Brackett Farm Community Supported Agriculture

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Community Supported Agriculture

I'm Bob Brackett. I've been growing produce by the organic method since 1980 in the Champaign-Urbana area of east central Illinois.

Coolish early Spring weather will undoubtedly slow production down for awhile, but that could change overnight.

Though all of my main seed orders have arrived long ago, I'm still plundering seed catalogues on cold, dreary, rainy, yucky days in hopes of finding some variety I've missed that will add to my already somewhat extensive repertoire of tasty and unique delicacies. The perfect this or the perfect that is just around the corner, hiding in the pages of some seed catalog I've overlooked......

Fruit trees are about to burst into bloom. From the looks of things, if things go "as planned", pears could be back up to the production levels of 3 and 4 years ago. Now bear in mind that we're talking sweet, melt-in-your-mouth, drop-to-your-knees goodness, not what you'll usually get in the stores. Apples also look quite promising, with some varieties that have not produced enough in the past to be sent through the CSA showing much better potential this season.

Crawling on all fours on the ground for hours and hours, we've managed to get the 8,000 onions, 1,000 replant garlic and the 1,000 leeks in the ground. A new red sweet onion came on the market this year, so I couldn't pass it up. It' name is "Red Candy Apple" and it's supposed to be as sweet as the only two other onions I bother growing : "Walla Walla" and "Candy".

It's not too late to join up for the 2009 season, which gets underway Tuesday, May 26 (the day after Memorial Day). Sign-ups after that will be prorated so you don't have to pay for food you don't eat. If you’re interested in good eats which not only taste good but are also good for you, check us out. I’m the audacious farmer who will try his best to “make” you eat your vegetables….

Print our current brochure for a summary of our offerings and rates and deadlines, and I hope to see you this summer!

In 1985, what began as an intensive hobby of backyard gardening began expanding into an equally intensive, though more extensive, business with the purchase of 3.5 acres outside of town, in the hopes of selling our homegrown produce to the people of the community -- while attempting to make a living from it.

At least temporarily sparing you the details of my difficulties with "reclaiming farmland", I will fast-forward to 1994/1995 when I began co-growing for a CSA. After many disappointments and setbacks, I started my own CSA, Brackett CSA, in 2000. I can honestly say that my CSA has been of benefit to both farmer and consumer/partner since day one, and not merely for the tasty fruits and veggies.

I'm looking for people in my area who are interested in healthy, tasty, and nutritious fruits and vegetables on a weekly basis throughout the growing season.

I want to invite you to become a paying partner in this farming adventure!

Let me ask you:

Do you like to eat vegetables and fruit?

Would you like to include more vegetables and fruit in your weekly diet…especially if they were locally grown right here in east central Illinois?

Would you like to have the benefits of having fresh produce from your very own backyard garden…but can't seem to find the time or the space or the perseverance to do so?

Would you like to have these delicious delicacies without all the stuff that might have been sprayed on them in order to get them to you in picture-perfect condition?

Come along and I'll tell you more!

How did the CSA concept start?	Goals of a CSA
Sharing the risk with the farmer	What do I grow?
How many people will a share feed?	What? Where? When? and how?
Sign me up!

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