Want to Use Your Homestead for a CSA Program? Sharing the Love (and the Veggies)
You’ve got a thriving homestead with fresh eggs, homegrown fruits and veggies, and several curious chickens. You’re living the dream—or at least your dream—and now you may wonder: Could this become more than a personal passion? The answer is a resounding yes!
Turning your homestead into a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program or PMA (Private Ministerial Association) allows you to share your bountiful harvests, connect with locals in your community, and maybe bring in extra funding to keep your sustainable farming dreams alive.
This article explores CSA and PMA options with a side of wit and wisdom!
Option 1: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
CSA is the tried-and-true method of community connection. Think of it as starting a fan club, except you’re handing out kale instead of signing autographs.
How a CSA Works
The Basics: Families or singles sign up as shareholders, paying a seasonal fee for a weekly share of your farm’s harvests, including eggs, produce, and other sustainable farming goodies.
The Benefits: You get upfront funding to cover seeds, animal feed, and maybe that fancy new tractor you’ve been saving for. Shareholders get delicious, nutritious food fresher than anything in a grocery store. Win-win!
What to Include: Think of seasonal veggies, eggs, flowers, honey or homemade jams, canned goods, and anything you may grow in your gardens. Offer variety to keep shareholders excited about weekly hauls.
Why a CSA is Awesome!
A CSA is as much about community connections and relationships as it is about food and farm funding. Shareholders become part of your farm’s story, helping you practice sustainable, homegrown options from planting seasons to harvests. Additionally, a CSA is an easy way to channel your inner farmer-influencer persona without going viral on social media platforms like TikTok.
How to Get Started:
- Make a list of what you can realistically offer weekly.
- Set a seasonal fee. Don’t sell yourself short—those homegrown tomatoes are worth more than you think.
- Use social media, local bulletin boards, or platforms like Local Harvest to attract an audience.
- Deliver the goods (or set up a pick-up spot). Your shareholders need a way to collect their farm-fresh loot. Bonus points if your favorite friendly chicken is there to say hi!
Option 2: Private Ministerial Association (PMA)
When faith drives your farming dreams, consider a flexible PMA for your homestead.
A Glimpse into Hidden Oak Farm:
Hidden Oak Farm began as a small family garden in 2022 and has grown into a flourishing farm with 200 fruit trees and gardens to feed over 30 families. It offers everything from sourdough bread to organic jam, laundry detergent, and coffee across a vibrant community hub. They keep a flock of 100 birds, providing fresh chicken and duck eggs while operating under a 508(c)(1)(a) designation. This enables them to function as a faith-based farm funded by shareholder donations.
Their program offers weekly produce to shareholders, but they can add meats, seafood, raw dairy, baked goods, and more from local producers. Shareholders can also add services to round out weekly hauls. Outside of the weekly produce, Hidden Oak also sells quail, duck, and chicken eggs that they raise on the farm.
Membership Tiers at Hidden Oak Farm:
- Members sign a private membership agreement to join the sustainable farming community where they can buy, sell, and trade goods.
- Shareholders are financial donors gifted weekly farm goods like fresh fruits, veggies, and eggs.
A PMA like Hidden Oak Farm has a flexible structure and no government oversight. Sustainable farmers can operate their farms their way, often letting their Christian beliefs guide them. If you are driving distance from Franklin, Tennessee, and want to check out Hidden Oak Farm in Leipers Fork, call Christine Novakovich at 615-299-2524 or email hiddenoakpma@gmail.com.
Why Choose a Local CSA or PMA for Christmas and the New Year?
Imagine unpacking a box of fresh-picked produce weekly, knowing it came from a trusted farm in your community. Consider giving your loved ones the gift of fresh, local food this Christmas and New Year. Joining a CSA (or starting one) enables you to eat healthier, support local farms, build community relationships, and make sustainable farming and living choices. It’s a thoughtful gift—way better than another pair of socks!
Not sure where to start? Learn more about your local Community-Supported Agriculture at Local Harvest.
Why Sharing Your Bounty Makes Sense
Every farmer has that moment. One day, you’re harvesting a handful of tomatoes, then you’re staring down a mountain of zucchini, wondering if your neighbors would appreciate another heaping basket full.
Instead of overwhelming loved ones with surprise veggies (which we are sure they appreciate), turn overabundance into something more meaningful with a CSA or PMA. Share your homestead’s harvest to make more room in your garden while connecting with others. Turn your dirt-under-the-fingernails lifestyle into a source of inspiration and nourishment for your community.
How to Start a Farm Community
- Plan Your Offerings and Define Your Mission. Whether faith-based, food-focused, or both, decide what you want your farm community to offer and stand for. What fruits, veggies, eggs, or farm goods will you consistently provide?
- Build Partnerships. Collaborate with other local farms or artisans to offer a broader range of products. As they say, sharing is caring, and a larger community of farmers means more produce and homestead goods for everyone.
- Choose Your Model. Research CSAs and PMAs. Which would best align with your vision and federal and state guidelines?
- Engage Your Community. Connect with potential members and shareholders via social media, local events, and word-of-mouth. Attend festivals and weekly farmers’ markets to find a group of like-minded individuals to invite into your community.
- Stay Organized. Use tools like Local Harvest or a spreadsheet system to track members, donations, and distribution of weekly goods. As your community grows, consider hiring someone to manage the logistics of your CSA or PMA.
Be Inspired by Stoney Creek Farm in Tennessee
The idea of beginning a CSA or PMA may feel overwhelming, but don’t worry—you don’t have to do it alone. Stoney Creek Farm in Tennessee could be your go-to resource for sustainable living and farm management tips.
Stoney Creek Farm offers workshops, community events, and guidance, embodying the spirit of community farming. From raising chickens to creating eco-friendly gardens, homesteading help can be found here.
Ready to leap? Visit Stoney Creek Farm to learn more about sustainable farming, CSA programs, and maintaining a thriving farm while supporting community connections.
