Buy Local Food In Kitsap

Sara and Jared Hankins have announced the opening of their 2009 CSA. They operate an organic farming operation inspired by bio-dynamic practices. Their first year saw them win best tasting cherry tomatoes at the Great Tomato Taste-Off at the Poulsbo Farmer’s market.

Download a copy of their 2009 CSA brochure here.

You can read a little about their short (so far) history here. For localvores in Kitsap, Sara and Jared are “A-Listers”, young farmers that we should all encourage with our support. They have received help from some farmers moving out of the business and rent of sharecrop land in Kitsap but it is very tough. They used hand tools for all of their cultivating the first year because that was all they had to work with. While that is satisfying for purists it is a circumstance that any farmer must grapple with if they are to succeed long term, equipment-wise I mean.

You see, even farms with only a couple of acres need tens of thousands of dollars of equipment like cultivating tractors, fencing, greenhouses, outbuildings, refrigeration, etc. if they are to have a chance of generating sufficient income from their farming to make a career out of it.

If you are interested in local food in Kitsap you should definitely jump on this opportunity. In the 2008 growing season al of the farmers with CSAs sold out early. In 2009 I know a few who are planning to cut back on their CSA memberships to have more to sell for the growing demand at the local farmers’ markets. The Poulsbo market sales grew 60% from 2007 to 2008 for instance. CSAs are the best method for assuring your supply and to become involved in helping farmers increase production sustainably.

Sara and Jared have offered a price incentive for the first five people who sign up. If you are one of the lucky five, I would consider taking your bonus savings and offering to invest in some equipment for the farm, you know, like an agri-capital investor. Maybe you could start a seed fund to help them acquire some land, build fences or procure a cultivating tractor? Come to think of it, maybe you could consider doing that even if you weren’t one of the lucky five to sign up early and get the discount.

They will be at the Harbour Pub, Madrona School, KCAA New Years’ day bash at the Bainbridge Island Grange Hall, a good opportunity to get signed up.

They put together a nice photo album of their first year. You can see it here.

Best wishes.