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Re: Tactics to introduce CSA



Dear Jonathan,

Urban encroachment is a major problem to famers.  Please remember that most
farmers love their land as an extension of their own bodies.  The decision to
sell a piece for financial security as one ages and your kids have no
interest in farming, is a difficult one.  Complaints by new non-farming
neighbors about noise, time of operations, dust and smells can push that
decision closer.  In an occupation where your land and livelihood are at risk
on a year-to-year basis from both Mother Nature and your own physical health,
the ability to set money aside for the time your body will no longer allow
you to farm is nil to minimal.

Please don't look upon this person as an opportunist.  The fact s/he is
surrounded by new neighborhoods proves exactly the opposite - this guy is the
last hold-out.  Also, please look inside yourself, and have the discussion
with others, to assess your views on open space, habitat, water quality etc.
 These are things we must all, as a society, value enough to protect.  It is
not the "job" of the last remaining farmers within an urbanizing area to be
everybody else's park and wildlife protection area.

I'm willing to bet that some of those new, non-farn
ming neighbors would rather have a sustainably managed farm over their back
fence than another housing tract.  They may be a source of funding to buy the
development rights to the remaining land.  The local goverment entity, may be
feeling some heat in preserving open/agricultural space.

My approach to the farmer would be from the point of concern.  Concern that
s/he be able to continue to farm as long as they desire and are able.
 Concern they not be pushed off the land they love and have cared for.
 Concern that they remain in a community, albeit changing, that they helped
to build by their participation in churches, governments, local trade etc.
 Concern that the art of farming they have practiced so long (possibly
generations) be passed on to, and appreciated by, a new generation.  If you
can sharecrop or lease outright some land you may be able to discuss all
these things with your landlord as s/he gets to know you.  If these folks are
open to it, you may want to start a community group to explore buying the
development rights to the land and providing a living trust to enable the
farmers to live out their lives in their home.

Annabelle's suggestion of American Farmland Trust is a good one.  They work
on these issues all the time.  Also, they just helped a CSA in California
develop a funding mechanism where by the farmers can gain some equity in the
land they have been farming and the CSA can hold the development rights so
the land will always be farmed.

Another  good model for what you are proposing is Fairview Gardens in Goleta,
CA.  If you are unfamiliar with the name, the farm manager is Michael
Abelman, author of From the Good Earth.   Fairview is the remaining 12 acres
of a 100 year old farm surrounded by houses and condos.  They farm
sustainably organically the orchards and veggie fields.  They have a CSA and
farmstand/store and participate in local farmers' markets.  They are
currently raising the last of the funds to buy the parcel.  I believe they
started with a lease, then went to a lease/option, then developed a nonprofit
group to buy the land and hold it in trust.

Good luck,
Marcie Rosenzweig
Full Circle Organic Farm