What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA is a mutually beneficial partnership between a local farm and a neighborhood. The farm brings fresh, affordable produce to the neighborhood, and the residents provide a stable financial base for the farm.

CSA members join by buying a "share" in the farm in the late winter or early spring, providing upfront money that will allow the farmer to purchase seeds, hire labor and get the season started without having to take out high interest loans. Bed-Stuy has partnered with Conuco Farm, owned by Hector Tejada, one of the region's few farmers of color.

As a "shareholder" in the farm, a member receives a weekly share of the harvest from June to October (about 20-22 weeks).

Why join the Bed-Stuy CSA?

There are so many reasons to join the Bed-Stuy CSA! Here are just a few:

• fresh, organic produce at a fraction of the price (see price comparison in attached document below)
  
• convenient pick-up of a week's worth of the veggies
• support environmentally-friendly agriculture
• support small, local business
• connect with your neighbors
• discover new foods and preparation methods

Where are we?

The Bed-Stuy CSA is run out of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, NY. Our address is 677 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216, across from Tompkins Park Von King Recreational Center. The nearest subway is the G to Bedford-Nostrand. The nearest bus is the B38.

Who are we?

The Bed-Stuy CSA is a project of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center and Conuco Farm. The project is volunteer-run, primarily by its members. The Bed-Stuy CSA depends on the time and energy of its members, supportive community organizations and residents to spread the word about the project. Find out how you can help!

Bed-Stuy CSA members represent the diversity of our community. We come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, ages, family sizes, income and educational levels. Everyone who loves healthy food is welome!

Last year thirty households belonged to the Bed-Stuy CSA. In 2007, we hope to double our membership.

Meet Our Farmer: Hector Tejada, Conuco Farm

Hector Tejada is the man behind the wonderful produce that comes out of Conuco Farm, which he recently relocated from Nazareth, PA to New Paltz, NY.

"Conuco" means "food" in the language of the Taino Indians and Conuco Farm is owned by Hector Tejada, who immigrated to NYC ten years ago from the Dominican Republic. He works hard to provide pesticide- and chemical-free vegetables ranging from tomatoes to okra and from collard greens to tomatillos. He is uncertified organic (see section below for more information).

Conuco Farm is located on 18-acres of leased land in New Paltz, NY. Hector would eventually like own lands, where he'd be able to invest more in the eco-system and plant orchards, berries and other long-term crops. In additional to providing for the Bed-Stuy CSA, he sells at the NYC Greenmarkets throughout the week. Currently, you can find Hector at Union Square Market on Fridays and Fort Greene Market on Saturdays.

Hector also started Farmers of the World, a non-profit organization which mentors migrant workers and farmers of color to form sustainable businesses. The group provides also fights for public policy change, so small farmers and farmers of color can prosper in a business sector that is increasingly forcing them into extinction.

Hector welcomes volunteers and interns who are interested in farming and/or assisting with Farmers of the World. Due to his busy schedule, he currently does not have time to extensively train volunteers. Contact Hector at hectortejada@earthlink.net if you are interested in helping on the farm or with this exciting new non-profit!

As a member of the Bed-Stuy CSA, you'll have the opportunity to meet our farmer and learn about the produce you eat!

Still have questions? Contact us.

About Organic Food

Most people are aware that organically grown food is free from exposure to harmful chemicals, but that is only one part of the organic food movement. Organic agriculture involves a healthy, sustainable environment to benefit the crops, eco-system and health of consumers. This requires constantly replenishing the soil's health and fertility so that the farmland is sustainable and does not have to rely on chemicals and pesticides for production.

Certified Organic foods are certified by the USDA. Certification procedures cost a lot of money and oftentimes small farmers who grow their vegetables organically are not able to afford certification. Conuco Farm, which supplies the Bed-Stuy CSA, is "uncertified organic." This means that the farm uses organic growing methods, but the farmer cannot afford the certification process. We have visited the farm and can verify that the vegetables are organically grown and harvested.

For more information about organic food, check out our links section.