Community-Supported Agriculture at Hof Vorberg

* The photo above (Photo: Vladimir Wegener) shows Carolin Hertler from “our” Vorberghof in Velbert-Neviges. The photo is from the WAZ; FUNKE Foto Services provided us with the image free of charge—thank you very much!

In a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, people join forces with a farm. Together, they share the costs of running the farm and, in return, receive their share of the harvest. This provides planning security for the farm and high-quality food for the members—without the usual pressure from market prices and retail chains.

Right in our neighborhood, this model can be found at the Demeter farm Vorberg in the Windrather Valley between Wuppertal and Essen. The farm has been operated biodynamically since 1987 and supplies its members with seasonal vegetables, potatoes, dairy products, cheese, and eggs.

Once a week, the farm community delivers its products to the distribution points. In addition to Ronsdorf, Loh, and Mirke, Arrenberg is also included. Every Thursday evening, the harvest shares are brought to Fröbelstraße. Members have a key and can pick up their food themselves. A vegetable share averages about three kilograms of vegetables and is usually enough for two adults. Anyone who wishes can also sign up for a milk and egg share, which includes cheese, yogurt, quark, milk, and eggs.

Solidarity among the members is a given; for example, if there are 4 eggs for everyone, you take 2 large ones—and 2 small ones—that goes without saying.

https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/lokalzeit-bergisches-land/solidarische-landwirtschaft-126.html

Monthly contributions are determined on a solidarity basis: Each year, the farm community compares its revenue with its expenses and calculates an average price per harvest share. Members offer an individual fixed amount. As a general guideline, the current rates are about 125 euros per month for a vegetable share and about 100 euros for a milk and egg share. Those who can afford to pay more make it possible for others to participate at a lower rate.

It’s also kind of nice: You don’t always get exactly the vegetables you would have chosen—but you do get exactly what’s in season. Instead of perfectly standardized produce from all over the world, fresh, seasonal food ends up on your plate. Sometimes there’s an abundance of tomatoes, sometimes plenty of squash, and sometimes you even discover a vegetable you would have simply passed over at the supermarket.

SoLaWi shows that agriculture can work differently: regionally, fairly, transparently, and communally. And anyone who has ever cooked a vegetable casserole using ingredients that were still in the field that very morning can taste the difference compared to the “special offer” from the supermarket, which first had to make its way all the way from Andalusia or New Zealand.