Share the bounty: Farm share programs grow more popular

When Kate Edwards wanted to follow in her grandparents' footsteps and take up farming, she didn't have the capital to start industrial corn and soybean cultivation.

But with the help of a Community Supported Agriculture plan, she was able to get started as a small scale vegetable farmer on land near Solon, growing produce to feed families around the Iowa City area. She started out supplying 11 families in 2011. This year, she has around 150 families signed up. Each week during the summer she provides them with boxes of produce from her farm.

Community Supported Agriculture programs, known as CSAs, are exploding in popularity around Eastern Iowa. A few years ago there were only a few local farms offering CSA shares. This year, Iowa City-based non-profit Local Foods Connection has printed a CSA guide with 14 different farms serving the Corridor.

Here's how the programs work: customers pay an upfront fee and in return receive a weekly share of seasonal vegetables throughout the growing season.

Getting the money up front allows farmers like Edwards to invest in the assets, such as seed, fertilizer and tools, that they need to start the season. It also provides a buffer against the risks of weather - an especially wet or dry summer won't wipe out the farmer's income for the year.

Consumers, in the meantime, get a steady supply of fresh, locally grown produce and a chance to meet the people who grow it.

If that sounds appealing, the first step is to choose the CSA program that's right for you.

A good place to start is with a few basic questions, such as how the farms distribute the weekly shares - some have booths at local farmers markets; others ask you to stop by their farm to pick up your vegetables.

You should also consider how much food you want or need - some shares are meant for two people and some for families of four or five.

'Every CSA at every farm is different. It's like finding a sweater that fits just right. Sometimes you have to try on one or two to find one that fits. Different farms specialize in different vegetables,” said Local Foods Connection Executive Director Melissa Dunham.

Local Foods Connection works to provide local healthy food to low income citizens who might not otherwise have access to it.

Dunham said one advantage of CSAs is the chance to know how your vegetables are grown.

'Some people are looking for certified organic or are happy with certified naturally grown. It's just good to get to know the farm and ask questions,” she said.

Another important question is how much flexibility you want and how adventurous with your vegetables you're willing to be. For example, will you be delighted or horrified if your box includes kohlrabi, nettles and garlic scapes?

If you're not sure what to do with such non-mainstream produce but want to learn, a lot of CSAs offer recipes or the chance to chat with the farmer about just what to do with that week's fare.

Though most CSAs come with a box of produce selected by the farmer, determined by what was harvested that week, a few area CSAs offer more control. At Salt Fork Farms, your upfront fee acts as credit to choose your vegetables throughout the summer from the farm's farmers market stand. Matthew 25's urban farm in Cedar Rapids is trying something new this year - after a $30 membership fee, just asking members to agree to spend at least $10 a week at their farm.

Whatever you decide to do, sign up soon - many farms are starting their distributions in the next few weeks.

PICK A PROGRAM:

Guide curated by Local Foods Connection, Localfoodsconnection.org.

Contact farms for availability, details and prices.

- Abbe Hills Farm CSA, Mount Vernon. Distribution on farm near Mount Vernon. Contact: (319) 895-6924, laura@abbehills.com

- Bloomin' Wooley Acres Commercial Gardens, Nashua. Distribution in Iowa City, Coralville, Swisher and Cedar Rapids. Contact: (319) 240-5540, bloominwooleyacres@gmail.com

- Earth Biscuit Farm, Tipton. Distribution in Iowa City, Coralville and at the farm. Contact: (319) 325-9060, Twyla@earthbiscuitfarm.com

- Echollective CSA, Mechanicsville. Distribution in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities. Contact: (319) 325-3910, echoCSA@gmail.com, http://echollectivecsa.blogspot.com

- Family Farm CSA, Iowa City. Distribution on farm between Solon and Iowa City. Contact: (319) 936-1317, p.worden@speedconnect.com

- Gooseberry Hill Subscription Produce, Iowa City. Distribution to your door and on farm. Contact: (319) 354-7260

- Grinnell Heritage Farm, Grinnell. Distribution and Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ames and on the farm. Contact: (641) 236-4373, grinnellheritagefarm@gmail.com

- Hue Hill Farm, Iowa City. Distribution in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Contact: (319) 339-0624, huehomefarmcsa@gmail.com

- Local Harvest CSA, Solon. Distribution in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and North Liberty. Contact: (319) 929-5023, localharvestcsa@southslope.net

- Matthew 25 Urban Farm, Cedar Rapids. Distribution in Cedar Rapids. Contact: (319) 362-2214, cultivate@hub25.org, www.matthew-25.org

- Muddy Miss Farms, Iowa City. Distribution in Iowa City, Mount Pleasant, Washington. Contact: (319) 321-8838, muddymissfarms@gmail.com

- Oak Hill Acres, Atalissa. Distribution in Iowa City, Coralville, West Liberty, Muscatine and Quad Cities. Contact: (563) 946-2304 or (319) 560-4826, OakHillAcres@fbx.com

- Salt Fork Farms, Solon. Distribution in Iowa City or on farm. Contact: (319) 270-3449, saltforkfarms@gmail.com

- Wild Woods Farm, Solon. Distribution in Iowa City. Contact: (319) 333-2980, kate.wildwoodsfarm@gmail.com, facebook.com/veggiefarm

l Comments: (319) 398-8434; alison.gowans@sourcemedia.net