“S” Stands for Supported

July 23, 2024

“I’m proud to be part of your CSA and as a grateful member, I want to assure you that no matter what I get in my share I understand that the S stands for supported. Meaning that I have agreed to support you and your farm in good times and bad.”

Wow. These were the beautiful words shared with us last week. They came from a longtime CSA member and friend of our farm after reading our Farmers’ Journal entry about this soggy farming season.

We were deeply touched by this note after spending time routing water out of our field crops. We were touched by the deep understanding and respect for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA or Farm Share) model that supports us.

I was similarly touched and appreciative when another longtime CSA member and friend of the farm stopped me during my rushed CSA activities, looked me straight in the eyes and asked, “How are YOU, really?”

We acknowledge that the relationship between farmers and eaters is different today than generations ago. The relationship between CSA members and farmers brings us back to an earlier time, when the value of food wasn’t measured solely by an exchange of money rather the value of food was also measured by a relationship. Trust in food comes from a trust in us as farmers. The CSA helps us develop that relationship with you throughout the season.

Through sharing, we strive to earn your trust in us and in our farming process. We share a window into our farm work, our farming family life, our tales of success and failure, our efforts to improve, and our efforts to educate others. We do this because you deserve transparent, trustworthy, healthy, safe food. In fact, we all do.

Next week, Jeff will lead the 18th year of our USDA organic certification process. For nearly five hours, Jeff will share with an organic inspector. He will open our records and dive deep into the intricacies of our growing and distribution processes, answering any questions throughout. We welcome the rigor required to earn the USDA’s approval to use the word “organic” for your food.

Feeding people is our passion and our life’s work. Thank you for caring for us as people and trusting us (and our farming partners) as your farmers.

Your farmers,

~Jeff, Jen, David, Cleto, Anacleto, Miguel and the Liberty Prairie team