More Food for Thought

On the previous post I hadn't extended my research quite far enough, and Wikipedia (duh, Daniel, duh) suggested a great resource in the way of community agriculture: Local Harvest.

Local Harvest is a "comprehensive" directory of farmers markets, farms, stores, and restaurants that support community agriculture. It's easy to sign up to become a part of the directory. Maps are interactive and can be searched by state or zip-code. For example, one can easily get a list of Farmers Markets within 100 miles or all listings within fifty miles of Alexandria (from which I copped the six farms in the following paragraph). Another nice feature is that individual farm profiles provide recipes and the seasons when each of their products are available.

Most of the farm listings are not of CSA farms, though interesting nonetheless. Fred's Garden in Hornbeck (near Leesville and Many) is proud of their naturally grown tomatoes and summer squash, and goats and sheep are grass-fed and pastured by Running Moon Farm of Dry Creek (for wool) and Boggs Farms of Sugartown (for meat). Ville Platte boasts naturally grown peas and okra from Purple Hull Ranch Farm, premium jams and preserves from Bayou Chicot's Watershed Farm, and free-range chicken eggs from Sopers Hole Ranch.

It is also easy to find Louisiana's CSA farms that have registered with the Local Harvest. They show four. In addition to Pastime Farms and EquiTerra Farm mentioned in the previous entry Food for Thought, we find two more certified organic CSA farms: Gotreaux's Family Farms and Abba's Hill Organics. Gotreaux's Family Farms is in Scott, just west of Lafayette. They have fifteen shares (including half-shares, $400 / $200), and offer food (including honey and a number of meats) from September through July during two sixteen week harvest periods. Tours of the farm are also available. The weekly pickup point is Lafayette's City Garden Market.

Abba's Hill Organics is the one that got me interested; their motto: "Bees, Chickens, & Garden Pickins." They even sell their own sourdough bread. The farm is located between Many and Natchitoches, about seventy-five miles from Alexandria. In addition to having fifteen CSA shares ($15 / week, 20 weeks), they sell their produce and products at the Cane River Green Market in Natchitoches. It's nice to see the presence of a CSA farm in Cenla, and though they individual arrange share pickup and delivery, I doubt they'd provide service as far as Alexandria.

There are likely other CSA farms in the state, as even I have to admit that not everything can be found on the internet. Growing organically and naturally is gaining obvious popularity across the country. I am optimistic about the extent to which CSA will remain sustainable in other parts, and whether local community supported agriculture will finally make its way to Alexandria. I have a feeling that it is merely the matter of finding a willing farm close enough to the city (remember, CSA helps responsible consumers reduce the market risk for local farmers).

I also hope people will read the comments to the other Food for Thought post. A friend mentions that in Argentina, similar practices are used to provide food for destitute areas. Community gardens at schools nutritiously feed the schoolchildren. I also wonder if in the long run a CSA arrangement for an American school or Food Bank would be feasible.