Alderlea Farm

Located in British Columbia, Alderlea Farm is a Demeter-certified Biodynamic CSA entering its fifth season, and it hopes to provide for up to 125 households this year on Vancouver Island. Alderlea currently produces hay to feed its cows and plans someday to be able to grow feed for its broilers. The farm has an ongoing apprenticeship program and also receives WWOOFers during the growing season. Alderlea Farm has received several grants from the Provincial Health Authority to promote food security using the CSA model and will eventually work with an inner city food bank on this challenge. The farm is always in need of more land to provide more food for the local community. One piece of land they farm is part of the Keating Community Farm Co-operative, managed by the The Land Conservancy (TLC). Cabbage and carrots are Alderlea's specialty crops, with their versatility and health-giving properties. "Our advice to new CSAs is start small, be positive and open-minded, and always look for ways to establish balance."

Find out more at www.alderleafarm.com.

Sharon's Natural Gardens

Located in southern Delaware, Sharon's Natural Gardens offers seeds, produce, educational programs, and even turkeys, chickens, and rabbits. Locals can sign up for classes on gardening and homesteading skills. With years of experience in biodynamic methods, Sharon seeks to provide a year-round, individualized community supported program, one that provides not only food, but also education. Please contact the Carsons if you're interested in helping them develop a community supported garden.

Find out more on the Sharon's Natural Gardens Local Harvest page: www.localharvest.org/farms/M6681.

Hawthorne Valley Farm

Located in the Taconic Range in Columbia County, New York, Hawthorne Valley Farm is supported by 250 CSA members. The farm has produced food for over 35 years, currently growing over 40 varieties of vegetables on its 10-acre market garden. According to the farm's mission statement, "our biodynamic farming practices reflect our commitment to protecting the health of the earth and all who live on it."

In addition, Hawthorne Valley Farm hosts student groups, government organizations, and other community members through its outreach and educational program, which includes apprenticeships, internship and counselor positions with urban and suburban school children, the Farmscape Ecology Program, and a center offering adult education in anthroposophy and Waldorf teacher training.

Find out more at hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

Angelic Organics

The home of Farmer John Peterson, Angelic Organics is a biodynamic farm located in northern Illinois that delivers to shareholders at a number of Chicago drop-off sites. CSA members also have access to the CSA Learning Center, which aims "to empower people to create sustainable communities of soils, plants, animals, and people through educational, creative, and experiential programs offered in partnership with Angelic Organics."

Find out more at www.angelicorganics.com. Information about the CSA Learning Center is available at www.csalearningcenter.og.

Watch The Real Dirt on Farmer John for fascinating history into the development of the Angelic Organics CSA model. The Farmer John Cookbook is a great resource for how to cook all those vegetables you get in your CSA box, as well as a treasure trove of quirky vignettes from the CSA newsletter, shareholder quotes, and Farmer John's musings. Both the DVD and cookbook are available for purchase online in our catalog.

Live Power Community Farm

Located on 40 acres in Covelo, California, Live Power Community Farm is a Demeter certified Biodynamic farm providing produce to CSA shareholders in the San Francisco area and Mendocino County. Live Power strives to be as self-sustaining as possible. From cattle feed to solar and draft horse power, Live Power's goal is to produce all necessary inputs within the farm organism. As they state on their website, "We are developing the farm to be an individualized, self-productive organism that generates its own power, fertilization, replacement plants and animals, and sustainably produces a surplus when properly cared for. We strive to become conscious of how every being and material feeds, supports, and serves another."

Find out more at www.livepower.org or read John Bloom's article in the Spring issue of Biodynamics, "Why Am I Crying Over a Biodynamic Onion?"