Before I started farming, I was always looking for ways to stretch the grocery budget and still give my family good, nutritious food. One of my favorite ways to do that was to show up at a random church parking lot and pick up a box of unknown vegetables! It wasn’t exactly Community Shared Agriculture… these veggies weren’t locally grown. But it DID share a lot of the same perks and challenges.

Taking part in local agriculture is an important part of community living. Just like shopping at your local farmers’ markets, it’s a way to participate in and strengthen the food systems that are closest to home. Neighbors who are engaged in farming and ranching are an integral cog in a system that’s poised to carry you through tough times, should they arise. Getting to know them, supporting their efforts, and taking some ownership in the growing process simply isn’t a bad idea.

If the term “community supported agriculture” (CSA) is new to you, you’re in the right place. I’m here to shed some light on what it is, why I love it, and how to make the most of your CSA share.

What Is CSA?

Community Shared Agriculture is a collaboration between producers and consumers designed to spread risk and encourage growth. Consumers agree to purchase “shares” from producers before the growing season begins. This gives producers a degree of stability they need to make planting decisions while assuring consumers that they’ll be first in line for the freshest seasonal foods possible.

The CSA movement in North America began in 1986. The first farms to adopt the model were inspired by the philosophies of E.F. Schumacher. One of Schumacher’s foundational concepts was to create an economy where what is consumed locally is produced locally. It impacted two farmers from Massachusetts so profoundly that they forged a path for farmers and consumers that more and more people are taking today.

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful:Economics As If People Mattered

CSA Basics

While each CSA is unique and you should ask your questions directly to each one you’re considering, here are some general rules you can expect.

Language & expectations: You’ll purchase a “share” in a CSA. Some will offer “half-shares” or let you buy multiple shares. This is simply a word that’s used to describe a portion of what’s produced and isn’t an exact weight, volume, or number of items. Well-established CSAs will be able to give you an idea of what your share will include, but it’s important to remember that there’s no guarantee in farming.
Learning curves: Unlike visiting the grocery store with a pre-planned menu and shopping list, joining a CSA means your box will be your cooking guide. You can ask for your farm’s grow list, but the brussel sprouts may or may not sprout this week… so you could be learning about cooking with kohlrabi instead!
Connections: Most CSAs prefer on-farm pickups. The whole point, after all, is to connect consumers with producers! When you go to gather your produce box, you’ll have the opportunity to see the operation, chat with the farmers, and maybe even do a little farming yourself.

Questions to Ask Your CSA

There are some across-the-board facts about CSAs, which we’ll cover in a second. But it’s improtant to realize that each community can organize their agricultural endeavors in any way that fits their needs best! Because of that, you’re responsible to do your due diligence and ensure your expectations are realistic. Here are some questions you should have answered before joining your local CSA.

When will I pay for my share? Some CSA groups have large, up-front charges that cover your entire season. This helps them with up-front costs that can get the project off the ground. Others have small, regular chargers that work like a subscription, though they may still require a commitment for the full season.
How often will I get a box? Boxes can be made weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Some well-established farms offer options and the size of your share will be up to you. Smaller farms may only have one option and a limited number of available shares.
What will be included? The foundation of a CSA is produce, and a farm will probably be able to give you a grow list. There may be optional add-ons like baked goods or local meats and eggs.
What if I need to skip a box? Refunds aren’t usually a part of a CSA, since you’re dealing with perishables and a commitment to support the farm. BUT, you may be able to donate your box to a family in need or get tips on extending the life of your produce so you can enjoy it when you return from vacation.
How do I get my box? Most farms have on-farm pick up, while some offer local meet-ups or delivery. You may also have the option of picking your box up at a local farmers market if your farm sets up a booth.

It’s in everyone’s best interest to have both consumer and producer well-informed before going into business with one another. There are no dumb questions, so any questions you have should be asked!

Is CSA Right for You?

Joining a CSA may be right for you if you…

Like to cook at home
Want to eat more seasonally
Enjoy exploring new things in the kitchen
Feel strongly about where your money goes

Some challenges you could face include…

Too much food. Share with a neighbor, split the cost of a share, or learn how to preserve the harvest if you find yourself overrun with produce.
Upfront cost. Unless your CSA offers weekly or monthly payments, it may be a large chunk of cash to reserve a share. Ask about your options.
Boredom. Some crops have longer growing seasons than others. You may grow tired of eating sliced cucumbers! Get creative to combat boredom.

Does Petrichor Farm Offer CSA Shares?

We’re testing out the CSA model with select individuals and small commitments during 2025. While we navigate the learning curve around offering subscription boxes and solidify our growing plans for the future you can find us at weekly markets in Choctaw (Fridays from 6 pm to 8 pm) and Norman (Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm).

Why CSA Matters (Now More Than Ever)

My belief in the importance of local productions has been strengthened over the years by various major events. I remember going out and buying a water filtration device after the Flint Water Crisis. The giant Berkey system I wanted was out of my budget, but years of camping and hiking sent me straight to REI for an affordable, portable option. Next up was the atmospheric river that flooded thousands of acres in California’s farm lands while thousands more burned up north. Then Covid-19 arrived, and we all know what that did to our nation’s supply chains…

Our ability to transport goods around the world has come at great cost. While we enjoy getting our random Amazon packages 12 hours after we click “Order Now” and eating exotic fruits at any time of year, there are downsides we often prefer to ignore.

Ecological impact: Buying and consuming whatever strikes our fancy in a given moment hurts our environment. I’m not an environmental warrior, by any stretch of the imagination — I gag on paper straws — but I DO believe that we have a responsibility to be honest about the impact our habits have on this planet we call home. And, honestly, our consumption is a problem. Joining a CSA drastically reduces your “food miles”. That’s one way you can reduce your carbon footprint and minimize any negative impact on the world.
Economic support: In these polarizing political times, one issue that reliably brings people together is where NOT to send our money. So many of our family members, friends, and neighbors are struggling to get by, and watching some grow richer and richer by the day grates on our sense of justice. Choosing where we spend our money, when we can, lends a sense of ownership. Joining a CSA assures us no giant overseer is pilfering their pockets (well… other than Uncle Sam) and no costly middleman distributors are shrinking their gains. Every time you hand cash to a fellow farmer, it goes directly to them.
Community ties: If you’ve been around a while, you may already know that I’m re-evaluating my relationship with social media. It’s a thing for a few reasons, but the one that relates to this topic is “community.” Our society is more disconnected than ever, despite our thousands of Facebook ‘friends’ and ‘connections’ on LinkedIn. Spread so thin with shallow, fleeting interactions, I long for depth and authenticity. Do you? Getting to know your local community, through civic engagement, bringing your purchasing power back home, and eating local, is one way to combat this endemic of loneliness.

Try a Local CSA

Until we’re ready to expand our own offerings, I’ll direct my neighbors to fellow Norman Farm Market vendor Stacy at OK Harvest. Reach out to her directly for all those important details you learned about here and start supporting your local farmer with a CSA share!

Community Supported Agriculture: More Than a Veggie Box