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Community Corner

Another CSA Comes to Prospect Heights

Prospect Park Community Supported Agriculture, begun this year for people who can't get into other area CSAs, still has spots available.

A new CSA is in town, and they're looking for members.

The Prospect Park CSA, launching this spring, has begun accepting applications. While the Prospect Heights CSA is already full, this one still has over 30 shares available, not including ten additional spots reserved for low-income residents. 

In fact, it was the lack of space in nearby CSAs in Prospect Heights that caused Elena Santogade and five others to start this one. 

In January, Santogade's group wrote to the Prospect Heights CSA, volunteering to start a new CSA to account for applicant overflow. The Prospect Heights CSA connected the residents with each other – an eclectic mix of gardeners, parents, local business owners, students, and foodies – and they formed the core volunteer group that makes up the Prospect Park CSA. There is one common denominator in this group: "a strong desire to have delicious food," Santogade told me.

Every Tuesday evening for five and a half months, The CSA will be handing out shares of seasonal vegetables, fruits, flowers, and eggs from Windflower Farm in Washington County, New York to members of the Prospect Park CSA. This 38-acre farm provides CSA shares to five other CSAs in New York City, including the Prospect Heights CSA, one in Park Slope, and another in Clinton Hill.

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Over 80 people have already signed up, for either half shares (shares every other week) or full shares (shares every week). 

Shares will include such offerings as dark leafy greens, carrots, corn, tomatoes, broccoli, radishes, kolrabi, beets, peppers, green beans, apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, apricots, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, and blueberries.

Members can pick up their shares from Fountain Studios (604 Grand Street between Bergen Street and Saint Marks Avenue), a group of artist studios that regularly  hosts gallery shows and other community events.

"We want to highlight the CSA, but also this local neighborhood spot," Santogade told me.

Santogade said that a fundamental reason for having a CSA is "the idea of creating community." She worries that although the concept of a CSA is becoming increasingly popular, people often forget the community building aspect of the project.

"This is not just about picking up food," she said. "It offers a way to get to know your neighborhood and neighbors."

This is why members are expected to volunteer a few hours of their time to help out with the CSA, doing odd jobs such as dividing up shares and cleaning up after the CSA.  Towards the end of the season, every member is invited on a trip to Windflower Farm that will include a huge potluck dinner in the barn.

Another attempt to reach out to the community involves bringing in more low income families and residents to become a part of the CSA at a reduced cost. 

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Santogade admits this is difficult. Marci Leiber, another core group volunteer, is in charge of community outreach, and hopes to spread the word by talking to community leaders in the neighborhood. Leftover shares from the CSA will be donated to New Haven SDA Food Pantry, at 634 Prospect Place between Franklin and Bedford Avenues.  The core group volunteers hope that this will bring in more low-income residents as well.

"The CSA model is to share with neighbors," Santogade said. To this end, the prices are based on three brackets of income. A combined household income of more than $80,000 a year ( "or feels that they can afford it," Santogade was sure to add), pays $530 for 22 weeks of vegetables (a full share). A combined income of under $80,000 pays $450, and low-income residents, who are not defined by a set income bracket but are assessed on a case-by-case basis, pay $300, and can use food stamps, although the cost may change depending on need. These prices come out to approximately $24, $20, $13 a week respectively, with higher income residents helping to cover some of the lower income costs. This may seem about average for produce you would find at a nearby grocery store, but for a local, organic product that supports a family-owned small farm, this is definitely a deal, with other CSAs charging as much as $28 a week. 

Fruit, egg, and flower shares come at an additional price, so check out their website for more pricing information.

Other CSAs in the area, in addition to the Prospect Heights CSA, is the Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA, which meets at Ortine, 622 Washington Avenue between Pacific Street and Dean Street, the Clinton Hill CSA, which meets at P.S. 56, 170 Gates between Downing Street and Irving Place, and the Crown Heights CSA, which meets at Georgia’s Place, 691 Prospect Place between St. Marks Avenue and Prospect Place. CSAs vary in methods, featured foods, application deadlines, and costs, so be sure to do some research to find the best fit.

Santogade, for one, is optimistic about the project, and happy to do her part.  

"I like making New York feel like a small town, and the best way to do that is doing things where you live," she said. "Plus, everybody should eat delicious food."

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