Queens has the fewest farmers markets per capita, and until this year, the fewest community-supported agriculture groups. According to Just Food, the organization that helps residents form CSAs, there are presently four functional groups in the borough, two of which only began last year.
   Community-supported agriculture forges a partnership between a farm and a neighborhood. Before the growing season starts, each member purchases a produce share of between 6 and 10 different crops. The type, cost and size of the share varies depending on the farmer.
   Once the growing season begins, fresh vegetables are delivered weekly to a central location in the neighborhood, chosen by the group. The growing season lasts 24-27 weeks. Since the shares are purchased before the season begins, members just show up on distribution day and grab their share of that week’s bounty.
   Paying pre-season (late March in most cases) is something of a gamble. Heavy rains may kill your farmer’s strawberry crop or a drought may destroy seedlings.
   Farmers usually make up for this by planting some crops in greenhouses or quick-growing crops in the field so there will always be something to offer. Sometimes, Mother Nature can also bring a higher return on one’s investment. An excellent season means an abundance that gets passed on to members at no extra cost.
   The benefit of the prepaid system for farmers is it allows them to concentrate on farming, hiring labor and seeding pre-season. It also helps them avoid taking out high-interest loans or having to sell off land to developers. Many farmers develop close community ties, inviting their members to visit the farm throughout the year for strawberry-picking days and fall festivals.
   Community-supported agriculture groups are volunteer-driven, with each member offering their time once or twice a season to help out, usually during distribution. Members often spearhead the formation of new groups and spend their winter developing them, planning membership drives and meeting with the farmers.
   In New York City, Just Food is essential to the process, as the organization assists residents interested in forming groups by connecting them with farmers.
   Jayme Wood is one of the site co-coordinators for the Hellgate group, which started two years ago. “CSAs really bring organic in with a seasonal abundance of sustainable local produce,” he said. Hellgate CSA, located in the Ditmars area of Astoria, saw such demand last year it had to cap membership, leaving residents clamoring for a new location.
   Sandy McKelvey, a member of Hellgate last year, is relocating to the new Astoria group. “We loved the produce at the Hellgate CSA but we wanted a group that was closer to where we live,” she said. “We really wanted to build community in our neighborhood.” With a solid core group of six members and a partner in the Golden Earthworm Organic Farm, which is located on the east end of Long Island, the Astoria group is now looking for members.
   The new Sunnyside/Woodside group blossomed out of the same demand and is also partnering with the Earthworm Organic Farm. It is being coordinated by Farah Gokturk and Diane Kolack. Gokturk believes that commuunity-supported agriculture groups “create relationships between an urban and rural area and connect us back to the land.”
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ASTORIA CSA

www.astoriacsa.com
(718) 512-5401

Membership drive and farmer Q&A
Tuesday, March 27, 7-8 p.m.
Cafe Bar, 32-90 36th St.

Share Distribution
Thursdays, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
at Cafe Bar

 

SUNNYSIDE CSA

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Sunnyside CSA
(917) 294-4903

Membership drive
Wednesday, March 28, 7-9 p.m.
The Grind, 39th Street & Queens Boulevard

Share Distribution
Thursday evenings
Sunnyside Community Services
43-31 39th St.