Small Farm, Good Food, Community Support: Check Out Cropsey Farm

The Rockland Farm Alliance has a mission: to grow nutritious, delicious food for Rocklanders and provide a working example of a farm that thrives ecologically, economically and as a center for learning.  

And they're looking for volunteers.

Community-supported agriculture—like the RFA is doing at Cropsey Community Farm—is growing in popularity.

In 1986 there were exactly two CSAs in the United States—now the number is 6,500 and growing, according to Steven McFadden, who summarized the data in a recent blog post on The Call of the Land.

"CSA farms and the networks they establish are in so many ways a positive, creative response to the swift and fundamental changes taking place in the world, in our food, and in the way the land is held and treated," McFadden wrote. "CSAs are becoming a significant alternative to the industrial agrifood system. For many reasons, their steady proliferation over the last 26 years is noteworthy."

Localharvest.org lists some of the reasons CSAs are so popular:

Advantages for farmers:

• Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
• Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
• Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

• Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
• Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown

If you're interested in CSAs, farm-to-table initiatives, eating healthy, or the Rockland County landmark itself, join RFA staff July 16, as they give an overview of their organization and its projects to prospective volunteers. 

"Learn about ways to plug in to the work being done to support local agriculture. We'll have snacks, appetizers and beverages," RFA officials said in a press release. 

The info session will run Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Cropsey Community Farm. 220 S. Little Tor Road in New City. RSVP to info@rocklandfarm.org