CSA References: Learning about Community Supported/Subscription Agriculture

Compiled by Susan Smalley, October 2001

These books, articles, brochures, slides, videos and web sites will help people interested in starting or continuing a CSA (Community Supported/Subscription Agriculture) operation. I have collected many of the items listed in my reference files and would be pleased to share them with MSU Extension staff members working with CSA groups. Contact: smalley@msue.msu.edu

Baker, Laurie. Excel spreadsheets to help CSA’s determine share pricing. Developed by Laurie Baker, Agricultural Economist, McGill University, Campus, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada. http://www.agrenv.mcgill.ca/agrecon/gradst/Sacha.htm

Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc. Community Related Agriculture: An Introduction. Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc. P.O. Box 550, Kimberton, PA 19442.

Bowman, Greg. "Farms for members only: Where consumers foot the bill B and share the risk." The New Farm. January 1991, pp. 16-19.

Center for Integrated Agicultural Systems. Research Brief #40: Managing a CSA farm 1: Production, labor and land. University of Wisconsin - Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Madison, WI.

Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. Research Brief #41: Managing a CSA farm 2: Community, economics, marketing, and training. University of Wisconsin - Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Madison, WI.

Cicero, Karen. "These farmers have customers who care: CSA members share the joys and risks of farming." The New Farm, July-August 1993, pp. 18-22.

Cicero, Karen. "Happy to share: As community supported agriculture matures, pioneers help fledgling farms." The New Farm, pp. 27-31.

Cohn, Gerry (Ed.). Community supported agriculture conference (proceedings). University of California B Davis, December 6, 1993.

 

Community Supported Agriculture . . . Making the Connection: A handbook for producers. University of California Cooperative Extension, Placer County, and Small Farm Center, UC-Davis. 1995. 198 pages, binder format.

Cone, Cynthia Abbott and Ann Kakaliouras, "Community Supported Agriculture: Building moral community or an alternative consumer choice." Culture and Agriculture, Spring/Summer 1995, Numbers 51/52. pp. 28-31.

Cook, Jack. "Farm fresh." Harrowsmith Country Life, May-June 1990, pp. 52-56.

Cooley, Jack and Daniel Lass. Review of Agricultural Economics, Vol 20, No. 1, pp. 227-237.

CSA-L@prairienet.org is an email list for networking on Community Supported Agriculture. Go to http://www.prairienet.org/pcsa/CSA-L for information on subscribing.

csa@franklin.oit.unc.edu is a mailing list/newsgroup/webforum for networking among farmers involved in operating a CSA. People may self-subscribe through the web at http://franklin.oit.unc.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=csa

DeLind, Laura. The ABCs of CSA’s slide presentation.

DeLind, Laura. The many faces of community supported agriculture (CSA): A guide to community supported agriculture in Indiana, Michigan, & Ohio. Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance. 1999.

DeLind, Laura. Close encounters with a CSA: The reflections of a bruised and somewhat wiser anthropologist. Presidential address to the Agriculture, food and Human Values Society, San Francisco, CA, June 6, 1998.

DeMuth, Suzanne. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): An annotated bibliography and resource guide. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center. Agri-Topics: AT93-02.

DeVault, George. "Too much of a good thing: Subscription farming soured other successful enterprises." The New Farm. January 1991. pp. 14-15.

DeVault, George. "The corporate connection: They=re feeding the Washington Post with vegetables now instead of words." The New Farm. January 1991, pp. 10-13.

DeVore, Brian. "Sustainable eating 101: The CSA lesson." The Land Stewardship Letter, Jan/Feb 1995, pp. 1, 8-9.

Gibson, Eric. Sell what you sow. Carmichael, CA. New World Publishing. 1994.

Gradwell, Shelly, et al. Local food systems for Iowa. Iowa State University Extension, Ames, IA. Pm-1692. 1999.

Gregson, Bob and Bonnie. Rebirth of the small family farm. A handbook for starting a successful organic farm based on the community supported agriculture concept. Self published. Available (in 1996) for $9.95 from IMF Associates, P.O. Box 2542, Vashon Island, WA 98070.

Groh, Trauger and Stephen McFadden. Farms of tomorrow: Community supported farms — farm supported communities. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Kimberton, PA. 1990.

Groh, Trauger and Stephen McFadden. Farms of tomorrow revisited: Community supported farms — farm supported communities. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Kimberton, PA. 1997.

Hackett, Kathleen. "In farms they trust." Harrowsmith Country Life, July-August 1990, pp. 109-110.

Henderson, Elizabeth, Robyn Van Eyn. Sharing the Harvest: A Guide to Community-Supported Agriculture. Chelsea Green. 1999.

Iowa Community supported agriculture resource guide for producers and organizers. Pm-1694.

Kane, Deborah J. and Luanne Lohr. Maximizing shareholder retention in southeastern CSA’s: A step toward long term stability. 1997.

Kelvin, Rochelle. Community supported agriculture on the urban fringe: Case study and survey. Rodale Institute Research Center, Kutztown, PA. RU-94/10. 1994.

Kumasawa, Natsuko. Teikei: Japanese Alternative Food Distribution System.

Leap, Jim. "Filling the boxes: Designing a CSA crop plan." The Cultivar. Winter 1997, pp. 3-5 . University of California - Santa Cruz.

Madison Area CSA Coalition. Community supported agriculture: Connecting people with local farms. Madison Area CSA Coalition, Madison, WI.

Madison Area CSA Coalition. Community supported agriculture: Connecting you with your food. Madison Area CSA Coalition, Madison, WI.

Madison Area CSA Coalition. From Asparagus to Zucchini.

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Community supported agriculture: Upper Midwest regional directory, 1997. Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, East Troy, WI.

National CSA Directory lists more than 450 CSA operations across the US, searchable by state. www.sare.org/san/csa/index.htm

Ostrom, M. Toward a Community Supported Agriculture: A Case Study of Resistance and Change in the Modern Food System. Dissertation. Massachusetts: University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1997.

Post, Kathryn. Masters thesis on developing a CSA project within a University or community college setting. Focus on farm and community organization, education, initial funding, future goals and objectives. kpost@polymail.calpoly.edu ~1997-98.

Salm, A. Direct Connections: Farmer-Consumer Communication in a Local Food System: Community Supported Agriculture in Canada. Masters Thesis. Netherlands: Wageningen Agricultural University, 1997.

Salm, A. "Eight Tips from the experts to make your CSA project a success." Cognition. Summer 1997, pp. 23-25.

Schantz, Faith. "The fresh connection." Country Journal, January-February 1995, pp. 70-75.

Sluyter, Jim and Jo Meller (Ed). The Community Farm: A Voice for Community Supported Agriculture. Quarterly newsletter (February, May, August, November). $20 year from 3480 Potter Road, Bear Lake, MI 49614; 616 889 3216; fsfarm@mufn.org.

Stone, Pat. "Community supported agriculture. Mother Earth News, November-December 1988, pp. 55-59.

Van En, Robyn and Cathy Roth. Community Supported Agriculture: The producer/consumer partnership, C-12. University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension System. 1993.

Van En, Robyn. Basic formula to create community supported agriculture. CSA Indian Line Farm, RR3 Box 85, Great Barrington, MA.

Van En, Robyn. It’s not just about vegetables (videotape). CSA Indian Line Farm, RR3 Box 85, Great Barrington, MA.

Veg box schemes and community supported agriculture, Wye College, United Kingdom, http://www.wye.ac.uk/FoodLink/commag.html