What is CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship of mutual support between a farmer and those who eat the food they produce. The term CSA was coined in America and encompasses a broad range of partnerships between consumers and producers. Each of these CSA arrangements is unique, tailored by the circumstances they develop out of.

The Soil Association defines CSA as: "A partnership between farmers and consumers where the responsibilities and rewards of farming are shared".

CSA allows communities to participate in the development of new local food initiatives and are as varied and innovative as the people involved.

Current CSA farms in the UK allow people to:

• Receive a weekly box of vegetables throughout the year 
• Help with the running of an organic farm
• Ensure their local farm shop continues to thrive
• Sponsor an apple tree and harvest its fruit
• Rent a plot of farmland and have vegetables grown on their behalf
• Buy shares in a cow and receive interest in cheese
• Rent-a-vine from one of Britain's few vineyards.

All of these initiatives emphasise the connection between the farm and the communities they serve. Many organise lively social events celebrating the seasons and the farming calendar, and there are always opportunities for work on the farm.

The above information is taken from the Cultivating Communities website – Cultivating Communities is a Soil Association project, funded by the Lottery Community Fund which builds on CSA.