Aug 25, 20223 min read

Harvesting Hope {Week 13 CSA}

Purchasing and celebrating locally grown organic produce translates far beyond vibrant flavors and peak nutrition. It is literally fueling a transformation.

It might be surprising to learn that our nation's farming industry faces a serious problem: a lack of farmers. Currently, the average age of the American farmer is 58, with over a third of them beyond 65. While there has been a slight trend of younger farmers getting into the field (ha), this barely scratches the surface of the farmer shortage we're facing.

Despite the economic and food security issues posed by this situation, there lies an opportunity in this great transition. As it stands, less than 1% of farmland in America is organically farmed. Put another way, over 99% of our country's valuable arable land is reliant on petrochemical and biocidal applications. It's what makes agriculture one of the biggest polluters and contributors to climate change on earth. It's sadly ironic and it doesn't have to be this way.

Enter: small family farms focused on regenerative agriculture. Farms that are connected to their communities and enjoy a mutual exchange of appreciation and support. Farmers who recognize that healthy bodies and minds and ecosystems begin with healthy soil. And farms that nourish their neighbors while healing the land. What would it take for more farms like this to take over (even just a small fraction of) these retiring mega farms? What would it look like if thousands of acreage of conventional commodity crops were transformed into diversified vegetable production with a focus on restoration? How would we look (and feel) as a society if our addiction to highly processed derivations of conventionally grown commodities was gradually replaced by a celebration of real food, vibrant harvests, and deep nutrition? It would most certainly look beautiful.

Sound idyllic? It's already happening—and your weekly CSA with us makes you an integral part of it. While our tiny farm pales in comparison to the vast majority of giant farms across our nation, it is highly productive per acre, without sacrificing soil fertility in the process. And we're not alone: regenerative farming is on the rise and is being met with fierce enthusiasm in its respective communities. People appreciate clean farming, and they enjoy the rich flavors it fosters. Perhaps it's the ironic twist in the fabled technocratic plot — as society becomes markedly sicker (in no small part to a food system bereft of harmless nutrition), people are seeking better-feeling food. And if it isn't a physical ailment they're treating, it's often a moral one. It doesn't take much to learn about how upside down our food system is, but it does take a lot to source the faith and hope that we can turn it around. We all have ancestors who lived within food systems that did what they were supposed to: nourish the people without harming the land. And now we have clear examples and data that pave a path back to something similar. Something hopeful. We have a long way to go, but our momentum is gaining and we're committed to the long haul. Each step, each CSA, and each friendly recommendation counts. It's a long journey, but our crowd is growing day by day... and fortunately, we're a well-fed, tenacious bunch.