The Enchanting Challenge Blog

As mentioned on Friday’s post, perhaps the healthiest way to serve the world (and yourself!) is through eating locally.  This can be, of course, accomplished through farmers’ markets and growing a small (or large!) amount of your own produce right at home.  However, there are also some other pretty cool ways to become even more involved in the local food movement.  If you have an itch to more deeply understand the journey of our food from seed to meal, then you might want to consider becoming involved in Community Supported Agriculture or volunteering on an organic farm.

Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a process by which a patron buys a share of the farm, thereby becoming farm members or shareholders.  The members/shareholders then receive a weekly share of the farm’s in-season produce.  Shares typically cost around $500 for a seasonal membership (depending upon your agricultural region, usually somewhere around 20 weeks), and can usually provide enough produce weekly for about two people.  Check out this YouTube video about CSA to learn more!

Work-for-Share

A $500 membership fee is quite a steal for a duo.  However, if you are a struggling college student, the work-for-share program is probably a better option for you.  As its name suggests, this set-up involves paying for your share of the farm by working.  Generally, farms will probably ask for an 8-10 hour/week commitment from you in exchange for your weekly produce (perhaps the perfect part-time summer job!).  To find a list of CSA farms near your home, click here.

(photo taken from the Local Harvest website)

 Organic Farm Service Heaven

Another way to get involved in the local food movement is by volunteering on an organic farm.  WWOOF, the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is an amazing network of organic farms spanning 6 continents.  By signing up to become a WWOOF member, you can apply for placement on an organic farm in your preferred region, whether that be the sandy farms of the Middle East, or the foresty greens of Germany, or the savannas of Africa–it’s up to you!  Programs are generally set up as a home-stay, with the volunteers living with and as part of their host family.  Volunteers are expected to help in the daily farm work, and in return are well-fed and provided with clean, safe, and dry living quarters.  There is no cost besides a small contribution to WWOOF to help them maintain their organization.  If you are interested in learning the ins-and-outs of organic farming, WWOOF may be the perfect opportunity for you.

 (photo taken from the WWOOF website)

The local food movement is healthy for our world and for our own bodies.  It is a wonderful way to help move our world into the hopeful and healthy direction we are now moving.  CSA and WWOOF are just two ways to get involved.   There are many more options out there, so don’t hesitate to email me with any questions you may have on this topic!!