Provident Organic Farm

Ten years ago I initiated a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program on this farm with Amy Liebman, a most dedicated and effective partner. Along the way, an amazing group of volunteers joined us and made our efforts a success. Most organic farmers in the area had shied away from the CSA model believing that it could not reach critical mass to be sustained on the Eastern Shore. They were hauling their produce across the bay to more lucrative markets. The belief was that not enough people cared enough about their food supply; its safety, security and sovereignty, to support a CSA. We have proven the naysayers wrong. There are now at least six successful CSA's operating in our immediate foodshed.

We knew from the beginning that our mission was larger than a simple CSA. We wanted to promote a safe, just and sustainable food system of agriculture in this region. We started a sister non-profit organization called LESSON. Over the life of Provident CSA and in partnership with LESSON, we have nurtured start-up farmers and turned a few others onto farming as a career path. Through the Medora Harvest Fund, we have been able to provide organically grown produce to families lacking the means to afford it. If I am allowed the excess of pride, this is where I would place it. But it is not my claim alone. You, the members, have played a huge part in this effort. If not for your dedication to this project, we could never have achieved any of this.

As you are probably aware managing the Provident CSA has become increasingly complex in the past 3 years. My intent was threefold in moving to the multi-farm model: To assist emerging organic farmers, to assure the membership a more secure food supply by spreading the risk across a diverse group of farms and to reduce the amount of food this farm had to supply for an increasing membership.

While I do believe the above goals have been accomplished to some degree, there have been some unforeseen difficulties. The level of management required is considerably greater in the multi-farm model. Offering half shares also added another layer of complexity to coordinating and distributing shares.

It was my hope that the multi-farm model would enable us to increase the membership to at least 300 shares. Had we been able to do that, the cost to develop a crop plan for the farms, and to coordinate and deliver shares would have been spread across a broader base and, thereby, taken a smaller bite out of the per share cost. At this point, it is very unlikely we will be able to recruit the hoped for 300 shares.

Put simply, I cannot afford to continue to do the job I have been doing for the amount of money the CSA budget will allow. There are other reasons that I can no longer manage the CSA but the unfortunate reality of the situation is the bottom line.

The time has come and the opportunity has presented itself for me to move on. I have been asked to teach a course on organic gardening at Salisbury University. While the pay is minimal, the promise is exciting. This is the next logical step for me; I have an opportunity to teach young people how to grow their own food, maybe even flush out a farmer or two.

We will not be offering shares for the 2011 season. I will, however be selling what I am able to produce on this farm at the Camdem (Asbury), Berlin and Easton markets. I also intend to purchase some produce for resale from 2 of the organic farms that have provided for us in the past.

If you are committed to the CSA model of farming and would like to join another one, LESSON houses information on their website (www.shorefood.org) about them. LESSON's webiste also has other helpful information about how to access local and sustainably produced farm products.

Through the years I have made many new friends. Your friendship and support has sustained me and I am ever grateful to you. I hope these relationships will continue to thrive.

Onward,

Jay