“If we are really serious about overturning our industrial food chain... we have to start by turning our backs on Wal-Mart and Fed Ex, and buying directly from farmers we trusted... we cannot delegate the crucial work of determining which farmers deserved our trust, not to the USDA, not to certifiers... Buy “farm friendly food” from local people you trust, and almost all the problems of the industrial food system - its unconscionable cost in energy, public health, environmental degradation, and the deterioration of work and community -- will pretty much take care of themselves.  That at least is Joel Salatin’s message...”

Michael Pollen - July 2004, Foreward to Holy Cows and Hog Heaven by Joel Salatin.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE

Support your local farmer by joining a Subscription Farm, also known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Your farmer grows healthy produce, and local members of the community finance the work by purchasing "shares" in the farm. The "shareholder" receives a return on his investment by taking a weekly subscription of seasonal produce.

As is the case with all investments, there are risks.  However, the risks are shared by both the farmer and the subscribers.  Crops have always been at the mercy of insects, plant diseases and inclement weather. Each season, crop abundance and failure are a natural part of the growing experience. However, the large variety of crops grown by Subscription Farms assures that all will reap a bountiful harvest. Each season is different from the others but always works out with the farmer and the shareholder ending the season well-pleased. The farmer earns a living, and the shareholders have access to locally grown, truly nutritious foods.

A close-up view of one of our garlic beds.

When you join a CSA, you can expect the freshest produce available! Did you know that most food purchased at the local grocery store has traveled an average of 1500 miles before it reaches the table? Very often this delay results in a loss of flavor and nutrition. Fresh-picked, o-----cally* grown produce is nutritionally superior, and it just plain tastes better!

What’s happening in 2010? This season PHF has joined forces with other local farmers at the Laughery Valley Growers Association to make available our produce through Batesville, Indiana’s local FarmFresh CSA. To find out more about joining, please go to www.foodandgrowers.org

* I cannot use the “O” word (Organic) in my claims even though our standards are higher than Certified Organic. So much for “the land of the FREE”!