CSA: Subscription Farming

Here's a large batch of photos from a photo story I am currently in the process of working on.

Jim Muck runs Fresh Farm, a community assissted farm in Wheatland, California. Basically what happens with a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm is pretty cool. At the beginning of summer, Jim collects dues from a large number of subscribers (around 25 or so). The subscribers pay a flat fee for a summer of fresh produce (around $250). Every week, Jim delivers a new batch of fresh produce to the subscribers. They receive whatever Jim brings them, but because Jim grows 150 different varieties of organic produce, every week is a fresh surprise. So, as long as there are subscribers, Jim's farm is guranteed to stay in business, and the subscribers are guranteed fresh produce every week. It's a really interesting way of farming; it helps the farms survive and it helps the local community to receive weekly fresh produce.

Hope you all enjoy. Cheers.

Jim examines a freshly-picked kohlrabi before moving on to more picking.

Jim trudges through the dirt as he picks zuccini on a hot day on the farm.

Jim sorts freshly picked produce on a table in preparation for their initial cleaning.

Jim looks out the window during a break in the day. Jim hasn't always been a farmer. Though the farm has been in his family for several decades, Jim has held many jobs before deciding to work the land.

Jim boxes produce in his garage after picking and cleaning them earlier that day.

Jim loads another box of freshly cleaned produce into a large refridgerator in his garage.

Jim and his father share a laugh during their daily tea time hour. Jim and his parents have made it a habit to stop work for about an hour everyday in order to enjoy their tea.

Jim unpacks his truck while dropping off his weekly boxes of produce.

Jim carts boxes of organic rice back to his truck after dropping off the weekly produce boxes.

Jim discusses recipes with a customer after dropping off her weekly box of produce.

Jim wheels a stack of organic rice back to his truck after making his weekly produce drop.

Jim helps to point out the new additions to this week's produce.

Jim is framed in a long row of tomato plants as he prepares to harvest a new batch of squash.

Jim's mother pets Claws while taking a respite from the heat.

Here are some singles from the last week.




Eliacer Gonzalez, 19, lands a punch on the punching bag during a training session Saturday. Gonzalez has been training at the Hit Squad Boxing Center for two years and is an undefeated light-middleweight champion.

Trainer Taj Fields, right, wraps the hands of Gonzalez before a training session Saturday morning

Gonzalez is silohuetted against a colorful wall as he shadow=boxes at the Hit Squad Boxing Center

Bill Chaney of N.U. Generation Lanes lets loose during the first game of a state bowling competition. Bowlers from the N.U. Generation Lanes in Yuba City set the record for the oldest pariticipants in the state bowling championships.

Sister Lindsay Sorenson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints watches as Donann Remund spins wool on a spinning wheel during the Historical Faire at the Yuba Sutter Mall Saturday.