|
|
Become a Member of Your Local Community Supported Agricultural Outlets
 Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is generally the practice of focusing on the local production
of high quality foods using ecological, organic or biodynamic farming methods. The core design
includes developing a cohesive consumer group that is willing to fund a whole season's budget in
order to get quality foods. By CSA theory, the more a farm embraces whole-farm, whole-budget
support, the more it can focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste or financial loss.
Most CSAs have a transparent whole season budget for producing a specified wide array of products
for a set number of weeks a year as well as a 'shared risk and reward' agreement, i.e. that the
consumers eat what the farmers grow even with the vagaries of seasonal growing.
CSA is a relatively new model of food production, sales, and distribution aimed at both increasing
the quality of food and the quality of care given the land, plants and animals - while substantially reducing
potential food losses and financial risks for the producers. CSA's focus is usually on a system of weekly
delivery or pick-up of vegetables, sometimes also flowers, fruits, herbs, milk or meat products. An advantage
of the close consumer-producer relationship is increased freshness of the produce, because it does not have
to be shipped long distances. The close proximity of the farm to the members also helps the environment by
reducing pollution caused by transporting the produce.
Typically, CSA farms are small, independent, labor-intensive, family farms. By providing a
guaranteed market through prepaid annual sales, consumers essentially help finance farming operations.
Individuals, families or groups do not pay for x pounds of produce, but rather support the budget of the whole
farm and receive weekly what is seasonally ripe. This allows farmers to not only focus on quality growing, it
can also somewhat level the playing field in a food market that favors usually large-scale, industrialized
agriculture over local food. The cost of a share is usually competitively priced when compared to the same
amount of vegetables conventionally-grown, partly because the cost of distribution is lowered.
Community Supported Agriculture in Galveston County No Community Supported Agriculture Resources were found in Galveston County
 Add Community Supported Agriculture
|
|
Native Plant Species
 What Are Native Versus Non-native Plant Species, and Why Should I Care?
Native plants are those species that either arrived in Texas without human intervention, perhaps
thousands of years ago, or originated here. Non-native species were brought intentionally
for horticultural or other uses, or came accidentally in ships' ballasts, crop seed
or in soil. Some non-native plants continue to escape from cultivation and become
naturalized in wetlands, lakes, woods, fields or roadsides.
One long-term effect of invasive non-native species is to degrade habitat for native plants and animals.
These plants choke out native vegetation, diminish the availability of food plants
for wildlife, and alter the behavior of native animals such as pollinators, plant-eating
insects and fruit-eating birds. Unchecked, invasion by non-natives could drive some
species to extinction. This is why non-native plants are a major concern to people
who want to protect native species and natural areas.
Native Species Nurseries in Galveston County Lynn's Landscaping and Garden Center - League City, TX
|
|
Drought Monitor
The National Drought Mitigation Center, in conjunction with the USDA, DOC, and NOAA, produce the national drought monitor.
Click here to learn more.
|
Site Map 
Provide Feedback
Private Landowner Network
Conservation Tax Center
Cooperative Conservation America
Maine State Conservation Center
Northern California Conservation Center
Katrina Reforestation Outreach Program
Resources First Foundation