A CSA or Community Supported Agriculture is an association of individuals who support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA members usually pay at the onset of the growing season for a share of the harvest; once harvesting begins, they receive weekly shares of vegetables and fruit, and also sometimes herbs, cut flowers, honey, eggs, dairy products and meat, as well. Some CSAs provide for contributions of labor in lieu of a portion of subscription costs.

Benefits of joining a CSA:

• Know where and how your food is grown and handled

• Support your local farmers and community

• Learn to eat with the seasons- there’s growing seasons/times when certain fruits and vegetables are available. Most produce shouldn’t be accessible all year round.

• Connect to the food and the land

• Have access to fresh, local produce-grown with little or no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers

• Have access to a variety of produce that you may not find in grocery stores

• Opportunity to try something new and different

• Learn how to eat better and healthier, cut back on your carbon footprint and most times you actually save money by buying locally.

• Help build a community among CSA members, farmers, and the local community.

The Good Farm in Berlin, Maryland has a new concept for the 2013 year! With their CSA or Farmers’ Market Co-op you determine what items you would like to purchase and you decide how much you would like to spend for the year! $100 prepaid produce card entitles you to $120 of produce from The Good Farm at Ocean Pines Farmers’ Market on Saturdays or for pick up from The Good Farm at 11341 Sinepuxent Rd.

Here’s the cool idea… instead of paying for produce you can also join “the working farm or community wellness program” by contributing your time and skills, you decide how you would like to help the farm. You can volunteer to work in the gardens, share your skills of construction to plumbing expertise, even help with social media, networking, and promoting. Just work 4-6 hours a week and leave with a basket of goodies for your time and hard work. Children are always welcome and it’s a great opportunity to get their hands dirty, teach them something new, and how to get involved.

Ready to be apart of this new and exciting opportunity?? Contact Christie McDowell at 410-713-8803 or email the [email protected]. Find them on the web at or follow them on Facebook and stay up to date on all their upcoming events, farm dinners, and ever-growing community wellness program.