CSA programs operate in SE Queensland and even in the Scenic Rim region. Details will be posted on this website soon.

One of the cornerstones of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is shared risk. "The essence of the relationship," as Elizabeth Henderson states in Sharing the Harvest (see a review of the book below) " is the mutual commitment: The people support the farm and share the inherent risks and potential bounty."

When innocent farmer error threatens the harvest

Rachel Bynum and Eric Plaksin have used hay mulch on Waterpenny Farm in Virginia for many years, purchasing from the same trusted grower every year. Early in the 2007 season they noticed that many crops were doing poorly. The problem was finally traced to the mulch: the grower had used Grazon (with the active ingredient picloram), a powerful herbicide that contaminated all of the mulched crops-about half of the farm.

Even those crops that were not destroyed could not be distributed, even if they had wanted to: Selling produce contaminated with picloram, which is not rated for human consumption, is illegal. When the problem became known in the area, 60 people-including many of the couple's 150 CSA shareholders-helped to remove the 50,000 pounds of messy wet hay from 3.5 acres. The couple cancelled two months of their CSA deliveries and offered refunds.

Is this a different kind of case? Maybe, or maybe not. Though there is no suggestion of negligence on the part of the grower, it is a case of farmer-error, not natural disaster. Even so, many of their members seemed to "get it." They were given two options. Some took the 80-percent refund to cover the balance of the season. A 40-percent refund was offered to cover the loss of harvests until the re-start of harvests in August. About half of the membership took a third, unstated, option: They did not accept any refund. Some even complained that this option should have been stated.

At the time of the incident, the growers did not know how long the effects of the contamination would last, or the true extent of the damage. "It felt like a violation," says Rachel. They were angry with themselves: Should they have known, or suspected a problem? "We even got mad at each other. It was hard to know how to go forward." But members have been extra supportive, according to Rachel, which "helped us a lot to get through it...and now we are back in stride."

Rachel and Eric were careful to explain the problem fully and honestly to their membership - and to acknowledge what they didn't know. "Explaining things felt good, even cathartic," Rachel recalls. "It was best to just come to terms with it." This situation was not as obvious and simple as a flood or hail storm. There was a greater obligation to clarify the situation to farm members. Going forward, Rachel and Eric have a new sense of how interconnected the whole community of growers and eaters really is. One question that comes to mind regarding mistakes made by the grower: Where do you draw the line? Unprotected crops in a frost, inadequately irrigated crops in a drought, insufficient response to insect or other pests...any of these could be deemed farmer-error. CSA growers takes on a large responsibility for their members. We owe it to them to be good at it! (Statement by grower).

 Rodale Institute is putting its 60 years of sustainable farming experience and extensive research to work to provide farmers with the know-how, tools and techniques they need to succeed; policy-makers the information they need to best support our farmers; and consumers with the resources they need to make informed decisions about the food they buy and eat.

Research from Rodale Institute's ongoing Farming Systems Trials, the longest running research trial comparing organic and non-organic farming in the United States, also shows that regenerative farming methods can curb global warming, improve the nutrient value of food and prevent famine when farmers use these affordable and sustainable techniques