What does the Community Supported Agriculture Network UK do?
We're a small organisation, working hard to support CSA farms, both directly and through advocacy.
And we're a tiny powerhouse pushing for CSA movement forward, for the good of the grower, the earth and the local community.
Thanks for being here, by following, liking, commenting and sharing, you're a part of the work we do.
#smallfarming #localfarmers #communitysupportedagriculture
CSA gives farms a reliable business model
Doing good in the world requires financial sustainability.
That's why we champion Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a model. When local people commit to buying produce, farmers can focus on what they do best!
Thanks for sharing your story with us, @blackhillscsa!
We're running a 12-week online Grow Your Own CSA course from October to December, covering everything you need to know to start your CSA.
Book your place and come join us: https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/GYOCSA/
It’s been said many times, growing the stuff is the easy bit, making sure it all gets sold is the hard part. After all, seeds want to grow, we’ve just got to help them along.
If you’re running a CSA you could have an advantage. If youre order book is full and all your shares are taken, you just have to box it up and get it to the customer.
But how do you get to that position? How do you make sure you have a waiting list for all the amazing crops you’ve grown?
We’ve seen a lot of successful marketing and selling over the years and we know how important it is to make sure the world knows about you and your growing business.
Charlotte Barry of Camel CSA and own Neil Hickson will be presenting a session explaining what they know works at our event this weekend.
Book your places on the 7-8th October at our ‘Future Proof Your CSA’ event in Bristol. See our website home page for details and to book your place.
https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/
#regenerativeagriculture #csauk #growfood #CSA #starterfarm #communityfarm #crops #agroecology #community #marketgarden #agriculture #farming #growing #localfood #organic #communitysupportedagriculture #agroecological #csafarm #communityproject #ViaCampesina
Future Proofing your CSA
In our small-scale sector of the farming world, we're facing times of extremes and uncertainty.
An array of economic and climactic factors beyond our control make running a CSA more challenging. But that doesn't mean we can't limit the impact of external pressures on our lives.
Because of the increasing uncertainties, we've decided to give our Bristol gathering the theme of resilience. Let's pool our knowledge, support each other, and Futureproof your CSA.
And this event isn’t just for CSAs. If you are involved in a small-scale farming business, smallholding or any other kind of community farm, the group of experts we’ve assembled have lots of knowledge you can use.
Many of our presentations and discussions will embrace the theme of resilience.
This year, we can celebrate ten years of a growing CSA community in the UK. Let's take this opportunity to build another ten years of CSA growth.
Join us in the vibrant city of Bristol for our gathering in October.
We've put together a great weekend, combining an all-day event at St. Werburghs City Farm with guest speakers, lunch and a hearty evening meal.
See our website home page for all the details. Link in bio. www.communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk
Land for your CSA
Getting land to start a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture Project) is seen as a major hurdle to many people who want to start a CSA. However, there is lots of land out there and finding what you need may not be as impossible as you think. Obtaining land and setting up agreements are some of the first things covered in Tom O'Kane's 'Grow Your Own CSA' course starting this October 10th. Tom's online course is spread over 15 weekly sessions throughout the winter.
See the CSA Network UK Training Programme in the Resouces section of our website to find out more and book your place. Website link in Bio.
(https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/csa-network-uk-training-programme/)
Fixing our fragile food system is another good reason to start a CSA.
There are just a few days left to book yourself on Ed's ‘Start Up and Scale Up’ CSA course this coming weekend in Brighton.
Ed Hamer of Chagfood is running this intensive and comprehensive two-day training course.
Find out more about Ed's course, which runs on the 25th and 26th of February near Brighton, on our website home page at: https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/
There is a whole range of people who take Ed Hamer’s course, from complete beginners right through to people who already run a farm but want to improve their business.
Ed of Chagfood is running an intensive training course in just a few weeks, so book your places now.
Find out more about Ed's two-day ‘Starting Up and Scaling Up’ course, which runs on the 25th and 26th of February near Brighton. For more details see our website home page at:
https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/
We've collaborated with Tom O'Kane of Cae Tan CSA to run a three-month starter course for growers who want to run a CSA. The course starts in October, so you need to check it out now if you want to be up and running for next season. Go to our website to find out more - communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk
Pulling together your CSA Mission - CSA Masterclass
Find your CSA Mission Masterclass - Wednesday 25th May 9:00 am to 11:00 am.
You’ve found some land and you want to grow veg to start a CSA. But, one of your team wants to grow flowers and another thinks pigmy goats are the way forward. The boys just want to buy a tractor. To make it worse, time pressure means you’re way behind schedule.
Your CSA dream needs a mission everyone can sign up for otherwise, you're dead before you’ve started.
How can you work through all these things and come out of the other side with a plan that keeps everyone united? Finding your ‘mission’ through this workshop will put you well on your way.
CSA Network UK Coordinator Suzy Russel and grower Srik Narayanan will give you tools, ideas and inspiration to steer a clear path to achieve your CSA goal.
Book your place today:
https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/finding-your-csa-mission/
Would you like to benefit from an expert’s knowledge and experience?
Do you have any burning questions or unresolved issues around starting a CSA?
For the last few years, CSA Network UK has been running a rolling program of masterclasses. They’re designed to help anyone planning or already running a CSA.
Our masterclasses are hosted by CSA Network UK’s friends and colleagues. You’ll benefit from their knowledge and experience of running CSA’s.
Book your place now. If you’re a member of CSA Network UK or short on funds you can attend for free. General admission is just £4.00.
25/05/2022
Finding your CSA mission
08/06/2022
Business planning and finance
29/06/2022
Engaging and maintaining members and marketing your CSA
06/07/2022
Land access, insurance, people skills, management and governance, legal structure
20/07/2022
Crop planning, year-round growing and hungry gap ideas
Go to our website home page to find out more and book:
https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/
