Kitsap Community Agriculture Alliance Meeting

Last Night was the monthly meeting of Kitsap county's Community Agriculture Alliance Monthly Meeting that is usually held on the second Tuesday each month.

This Months theme was how CSA's ( community supported Agriculture) filled an important niche in the Local food web.

Jim Freeman (http://www.buylocalfoodinkitsap.org/) Moderated the meeting was attended by many Local Farmers like myself and few interested citizens/consumers.

Nikki Johanson of (http://www.pheasantfields.com/) and Marilyn Holt of Abundantly Green Farm ( http://holtcapital.com/abundantlygreen/) were the Main Speakers.

Also in attendance were: Shannon Harkness; Red Barn farm (http://www.redbarnfresh.com/) Paul Gregroy farm; Jerry Darnell (WSU instructor and Protien Farmer) Jay Pope; Rob Storie of All one family Farm (http://www.allonefamilyfarm.com/) Cheif Jeff as well as other guests.

Nikki and Marilyn spent many long hours putting a PowerPoint Presentation together with the help of Shannon Harkness but alas the Projection equipment where the meetings are usually held on the first floor were out of order so we all moved up from the first floor to the fourth floor. but alas, it was not to be arg! no laptop. So, Nikki and Marilyn winged it.

Nikki went first and spoke about the pro's, con's and pitfalls of CSA'S. She related several humorous stories about some unfortunate happenings when CSA members visit. One little girl of a CSA member left with less hair than she showed up with due to a hair eating goat. Another child of a CSA member left in a full body suit made up of several large garbage bags due to the child wallowing in the mud. She also explained that operating a successful CSA means spending time educating consumers on how to eat seasonally and often provides Recipes to members. She recommended that anyone wanting to start a CSA read the book " Sharing the Harvest by
Elizabeth Hendrson",

Marilyn Holt said that it took them a while to figure out what to grow so as not to compete with local stores. She admonished that we need to be respectful and aware of the ebbs and flows of nature and expressed that no two growing seasons are going to be the same even though you may grow the same crop year after year in the same soil.

Both Nikki and Marilyn bemoaned the fact that in the last few years the normal weather patterns are changing and related on how they were scrambling in May to fend off frost!!

Marilyn stated that only 3% of Kitsap county's food is grown locally and there is a greater demand than is currently produced and more small Local farmers like ourselves are needed.

They also advised that if you are considering a CSA to start out small maybe say 5-10 members to get the hang of it and sell the remainder at a Local farmers market.

When I asked both Marilyn and Nikki what they thought was the most important step someone who was considering starting a CSA both agreed that Volunteering at a Local CSA Farm for one season at least to get a working idea if it is for them or not.