘What on earth does CSA mean?’, ‘How will it benefit me?’ or ‘I’ve never heard of that! Where did it come from?!’.
Attached to this post is a note that will answer a few typical questions about CSA, here you will also find a brief history lesson about CSA, What it stands for, how it benefits you, the farmer and the environment.
If you're keen to join the CSA movement and support us please join by clicking on there link below.
http://harvie.mx/sevensprings18

So where did CSA come from and what does it mean? CSA began in the 1970s in Japan by organic farmers that followed the principles of Teikei and was later, during the 1990s taken on and adapted by the US.
Teikei (提携) is a system of community-supported agriculture in Japan, where consumers purchase food directly from farmers. One of the founding teikei groups, the Japan Organic Agriculture Association (JOAA), founded in 1971, describes teikei as "an idea to create an alternative distribution system, not depending on the conventional market. Though the forms of teikei vary, it is basically a direct distribution system. To carry it out, the producer and the consumer have talks and contact to deepen their mutual understanding: both of them provide labor and capital to support their own delivery system. Teikei is not only a practical idea but also a dynamic philosophy to make people think of a better way of life either as a producer or as a consumer through their interaction.
CSA stands for 'Community Supported Agriculture’ that is a model of food production and distribution that directly connects farmers and consumers. Australia has a growing CSA movement, Seven Springs Farm is one of the first single farms to use the CSA concept within Australia.
Small-scale farmers are moving towards the CSA model of farming for the financial security, risk sharing and a deeper connection with customers. CSAs focus on high quality fresh produce and foods, mainly of organic or biodynamic farming methods and a shared risk membership structure. This enables the consumers to be more involved than usual thus resulting in a stronger connection between farm, farmer and consumer.
CSA theory purports that the more a farm embraces whole-farm, whole-budget support, the more it can focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste.
Here at Seven Springs Farm Lorinna, our produce is grown utilising top quality seeds and grown in the most sustainable ways possible, without the use of any toxic chemicals nor plastic nor orthodox practices which damage the soil, water and air.
Ok, what are some of the benefits to the customer? There are multiple benefits for the customer. Here is a list that directly benefit you:

• A selection of truly fresh and local organic produce.
• Eat healthy produce that is in season. Our produce is recommend by health practitioners and used by cancer patiences.
• A weekly newsletter with information about the farm and the happenings.
• Directly supporting an ethical family farm business, not owned indirectly by a bank, as most farmers are.
• Reduces waste in many ways, reduced pollution, and reduce cost yet providing unbeatable quality and freshness
• Direct connection with farmer

What about the farmer and the environment? The farmer benefits by the improved economic security, Reduce waste of produce by knowing how many customers will be on board, reducing marketing costs allowing more time on the farm producing quality produce and a direct connection to the customers.
Our farm is positioned in a pristine landscape and we support the natural processes of growing vegetables along with sustainable farming, protection of the soil, water and air by growing organically and the protection of agricultural diversity.
I hope this brief history and use of CSA was helpful to you. In the coming days I will be posting a list with all the produce which will be available during the season.
If you intend to support us and the CSA movement please join us by clicking on the link below.
http://harvie.mx/sevensprings18

Seven Springs Farm
79 Botts Road
Lorinna TAS 7306
www.sevenspringsfarm.com.au/
www.instagram.com/sevenspringsfarmtasmania/
www.facebook.com/sevenspringsfarmlorinna/
Contact : Wouter Sels

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