The Soul Food Farm CSA launched October 7, 2009 with our first delivery at my house in Emeryville, during a very difficult time — about a month after the devastating fire that crippled the farm. It’s still a work in progress, jerry-rigged from Google Docs and emails and the vast patience of our 150+ subscribers. (We are this close to having a custom ordering system built by one of our members.) Yet still, we’ve managed to deliver pastured chickens, eggs, livers, confit and recently on our own Soul Food Farm olive oil 16 times since then without major incident. There have been plenty of minor frustrations, however, such as bridge closures, headless chickens, olive oil orphans, etc.
To us, a Community Supported Agriculture program is a two-way street. Our subscribers support the farm directly, and to show our appreciation for our most loyal members, we’ve started a new Soul Food Farm Golden Chicken gratitude program. For every $500 members spend on the farm, or every 10 pickups they make — we know your time is money, too — we’ll slip a bottle of Terra Sole olive oil from the farm into your next order gratis and starting in the spring, when egg laying resumes at full strength, a dozen eggs.
We’ve already got five members of that elite little club to thank, starting this Wednesday. Cara E, Jennifer D., Mark H, Karen R., and Ingun S. — your support is much appreciated, and vital to the farm’s survival!
