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“A lawn of around a third of an acre could… feed a family of six” – H Flores, ‘Food not Lawns’ 2006. Community Supported Agriculture and Buying Groups Kirstin Glendinning kglendinning@soilassociation.org. CSA… …a partnership between producers and consumers……
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“A lawn of around a third of an acre could…feed a family of six” – H Flores, ‘Food not Lawns’ 2006
Community Supported Agricultureand • Buying Groups • Kirstin Glendinning • kglendinning@soilassociation.org
CSA… …a partnership between producers and consumers…… where the responsibilities, risks and rewards of food production are more evenly shared….
Key characteristics Advanced/regular payment for food Shared ‘risk-reward’ agreement – consumers agree to eat what the farmers grow – season-dependant Transparent budgeting Access to land where food is produced
But why CSA? • Self-financing - independence, flexibility • Sustainable - improved farming techniques – organic, post-peak oil? • - sustainable livelihood for farmer/grower • - guaranteed market – no waste • - development of resilient community networks • Accessible - work shares • - ‘share a share’ • - Credit Unions • - internal CSA loans • - external funding/sponsored shares
Some conclusions… • No prescribed model • A tool for transition
CSAs on farms… • Swillington CSA • Fruit and vegetable scheme • 50 shares • 1 part-time grower • £28,000 turnover (yr 2) • No external funding • www.swillingtoncsa.org
Buying groups… • The Fowl Coop – Swillington Organic Farm • Members pay £50 every 6 months • Receive 1 chicken/month, for 6 months • Delivered to their local farmers’ market • The Pig CSA – Swillington Organic Farm • Members pay £90 every 3 months • Receive pork box once a month, for 3 months • Delivered to their local farmers’ market
Swillington CSA SUMA buying group… • Discounts through bulk buying • Monthly delivery • Fair trade, organic, local where possible
CSAs on farms… • Stroud Community Agriculture • Community-owned enterprise (IPS) • 2 farmers, paid approx £20,000pa • 50 acre biodynamic mixed farm • 200 members • £60,000 turnover • www.stroudcommunityagriculture.org
CSAs in your back garden… • Your Backyard Farmer, Oregon – MyFarm, San Francisco – • www.yourbackyardfarmer.com www.myfarmsf.com • Decentralised urban farm • Uses unproductive land • Consumer involvement • Zero food miles • Good access Now also in Leeds and Milton Keynes…
In your neighbourhood…. • Allotments: • Green Patch, Kettering • http://www.kettering.gov.uk/downloads/green_patch_application.pdf • Public Parks: • Het Open Veld, Leuven, Belgium • http://www.hetopenveld.be/bio.htm • Smallholdings: • FutureFarms, Wiltshire • http://www.futurefarms.org.uk/
What next in Chesterfield? • People • Land • Growers/farmers
Information & Support… The Soil Association Community Supported Agriculture and Buying Groups project is providing: advice and support to new CSAs and BGs organising training events and networking opportunities comprehensive range of information such as action manual, ‘how to’ guides, case studies and practical examples through our website www.soilassociation.org/csa
Making Local Food Work • Consortium of 7 groups led by Plunkett Foundation • We work on CSA and buying groups. Other partners offer: • Sustain - food co-ops and local food distribution • FARMA - Co-operatively run farmers’ markets • Country Markets - home-produced food • Plunkett - community shops and local food supply • Co-ops UK - good governance and advice for community enterprises • CPRE - food web mapping • www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk
Community Supported Agriculture contacts:Amanda DanielInformation Officer Soil Association (Bristol)T: 0117 914 2424E: adaniel@soilassociation.orgKirstin GlendinningRegional Development Coordinator – Leeds &Bradford, Midlands and Eastern EnglandT: 0794 7715715E: kglendinning@soilassociation.org