What is a CSA?

Community-Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is an arrangement that provides a direct connection between consumers and a local farmer. Participating supporters contribute to the farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing in advance a share of the season's harvest. By making this commitment ahead of time, CSA shareholders join the farmer in assuming the costs, risks and rewards of growing that season's crops. Shareholders help pay for seeds, supplies, labor, water, equipment maintenance, and other costs. In return, the farm provides a weekly box of fresh, nutritious vegetables throughout the harvest season.

The Green Earth Institute CSA

We lease 49 acres of farm land at the McDonald Farm, owned by The Conservation Foundation, on the south side of Naperville. We grow 40 different vegetable and herb crops, selling the produce through our CSA. Planting starts in mid-February, and the harvest season runs for 20 weeks from mid-June until the end of October. The 2009 season will be the seventh year of this very popular program. Our produce is USDA certified organic.

OUR 2009 CSA HAS REACHED CAPACITY SO SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. SORRY! TO BE INFORMED IN NOVEMBER WHEN 2010 CSA SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, Contact Us. For your information about how our CSA works, view the 2009 CSA Brochure

More about the Green Earth Farm

"Fresh Off the Farm" was a colorful description of the growing community-supported agriculture movement in the U.S. in the November 3, 2003 issue of TIME Magazine. Click here for some quotes.

Volunteers are invited to help with farm work such as planting, weeding, and harvesting. Contact us to let us know your availability and/or you can sign up to be notified by email when there are volunteer opportunities scheduled.