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Farmers, residents reap new benefits
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
Most people don’t get a chance to pull weeds, pick produce off a plant, or even see where the vegetables they eat grow.
But two area organizations are giving Mahoning Valley residents a chance to do just that.
One way they’re doing that is through Community Supported Agriculture, which allows individuals to purchase a share in a farm’s crop. It’s a win-win situation: The farmer finds a market for his crop, and the buyer receives fresh vegetables every week during the growing season.
Grow Youngstown, an organization dedicated to creating a healthy and economically viable local food system, is starting its third year of bringing farmers and individuals together.
The first year, one farmer participated in the Grow Youngstown CSA. He supplied 17 people with produce, said Elsa Higby, executive director of Grow Youngstown.
This year, three farms are involved in the program, and they will offer 85 shares.
“We’re trying to basically increase the agricultural economy in the area by going to existing farmers, farmers that already are practicing sustainable methods of agriculture,” Higby said.
The other organization offering a CSA is Goodness Grows.
“Goodness Grows wants to be able to provide food that’s good for people and for the environment,” said Meagan Zeune, program director for Goodness Grows.
The North Lima-based nonprofit aims to help individuals and communities thrive through “regenerative: agriculture. Founded in 2007, this is the first year the organization will offer a CSA.
Goodness Grows will grow produce for CSA members on a half-acre site on Common Ground Church property. The organization is sponsored by Common Ground Church.
Goodness Grows won’t be using pesticides.
The goal, Zeune said, is to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
“You can use natural soaps and things like that, if you need to deter pests,” she said.
Grow Youngstown doesn’t require farmers in their program to be certified organic but does require that they grow sustainably.
For Grow Youngstown, Higby said, that means aging manure for at least a year, not using herbicides or pesticides, and following the organic practices set by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association to the best of the farmer’s abilities.
The growing season ranges from 18 to 21 weeks, depending on the farm.
On average, Higby said, a share includes about nine to 12 pounds of food each week. The types of food vary based on what’s in season each week but include vegetables and herbs.
Both CSAs offer work-share options. If an individual chooses to help with the harvest through either organization, the cost of their share is reduced. Prices range from $225 to $480, depending on the length of the season for the farm and the amount of volunteer work completed.
“If folks want to be more involved in growing and volunteering, then there’s less of a cost to hire someone to help harvest,” Zeune said.
Community sustained agriculture is a healthy option for people, Higby said. It’s also good for a person’s pocketbook. The cost of buying through a CSA is typically cheaper than buying from a large chain store.
Higby and Zeune point out that a CSA share is different from picking up a few vegetables at the store.
“Inevitably, people have to cook more,” Higby said. “Suddenly, they get this box of vegetables and it’s going to go bad if they don’t do something with it.”
Recipe ideas and tips for canning or preserving the items are offered to participants.
The concept also helps the local economy, Higby said.
Grow Youngstown’s CSA program has generated $20,000 for local farmers in the two years since its inception. This year, they anticipate that figure to be $45,000 to $50,000.
For more information about the Grow Youngstown program, go to http://growyoungstown.org/csa.html or call (212) 255-3505. For more information about Goodness Grows, go to www.goodnessgrows.net or call (330) 549-9408.