Starting my own CSA

Capechick2007

Has anyone done this? We live on 2 acres of land and have about a 1/2 acre field where we grow organic veggies. We also have about 7 chickens and we raised 2 pigs last year. I really want to continue to grow and raise my own food and am looking into a few milking goats as well. However, it is costly, especially to grow organic.

I am wondering about starting a small CSA. I have so many friends who buy organic, that i think i would have people interested. I end up giving away a lot of what we produce.

I am trying to find a place for information on what to charge and how many people I should be able to support. i figure I should start small this year and see how it goes.

Anyone know of a good resource on this?

TIA

Lady*Timot

I would start at localharvest.org

I found this article (I didn't read the whole thing tho)

http://www.localharvest.org/blog/29247/

My CSA is very small.  She has about 10ish shares (I don't know how many full shares I did a half share last year and I want to say she had 14 clients)

She only participates from July thru Labor Day (or 8 weeks whatever comes first) with a "week off" if you need it. Our cost last year was $100.

We got mostly greens and squash for the first two weeks and then everything came in.  Every week we got salad greens, some herbs, then whatever produce was in.  I hope that helps.

SuperGreen

That is a GREAT idea!  You should definetely go for it.  In addition to Local Harvest, I would talk to your existing CSA (if you have one) and the vendors at your Farmer's Market.  In addition to figuring out the cost and how many people you can support, you'll have to figure out the regulations in your city/county about selling food to the public.  Your local cooperative extension might be a good place to start, or your Farm Bureau office.  You'll likely have to register as a business and buy liability insurance, so that if someone (god forbid) has an allergic reaction they can't sue you and take your assests like your house.  Let us know how it goes!

CDMay2006

You could also look at partnering with another small farm to increase the variety and/or supply you are able to offer to your share holders.  Another option would be to pair with an established, but small, CSA farm to join in the fun, without the effort of establishing a new CSA from the ground up.

clea

Sent PM with e-address of our local organic you-pick.

I'm sure he can tell you a LOT!

He said they actually made more on their corn maze at $5 a head than they did on produce or pumpkins.  (Sorry, I forgot what he said exactly)