The Rural Voice, 1993-07, Page 35The members get to vote on such
capital improvements. The books are
open to all members. Surplus funds
from the operations from the year
might be put into new equipment.
There's room for expansion into
other areas of food supply too, he
says. Animals can be added to the
products offered, Budd says. Some
farms already have. Chestnut Hill
Farm, near Cobourg, east of Toronto,
offers eggs, freezer lamb and turkey,
10 acres of strawberries, raspberries
and fruit trees, even bottled spring
water (the farm operates differently
by offering a 10 per cent discount
from normal wholesale prices for
CSA members who pay a $25
membership plus a monthly charge,
but get to check off what products
from the farm's product list).
At Budd's farm people without
money to pay for a share can still get
food. He's looking for a couple of
people to work a half-day a week on
harvest days in exchange for a share
of the food. In addition someone
usually weighs out the vegetables,
calculates the shares of each picking
and is on hand to meet the members
when they come to pick up their
shares. "A lot of CSAs try to work
people into the system who don't
have money. This could be, should
be, some sort of vehicle for
outreaching to the community."
Budd admits he is not likely to get
rich on his operation (although large
operations like Chestnut Hill change
the economics). Still, "the worse
everything else looks, the better this
looks. I see agriculture in a really
threatened situation right now."
CSAs offer an alternative in a dog-
eat-dog world, he says. "The market
is always trying to beat you down.
I'm just trying to make things
pleasing for people."
Consumers who understand the
realities of food production are
willing to go the extra mile. Budd
recalls talking to a potential new
member this year who wondered why
he should put his money up front
with no guarantee of how much they
would get. "Is there some reason,"
Budd asked, "you think the farmer
should take all the risk?" The
member reached for his chequebook
and bought a share. Seeing that, Budd
thought "Maybe it can work."0
VENTILATION
AXIS -AIR
!Li!
22 3
AXIS -AIR VENTILATION CONTROL
The AVC -5 - An Electronic Temperature
Control System for the Axis -Air Ventilator
• Minimum damper position setting • Heater control integrated into
system • Temperature reduction can be programmed • Records high
and low temperatures • High and low temperature alarms • Digital
temperature readout • Will work on 2 speed or variable speed fans and
115 or 230 AC • Computer compatible
Keep air fresh in winter
Lower energy costs
Call Axis Products
(519) 345-2258
Axis Products Ltd., Brodhagen Ont. NOK 1B0 Fax (519) 345-2575
FOR ALL
YOUR
GRAIN
HANDLING
NEEDS
• SUPERB Continuous Flow Dryers
• In -Bin Drying Systems
• Dry Aeration Grain Dryers
• WALINGA BLOWERS
Call:
.�t�tcL
.C'a�cv�cy 7arc�tc SqA c4 .zed.
RR #1 Kincardine
(At Amberley)
519-395-2615
or 519-395-2616
JULY 1993 31