Thinking about buying a farm share this year? Just want to learn more about it before you commit? Interested in volunteering on a local farm this season? If so, a discussion about the first Farm Share Fair was held Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Park Avenue Congregational Church. 

At the fair, you’ll learn about CSA farms (community-supported agriculture) and have the opportunity to purchase a farm share. You’ll also find out what’s being grown this season and how you can get more involved with the farms. 

Over the past 20 years, CSA farms have become a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from growers. Shareholders pay an annual amount to the farmer during the winter, when farm income is low and expenses (seed, fertilizer, equipment, etc.) are high. In return, shareholders get a direct connection with their farmer and farm and a share of the harvest. 

Farmers from at least 15 CSA farms will be on hand at the Fair, including Busa Farm (Lexington); Cape Ann Fresh Catch (Gloucester; the first fish CSA in Massachusetts); Farmer Dave’s (Dracut); Gaining Ground (Concord); Little Red Truck Honey CSA (Belmont); Luna Farm (North Reading); Picadilly Farm (Winchester, NH); Rad Urban Farmers (Lexington and Arlington); Red Fire Farm (Granby); Shared Harvest Multi-Farm Winter CSA, including Riverland Farm (Sunderland) and Morraine Farm (Beverly); The Farm School (Athol); The Food Project (Lincoln); Waltham Fields Community Farm (Waltham); and World Peas Cooperative (Lowell). 

Some are family businesses, others are nonprofits that also provide educational programming for kids and adults during the growing season. Most contribute a portion of their harvest to local hunger relief projects, and most welcome visitors and volunteers to their farms. All are small-scale farms, growing crops on under 40 acres of farmland. All distribute in or near Arlington, Belmont, (North) Cambridge, Lexington, Medford, Waltham, Watertown, and Winchester.  

LocalHarvest.org (a database for sourcing local food nationwide) estimates there are now 2500 CSAs in the United States—in 1990 there were only 60—representing tens of thousands of shareholders. Demand for shares often exceeds availability and is expected to triple or even quadruple in the coming years. This growth highlights the important role CSA farms play in community life. The CSA model has been critical in keeping small farms viable, preserving farmland ecosystems and open space, and connecting eaters to the provenance of their food.  

For more information, contact the organizer, Gretta Anderson, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or go to http://CSAFairArlington.wordpress.com.