Community-supported agriculture is alive and well
The Midwest dream of spring is on the horizon!
Despite what I heard many times coming up as a new farmer, it seems there is one industry that millennials can’t be accused of killing: CSA farming.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms are about to launch sign-ups throughout the Midwest, if they haven’t already. Ours is coming up January 1st. As a CSA farm, we offer a fresh, direct-to-consumer produce subscription and services. This type of farming is not new, and traces roots back to Black farmers and academics Booker T. Whatley, and his mentor Dr. George Washington Carver.
I think it could be proven scientifically that CSA members are some of the most down-for-veggies people in existence. How else could we have sold out early for the past 5 years? Most of them returning from previous seasons? They keep our cups full with encouragement, cooperation, and feedback. They’re the reason why our small farm can survive a 1000-year flood like we had this past season, and in 2018.
The CSA model also helps us to produce considerably less waste than other farming models. It keeps the harvests frequent and organized. We grow more than we need for CSA, but not so much that it gets wasted.
So yes, it’s ALMOST time to ask for sign-ups again. If you aren’t our customer, chances are there’s a CSA farm near you that will be accepting sign-ups for the 2026 season soon.
Trust me, I know: with busy schedules and holidays being more expensive than ever this year, it’s a lot to think about in advance. And you probably aren’t even picturing that first warm ray of sunlight on your face, the fresh green grass, the frog songs of spring and early summer yet.
(Okay, maybe now you are!)
But you know who is? The farmers. We have to! And in order to be ready with all the fresh goodness you’re craving when spring fever hits, we have a lot to do. Seed and supply orders, repair and replacement of tools and equipment, vehicle maintenance, updating the website and payment platforms, budget planning, and outreach.
That’s not counting anything we have to do on the new land. Updates on that soon.
So, if you’re thinking about signing up with us but you’re on the fence, you might be asking yourself:
Self, what makes Winterspring different from other CSAs I’ve experienced in the past?
Here are some key reasons why our members choose to subscribe for a box with us all summer long:
Best quality and variety. We prioritize the quality and diversity of selection in our CSA first and foremost. We’re not really a farmer’s market, wholesale, or farmstand farm. We are a CSA farm first, from the crop plan to the greenhouse to the harvest schedule. Farmers market and wholesale helps us manage the overflow, not the CSA.
Add-on options like local organic pastured eggs and organic local mushrooms provide more ways to support other local farms and diversify your diet.
Best value: We treat the dollar value of each pre-paid box as a baseline. Typically, our members will receive abundance above that when we have it.
Robust delivery options: We deliver to over a dozen convenient locations near you, including all the Outpost Co-op locations. You can also pick-up at the farm, free of charge.
Education driven, mission-focused. In true Wellspring tradition, Winterspring Farm prioritizes making nutrient-dense meals from scratch as accessible as possible. We offer an online produce guide so you can learn the ins and outs of each crop we put in the box. We put out a CSA-exclusive newsletter full of farm updates, recipes, and more tailored to each box. We also advocate for causes that are at the foundation of everything we do: protection of the rights of people and the planet.
I hope you’ll join us for the upcoming season, and if not, then consider finding a CSA farm near you. It’s an incredibly impactful way of building resilient local food economies that can withstand change. I know CSA farmers who have been at it for over 30 years. In the last 10, we’ve made it through record weather every single year since we began farming, two 1000 year floors, wildfires every year since 2023, hoards of mosquitos, drought, heat waves, and just about every pest and disease imaginable.
It gets tough at times and yet, we keep going back for more. How could we not? A direct line to produce so fresh it begs you to eat it, so you do. And it’s glorious.
Let’s keep it going. If you sign up between January 1st-17th, you’ll receive our early bird discount.
Thanks everyone for showing up, for your valuable time and attention, for trusting us with growing your food. We’ll be here as long as you are. We all do better when we all do better. <3