1. “A lawn of around a third of an acre could… feed a family of six” – H Flores, ‘Food not Lawns’ 2006

2. Community Supported Agriculture and Buying Groups Kirstin Glendinning kglendinning@soilassociation.org

3. CSA… …a partnership between producers and consumers…… where the responsibilities, risks and rewards of food production are more evenly shared….

4. Key characteristics Advanced/regular payment for food Shared ‘risk-reward’ agreement – consumers agree to eat what the farmers grow – season-dependant Transparent budgeting Access to land where food is produced

5. B ut why CSA? Self-financing - independence, flexibility Sustainable - improved farming techniques – organic, post-peak oil? - sustainable livelihood for farmer/grower - guaranteed market – no waste - development of resilient community networks Accessible - work shares - ‘share a share’ - Credit Unions - internal CSA loans - external funding/sponsored shares

6. Some conclusions… No prescribed model A tool for transition

7. CSAs on farms… Swillington CSA Fruit and vegetable scheme 50 shares 1 part-time grower £28,000 turnover (yr 2) No external funding www.swillingtoncsa.org

8. Buying groups… The Fowl Coop – Swillington Organic Farm Members pay £50 every 6 months Receive 1 chicken/month, for 6 months Delivered to their local farmers’ market The Pig CSA – Swillington Organic Farm Members pay £90 every 3 months Receive pork box once a month, for 3 months Delivered to their local farmers’ market

9. Swillington CSA SUMA buying group… Discounts through bulk buying Monthly delivery Fair trade, organic, local where possible

10. Stroud Community Agriculture Community-owned enterprise (IPS) 2 farmers, paid approx £20,000pa 50 acre biodynamic mixed farm 200 members £60,000 turnover www.stroudcommunityagriculture. org CSAs on farms…

11. CSAs in your back garden… Your Backyard Farmer, Oregon – MyFarm, San Francisco – www.yourbackyardfarmer.com www.myfarmsf.comwww.yourbackyardfarmer.com Decentralised urban farm Uses unproductive land Consumer involvement Zero food miles Good access Now also in Leeds and Milton Keynes…

12. In your neighbourhood…. Allotments: Green Patch, Kettering http://www.kettering.gov.uk/download s/green_patch_application.pdf Public Parks: Het Open Veld, Leuven, Belgium http://www.hetopenveld.be/bio.htm Smallholdings: FutureFarms, Wiltshire http://www.futurefarms.org.uk/

13. What next in Chesterfield? People Land Growers/farmers

15. Information & Support… The Soil Association Community Supported Agriculture and Buying Groups project is providing: advice and support to new CSAs and BGs organising training events and networking opportunities comprehensive range of information such as action manual, ‘how to’ guides, case studies and practical examples through our website www.soilassociation.org/csa

16. Making Local Food Work Consortium of 7 groups led by Plunkett Foundation We work on CSA and buying groups. Other partners offer: Sustain - food co-ops and local food distribution FARMA - Co-operatively run farmers’ markets Country Markets - home-produced food Plunkett - community shops and local food supply Co-ops UK - good governance and advice for community enterprises CPRE - food web mapping www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk

17. Community Supported Agriculture contacts: Amanda Daniel Information Officer Soil Association (Bristol) T: 0117 914 2424 E: adaniel@soilassociation.org Kirstin Glendinning Regional Development Coordinator – Leeds &Bradford, Midlands and Eastern England T: 0794 7715715 E: kglendinning@soilassociation.orgadaniel@soilassociation.org