Ideal Timeline for CSA Organizing Activities

Month

Activities

Ongoing Activities Throughout most the year

Pre-season (September - November)

• Survey the community about food preferences, family size, eating habits, etc.

• Money collection (start as early as possible)
   
• Regular contact and communication with farmer
  (start January)
   
• Outreach and recruiting efforts
  (start February)
   
• Cooking classes, cooking demos, savings groups, and food education activities
  (start February)
   
• Core group development
  (start February)
   
• Exploration of other CSA community building activities (i.e. cultural, artistic)
  (start May)

December

• Begin developing core group
• Begin developing long-term plan for the CSA (in terms of organizing structure)
• Begin developing financing mechanisms (some of this can’t happen without discussion with the farmer)

January

• Just Food partners farmer with CSA group on the farm; share price, payment system and financing mechanisms are discussed with farmer
• Develop agreement form between farmer and community based organization (CBO) (if needed) and between CSA project and individual members (always needed)
• Develop relationship with farmer

February

• Develop mission and vision for the CSA
• Develop outreach strategy: to whom? to broader community? How? Fliers, press releases, presentation at CBO with clients/members? Present to other groups in community? Encourage word of mouth? Etc.
• Develop outreach materials
• Conduct ongoing cooking classes, savings groups, cooking demos, and food education activities
• Hold at least one general intro meetings for potential members with farmer, city group, and Just Food
• Continue developing core group: assess need for regular core group meetings
• Develop bookkeeping/ member records system

March

• Begin collecting money according to payment plan

April

• Continue developing core group: focus on people who will help with weekly newsletter, distribution, and coordination of farm visits and potlucks

May

• Plan arrangements for organization/ staffing/ volunteers at distribution site
• Explore other CSA community building activities (i.e. cultural, artistic)

June - November

• Run distribution and communicate with farmer

September

• Plan year end activities (potluck, member surveys, early recruitment for next season, core group meetings)