I had an interesting CSA experience this summer. I signed up to work as a "workshare" for a farm out in Carnation (45 minute drive from my Apt on Capitol Hill). For four hours of work a week I received a subscription to their CSA, including two bunches of garlic (gonna last me all winter), 5 lbs pickeling cucumbers, and many more seasonal items. After years of considering a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription to be the portion of a weekly crop from a small local farm, my eyes have been opened.

Jubilee Farm (http://www.jubileefarm.org) is over 100 acres of land cultivated by Farmer's Erick and Wendy. A subscription includes weekly produce AND certain yearly/seasonal crops such as the pickeling cucumbers. The majority of families who subscribe with the farm (on average over 300) live nearby and come to pickup their food weekly, including U-Pick items such as Basil, Cilantro, Beans, Dill, Raspberries, Strawberries etc. Families typically roam during the afternoon pickup, laying out picnics, visiting the pigs and chickens or picking their included flower bouquet. There is delivery for those who can't make it out weekly, but it seems to me that you'd be missing out on half the fun. This subscription was more enjoyable then any others I had experienced previously - of course this may be partly because I picked the crops weekly.

Thanks Erick and Wendy for the opportunity to help out!

As my understanding of social change and food systems grows I realize more and more that there is no fix or are there any expert solutions to creating local sustainable food systems. Those local food systems solutions that have worked (such as farmer's markets and Community Supported Agriculture) grow from the shared values of a variety of stakeholders in the system. It's the anti-thesis of an industrial system based on profit margins. Instead it is a unique combination of authentic economic relationships where values for the environment and justice are incorporated into the decision making process of consumers and producers.

Why are farmer's markets and CSA's such strong examples of changes in the local food system? Because they answer needs of the community and the need of the producer to make a living. They provide access directly to produce that is fresh and typically organic & develop stronger relationships between producer and consumer.

I'm curious to know what the next steps in developing the local food economy are, based on the community's needs and expectations instead of coming from an expert role. That will be the content of this blog - to explore and develop stronger relationships within Seattle's local food economy. Stay tuned...