1. Welcome

2. CSA - Community Supported Agriculture 5th March Third Space Your Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Wholesome Food!

3. Agenda Introduction video Brief history of our CSA group What is CSA?
Why CSA?
Advantages for growers
Advantages for buyers
Challenges
Next steps
Q&A

4. Video

5. Brief history of our CSA group
Set up in 2013
Organically grown local plant food in the city
Members
Ongoing process
Our aim is to research and find a way to source organically grown local plant food in Dublin city.
Our group members are diverse. Where most of us had been growing vegetables and fruits for years, working in community gardens, food cooperation and constantly researching about food economics, other members just started to get in touch with searching for alternatives to supermarkets. We try to find out how to make it practical for us, how to make it work. It is an ongoing process of learning, experiencing and discovering!

6. What is CSA? Partnership between producers and consumers
Responsibilities, risks and rewards are shared
One or a small number of local producers
Emphasis on local food systems
Members’ active role
CSA  is more than a way to feed you with healthy, local and organic food. It is commitment, learning and community engagement.

7. Why CSA? Independence/food sovereignty Health Environment Community
Flexibility & control
Long-term sustainability
Self-financing
Widely accessible

8. Versus

9. Industrial vs Ecological
Agriculture model
Industrial vs Ecological
Industrial model
Ecological model
Energy intensive
Information intensive
Linear process
Cyclical process
Farm as factory
Farm as ecosystem
Single enterprise
Many enterprises
Monoculture
Diversity of plants and animals
Low-value products
Higher-value products
Passive marketing
Active marketing
Monoculture: weaker plants, need for pesticides etc.
Diversity of plants & animals: healthier plants, richer soil, less need for human intervention

10. Advantages for growers
Enjoy fair pay
Can concentrate on farming
Get a little help – workdays
Unique delivery point
Are part of the community, and accountable to it

11. Advantages for buyers Good quality food Value for money
Straight from source (no middlemen)
Empowering
Trust bond

12. Next steps Spread the word! Join our group
Blog
Chat to one of us!
Start a CSA group
Resources (
Network (CSA Dublin, Skerries, Cloughjordan)
Spread the word!

13. Questions?