Re: CSA Tx
Thanks Perry, there's a lot to think about. For the next couple of seasons, until my garden beds get re-established, I'm probably going to just try growing enough extra to build a produce stand business locally. Land expansion isn't a problem, i have one 18 acre field that's shaped triangular with the 'long side' fronting the road. would make a very nice front garden site for passers by. My Aunt lives pretty close and I think word of mouth would be excellent recommendation from her to her friends, her church group, etc. And for much of the year, she'll be feeding my 2 nieces who desperately need a more healthy diet in their lives. The cousin I spoke of is their mother and the best 'advertisement' in the world would be improving the health of her own children. Going from there, I'll see if it looks like enough interest in 'real' vegetables to start something like this (gardening basically on contract). A problem I see is that people barely have time to stop by the grocery store and toss something in their basket, rush home to cook it. If it's something out of a box and 'instant', so much the better. It's pretty hard for them to stare at an eggplant or sack of corn and realize the time requirements to turn it into table ready food. You can educate the public all you want, but basically, their food decisions come with how much time do they have to cook?
Re: CSA Tx
Flylo, >>I just didn't know quite how to tap into this large pool of hungry Houstonians. Nor, do I think I'm ready to do so this season.<< Sounds like you've got a great resource of customers via your cousin. It's always easier for me to approach someone that I have any kind of connection to. Maybe you could get 5.. even 2 of your cousins co-workers that would want to buy from you this year on a limited scale... It would give you the chance to see if you like working with families... and help you understand more of how the season works and what will be available when. I'm sure much of the learning process will only come with experience!!! >>So, whether they would acknowledge or respect the fact they're helping maintain a family farmstead, as long as it's to their advantage, they're interested.<< They may not even know that subscribing to a CSA could help maintain a family farmstead... or that respect for farmers or food is due. I generally don't see that we have those values in our culture. Working with these families could help broaden their knowledge of what being "health-conscious" is I convinced my sister to sign up for an organic year round buying club. She lives in Greensboro, NC. There is a grower in Linwood (about 30 miles away) that has a CSA in the summer, but also supplements with produce from COG (Carolina Organic Growers). COG was established in 1992 to help farmers in North and South Carolina market products. I do not know how things are going for them as far as how the business is going, but.. they are still in business and today that says something. From what I remember of a workshop I attended a few years ago.. their main route is Asheville to Wilmington (mountains to coast) via I-40. That passes right by Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. The CSA, my sister joined, has the option of only getting a CSA share or participating in the buying club. I think membership is $20. You need to order (fax or e-mail) by Sunday for a Thursday or Friday pick-up from the PT Farmers Market, or home delivery for an extra $5/week. The list is incredible!!! COG's mission is to help farmers in North and South Carolina (regional) but, they do have things that are obviously not local or regional.. bananas for instance. I would like to see better labeling on these products as to where they are coming from, but it's not my deal. The buying sheet she got was for November and December. I can not comment on service as she has just joined, I'll let you know in a few weeks. Perry
CSA Tx
This one in MASS says she supplies 33 members. I did some digging on CSA + Texas and came up with one I know for a fact is a rip off near Houston. Two around the Austin area who call themselves 'subscription farms' rather than CSA. These only will allow 10 members, and charge $25 per week. Our growing season is different, of course, allowing harvests from the first of April to the end of November. So their members pay $800 but get 8 months worth of produce. None are biodynamically grown, but all are certified organic. (except miss ripoff near Houston.) The reason I'm asking all this is because my cousin is a physician's assistant at a hospital south of Houston Tx. She has mentioned several times that I could be growing food for so many families. And, everyone she works with is very health-conscious and would be pretty eager to have food grown that (1) they didn't have to take time to shop for (2) healthier and fresher than in the stores. So, whether they would acknowledge or respect the fact they're helping maintain a family farmstead, as long as it's to their advantage, they're interested. I just didn't know quite how to tap into this large pool of hungry Houstonians. Nor, do I think I'm ready to do so this season.
