CSA in the UK, at a glance
We have published the results of our 2024 members survey, which give some strength and data to the many benefits we know our CSA farms provide.
For example, on average CSA farms feed 66 households on just 3.19 hectares.
Read more about the impacts of CSA in the UK, their biggest achievements and challenges here.

CSA in the Gower
In March, the CSA Network UK team embarked on a mini-tour of four Community Supported Agriculture initiatives across the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. The region is seeing a growing number of CSA projects, indicating a significant shift towards sustainable and community-centred farming practices. See more here.

The Agroecology Learning Collective (TALC) has launched
TALC is a new UK-based collective of agroecological trainers, mentors, advisors, centres of learning and demonstration farms. Including a directory of farm training opportunities. More here.

Grow Your Own CSA Course October - December 2024 Tuesdays 6:00 to 7:30pm
Dive into this dynamic 12-session online program designed to equip you with everything you need to succeed in setting up and running a CSA. 
With guest speakers spaced over 12 weeks, run by Tom O'Kane and Cae Tan CSA.
Discount for CSA members and some bursary places available. More here.

CSA start-up and scaling-up course 14th - 15th September 2024
In-person course at Chagford CSA, led by Ed Hamer. The course will build on the first-hand experience they have gained in establishing their own CSA’s over the past ten years to provide the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence for you to start a CSA in your own community. More info and how to sign up here.

The Organic Growers Gathering 27th - 29th September 2024
We are excited to be sponsoring the Organic Growers Gathering 2024 at the Hardwick Estate, South Oxfordshire, cultivating skills and knowledge with the organic growing community.
The gathering is for small scale fruit, veg, herb and flower growers, land workers, crafters and more. Read more.

General Election 4th July 2024 and the new Labour government

• We are writing a letter that you can send to your local elected candidate to ask them to support CSA in your area, you can even invite them to visit your local CSA farm, keep an eye on our website.
• Sustain UK have produced a really helpful summary of the main parties manifestos and what they included about sustainable food and farming here.

Joint letter to new government – support UK horticulture
As part of a larger collective with other organisations, we have sent a briefing to new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed. We are asking the new government to go further than the previous government’s Blueprint to grow the UK fruit and vegetable sector and deliver a bold cross-departmental horticulture strategy, to ensure a resilient fruit and veg supply.

Our asks for the new Labour government...
We will be writing to the new government asking them to offer adequate funding and support to CSAs. We are pleased to see that the Labour manifesto commits to introduce a land-use framework and to make Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes work for farmers and nature. We hope that like all of the other parties committed, the farm payments budget will be increased and new funds will be offered for farmers including CSAs. We are also pleased to see the Labour commitment that local areas are to be given more power over planning, which will hopefully support farm and CSA infrastructure. Additionally that they commit to a 50% local public sector food procurement target.

From the Liberal Democrats manifesto we hope that the Labour government takes forward the suggestion that farmers receive proper advice on transitioning to new environment farm payment schemes. Also that farmers are rewarded to reduce the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

We also hope that Labour recognises the Green Party commitment to rebalance power between big food companies and local alternatives such as local food networks, community-supported agriculture and other co-operatives. And to support a move to mixed farming and implement new horticulture support for fruit and vegetable production. We would like the Labour government to take this forward and make some more commitments to the horticulture sector.

Soon small farms and market gardens will be eligible to apply for the DEFRA Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). This was previously only available for farms larger than 5 hectares. The CSA Network UK are proud to have been part of these conversations advocating for more support for smaller farms of less than 5 hectares. More here.

More policy news:

• Over 100 organisations and academics have called on the FAO to retract a key report over serious methodological errors downplaying the emissions reduction potential of a shift to lower-meat and dairy diets, in a joint letter.
• Basic Income For Farmers (BI4Farmers) have published their first discussion paper: "Sowing the Seeds of Stability: The case for a basic income for farmers, farmworkers and food producers in the UK. 

CSA in the Big Issue – support British farmers
Our Network Coordinator Suzy Russell was in the Big Issue last week fighting the case for small-scale farms and CSAs.
“The government can say ‘buy British’ all they want. But if they want that to be a reality, they need to support farmers.” Read more here.

The power of CSA features on BBC Countryfile. Our CSA Network UK board member Charlotte Barry at Camel Community Supported Agriculture (Camel CSA), North Cornwall, featured on Countryfile.

More CSA in the media:

• Cae Felin CSA in Swansea 'The Swansea-based project delivering mental health and wellbeing benefits as well as fruit and veg'.
• The ‘UK’s most sustainable neighbourhood’ the Phoenix Project in Lewes, Sussex. And the pros of having a CSA involved, featuring Kirskstall Valley Farm CSA in The Grocer.
• The peril facing Britain’s fruit and veg -  since 2013, the number of CSAs in the UK, such as Brighton’s Fork and Dig It and Forest Row’s Tablehurst Farm, have increased six-fold, from 33 to 200. Sussex Bylines.
• The Green Party commit to CSA in their manifesto 'Rebalancing the power dynamic between big food manufactures and local alternatives such as local food networks, community-supported agriculture and other co-operatives'
• Ben Vista Farm CSA in Northern Ireland launches new initiative to help lower income families access organic vegetables here.

The Community Farm seeks new members for its management committee – Chew Magna, Bristol. The Farm is looking to appoint up to three new members, with a particular need for a lawyer and an accountant.

Other opportunities:

• Land opportunity - 'we are 5 members of a small land based community near Glastonbury. We have lots of food planted this year,  we are looking  for an energetic couple with their own van / caravan to come and share this paradise. If you love weeding  and watering plants , and are looking to relocate , send me a message .  The   rent is minimal ,  and a commitment of 10 a week hours working on the land. Community minded people only please.' Contact ingrid@ingridcrawford.co.uk
• Shared Assets are hiring a Resourcing and Relationships Coordinator. 

A thank you you to Elaine for her generous contribution to support two new CSA start-ups in our incubator programme, to receive support and mentorship over the next two years.

Elaine says: 
I feel this is an important initiative to support. I have very much appreciated the opportunity to be involved with our two local farms; I choose to buy from them because I trust the way that they produce my food, because I can connect with the people who are growing my vegetables, and because there is transparency in their processes. It's also important to me that these farms have various sorts of community outreach in place - giving opportunities to children to connect with nature, and involving all sectors of the community (not just those that are buying from them). I would love other people to be able to feel part of the community around an agricultural initiative of this type. I feel that, over the course of my lifetime, we have become more separated from the food that we eat, and I would like to support something that brings us back closer. I would also like to support farms and other food-producing initiatives that want to ground themselves with the community.

Also, this particular project seems so worthwhile - mentoring people who want to deepen their connection with the community and learn how to make a success of a community-supported agricultural venture opens so many doors, not just for the farms themselves, but for people who come into contact with them. It feels like starting something that could ripple outwards and cause beneficial change in so many ways.
 

CSA members and supporters receive 60% off Charles Dowding online courses - contact us for the discount