Community Supported Agriculture

For those of you who haven’t already purchased a CSA share, there’s still time! Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership between community members (you) who pledge monetary support in advance to a farm to cover the anticipated costs for the upcoming season. In return, you receive a weekly “share” of the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season, typically June through October in our area with some farms offering a Fall Share that extends into December.

A “share” is typically enough to feed a family of four or a two adults on a vegetarian diet. Some farms also include herbs, fruit, eggs, milk or flowers. Most also supply a weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on what's happening on the farm. Some even include a recipe with each box to help you figure out to do with all that kohlrabi!

While the main benefit of a CSA is the weekly box of fresh, typically organic produce, it also supports our local farmers and ultimately the local economy. CSA’s provide farmers with a fair return on their product and help them guarantee the financial resources needed to get their crops planted and cultivated. There are a slew of other reasons to participate as well as some great historic information on CSA’s here.

BFM members that provide CSA’s are: Holistic Homestead, Cedarville Farm, and Rabbit Fields Farm. Their contact information can be found here.

Do YOU Have One Yet?

The 2008 Whatcom Farm Map & Guide is not only incredibly useful, it's also gorgeous, thanks to Lois Dahl of Whimsical Rabbit Design, who donated the cover art. She is one of the many talented artists whose work you will find at the Bellingham Farmers Market.

Now in its ninth year, the map and guide is a project of Sustainable Connections Food & Farming Program and Whatcom Farm Friends, and it packs an amazing amount of information into a easy-to-carry-with-you-everywhere format. 

Nearly 70 Whatcom County farms or other food-producing places (boat, ranch, greenhouse) are included, in five categories: vegetables, herbs and mushrooms; fruit and berries; dairy and eggs; meat and seafood; wine and value-added products; and plants, flowers and fertilizer. The fold-out map that forms the brochure's back cover is colorful and easy to read, and it's adjacent to the index, so it's easy to find the products you're longing for.

The two-page seasonal guide helps eager eaters know when specific farm products are likely to be market-ready, and the "food and ag events" list, resources page (read, cook, get involved), "why eat local?" and "ways to buy fresh" pages, and information on "Eat Local Week" (September 7-14 this year) -- not to mention the children's coloring page for children, with all entries eligible for a drawing for Mallard ice cream cone coupons -- make this publication even more useful.

And -- it's free. Amazing.

You can pick up a copy of the 2008 Whatcom Farm Map and Guide at the Bellingham Farmers Market, Whatcom County libraries, Sustainable Connections, Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism, the Community Food Co-op, Terra Organica, Village Books, and many other local businesses. Don't miss it!