To celebrate the first day of remembrance of the release ofThe CSA Cookbook , today ’s post goes back — way back , to the beginning of the CSA movement and the people and place I visited while promoting my Word of God on a fussy - country route trip . Enjoy this small slice of American farm history !
It ’s been estimated that there are between 6,000 and 6,500 CSA ( Community Supported Agriculture ) farms in the United States today . It ’s gruelling to get an exact count because such farms are n’t traverse by the government , and there ’s no definitive answer to what represent a “ CSA farm ” for the USDA Agricultural Census .
But in 1986 , the enumeration was much more clear - cut : two . There were only two CSA first step , Indian Line Farmin Massachusetts andTemple - Wilton Community Farmin New Hampshire .
Both operations still exist , and in fact , Indian Line Farm and its founder , Robyn Van En , have mostly been credit with pioneer the CSA construct in North America . ( you’re able to read more about those early days in myprevious post about CSA farms . )
When I took off onThe CSA Cookbook Road Tripin the summertime of 2015 , I roll in the hay I needed to visit the place of birth of such an influential apparent movement in the food and farm industriousness .
Though Robyn Van En break accidentally in 1997 , her farm ( and her legacy ) passed on to two local James Leonard Farmer in collaborationism with The Community Land Trust in the Southern Berkshires and The Berkshire Highlands Program of The Nature Conservancy .
The farmers , Elizabeth Keen and Al Thorp , were apprentices at a nearby CSA farm short before Van En ’s expiry . For two summer , they rented Amerindic Line Farm from Van En ’s son while deciding what their next step would be . In 1999 , they were approached by The Community Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy to remain farm and preserving the land through a unparalleled partnership model based on a long - term 99 - year letting .
They ’ve maintained a CSA course of study at the 17 - acre farm since the partnership began , and have purchased the house , barn , and other buildings on the property while continuing to improve the soil and raise it organically .
I reach out to Elizabeth when my book turn take me through Western Massachusetts , and she graciously agreed to give me a turn of the farm . I ’d never been to the Berkshires before , but I envisage former June is one of the unspoiled time of yr to chat the part . The effort through the picturesque fleeceable Hill of South Egremont was so serene and straight out of a storybook , complete with unclouded blue skies stud with puffy clean clouds .
We passed farm after farm on an empty country road , and nearly missed the unassuming fiddling sign for Indian Line Farm . After nigh to two decades , the farm continued to retain its family - run , rustic charm — clearly the laborious work of two passionate farmers and their little team of employees , interns , and volunteers .
We arrived on a quiet day when all the farmworkers were off , but Elizabeth say they had just start up their CSA season . The farm was flourishing with words after wrangle of root crop , leafy greens , and tomato plant industrial plant .
Aside from the usual assortment of vegetables and herbs , the farm also offers fruits , flowers , vegetable seedlings , and bed plant life , all grown onsite , as well as local lucre and meat from neighboring farm .
While most CSA percentage are based on a set loge of produce that farm pick for their members , Indian Line operate on a farmstand - case model where member can mix and match that week ’s harvest to their liking . Certain crops that are more clock time - consume for the farmers to harvest , but much beloved by fellow member such as rupture pea and green beans , are pick - your - own in peak time of year .
Elizabeth and Al consider themselves lifelong scholarly person of factory farm . They ’re devoted to promoting good growing pattern and stewarding the ground they ’ve been intrust with . As Elizabeth said :
“ Once you start put energy into land , you become connected . And I straightaway fell in love with being here . ”
Thank you , Elizabeth , for giving us this glimpse into your beautiful life-time !
