The soil is the life-giving substance of the planet. Biodynamic Agriculture not only avoids chemicals but also heals the planet by infusing the soil with nutrients and healing spiritual forces. The Spiritual Food CSA supports Biodynamic and conscientious organic farmers, and provides exceptional quality, nurturing, healing food to its members.
What is a CSA and how does it work?
Members of a CSA join for a season by paying upfront for a share of the weekly harvest and agreeing to pick it up at a perscribed location. CSA involves commitment, community, and trust. It also involves high quality nutritious and great tasting fresh food, eating local and seasonal, and developing and practicing a spirit of services. The farmers do their best to provide a good supply of great food, the organizers keep it coming, and members get involved to make it happen.
Why join a CSA?
- You and your family will benefit from fresh, nourishing, BioDynamic food which we call Sattwic (pure) or Spiritual food.
- You will be supporting an effort to maintain the spiritual form of agriculture, following Rudolf Steiner's agricultural course, that not only provides the best quality of food concerning nutrient content and taste but also protects and heals the environment.
- You will be contributing to build a community that actively promotes a healthy diet and a nurturing relationship between farmers and families.
- With genetically manipulated food and the new watered-down organic regulations, the only sure way to insure safe food is through direct contact with a Spiritual farm.
How does it work?
- The members of the CSA provide the working capital for the farmer and share the bounty and the risk of growing food in a non-commercial way (with no synthetic chemicals: pesticides, fertilizers, etc.).
- The total amount for the year’s harvest is given in advance to the farmer. Your CSA payment covers this and also covers supplements provided from other farms for your family’s needs and transportation.
- The food is brought weekly to Bethesda and is picked up by CSA members there or at one of the other pick up locations such as: Arlington, Capitol Hill, Washington Waldorf School or Takoma Park. New locations can be arranged for 20 or more members.
- Activities to support community building such as volunteering, potlucks, farm visits and information sharing such as are on this website are also part of this project.
- Biodynamic agriculture methods avoid chemicals that pollute land, water, air, and palant and animal life and propagates a balaced, sustainable eco-system; avoids overuse of water and fuel in farming practices; and avoids waste by composting or up-cycling just about everything.
- Biodynamic agriculture actually heals damaged soil and brings nature and people back to health
- The CSA farmer-to-consumer model drastically reduces packaging thereby reducing the environmental impact of producing and disposing of single-use plastic and paper
- Local food sources reduce the transportation footprint of gas consumptionand pollution (supermarket food travels an average of 1200 miles)
- CSA builds local economies and communities which offsets globalization
- CSA contributes to a sustainable economic system which allows conscientous farmers to stay in buisness and attracts young people to the profession
For specific details on the What, Where, When and How of this CSA, see the How To Join and FAQ links.
To learn more: