Sign up now for produce from the 8-WEEK fall season of our Black Farmers to Churches CSA.
What is the Black Farmers to Churches CSA?
We started this Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in 2020 in collaboration with several local black farmers, seven Wake churches and the guidance of RAFI. The goals? To help black farmers stay on their land and farm it sustainably and to provide healthy, local vegetables to church members. We have grown so much in these last four years. More churches and farmers have joined, the produce variety has grown beautifully, and we continue to grow closer as community. Gary Smith, CUCC’s lead, says, “The greatest thing has been the cross-racial friendships and hard work together that has developed!” Read more below about why we engage in this ministry.
Our farmer partners, Steve and Elke (and daughter Ella) McCalla of Rocky Ridge Farm, have been providing us with wonderful produce of diversity, quality and abundance, and I’m confident that will continue.
Fall CSA FAQs
Sign up and payment window: From today until September 13
Produce delivery: September 19 to November 7
Delivered to CUCC on Saturdays; your pick up window: 10:15 AM to 11:15 AM, Saturday
Purchase options: You may purchase a full share, a half share, or find a partner to split a half share. A half share is a good amount for two people. Some single people even split a half share. If you to choose to partner, decide with your partner which of you will place the order.
Cost: $150 for a half share and $300 for a full share. Payment is due by September 13 if paid online; checks mailed to CUCC must arrive by September 11.
Gift shares: Some of you have purchased “gift” shares previously. That was beautiful! Thank you. Please feel free to do this again if you wish; the gifts are greatly appreciated. To do it, sign up and pay, and then tell Gary Smith or Pastor Lacey that you want to give a gift share or half share. (In a beautiful example of this, Robert Parrish has been taking a gift share to his apartment building and sharing it with the low income people there!! 😊)
Two steps to order your shares: Sign up and pay now.
- Sign up here
- How to pay: You can pay by check (payment due at CUCC by September 11) or credit card (payment due by September 13).
- Checks: Make them out to Community UCC. Put “CSA” in the subject line, and send them to CUCC to arrive by September 11.
- Credit card payment: Use CUCC’s online giving page before September 11; select “CSA” from the drop down list.
Why do we do this?
Farmers of color in the United States endure systemic racism within the food system that causes significant and consistent social, economic, and political harm. Community UCC along with 9 other churches in Wake County has sought to help address this by developing a Black Farmer to Churches “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA) with several local farmers. This enables the farmers to create an additional source of income, access new local market(s), and create mutually-beneficial economic partnerships with faith communities. It also enables the churches to increase their food security through improved access to fresh, healthy foods and providing hunger relief for consistently vulnerable populations.
It is an honor for us to be part of this endeavor which is so much more than food, though the food part is great, too!! Indeed we have become a family, sharing joys, concerns, ideas and hands. The farmers and church reps meet (virtually) the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, and these meetings are very moving and full of laughter! (Join us Wednesdays if you like.)
For more information, contact Gary Smith (contact info in Breeze or via office.cucc@gmail.com). The Black Farmers to Churches CSA is a project of CUCC’s Justice in a Changing Climate and Do Justice Ministry.