Starting a New Site FAQs

How does a Hazon CSA work?

Before the growing season, Hazon CSA members purchase an entire season of produce from an organic family farm.  Each week during the growing season, usually from Shavuot (May/June) until Sukkot (October), a local farmer makes a delivery of fresh, organic vegetables (and in some cases fruits, eggs, flowers and/or herbs) to your host institution.  Hazon CSA members come to pick up their “share” of the food.  Hazon CSA sites also typically offer at least one or two educational programs and a farm trip, so that members and their families come together to learn about food through the double prism of Jewish tradition and contemporary life.

How does Hazon CSA benefit farmers?

Hazon CSA puts Jewish purchasing power into local, organic farming.  The share price paid by each member goes toward the cost of growing and distributing a season’s worth of produce and paying the farmer a living wage.  Since Hazon CSA members are paying in advance of the growing season, members share the risks (e.g. drought, too much rain, etc.) of the season with the farmer—as well as the bounty when the crop is harvested! Having money from Hazon CSA in advance of the season also helps farmers because that is when they need to buy seeds and other items for the farm; this process also lets farmers know how many people they are growing food for.  Most farmers say that knowing the people who eat their food and having a relationship with them is a benefit.

By creating a national network of Jewish Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, Hazon’s work benefits farmers in several ways.  Hazon teaches each Hazon CSA site how to organize and run the CSA program, creating a reliable distribution channel for the farmer’s crop that is much less costly to the farmer than alternatives such as selling produce at a farmer’s market.  Since Hazon teaches Hazon CSA volunteers and staff how to recruit members and market the program, farmers can focus on farming!

How does Hazon CSA benefit your synagogue or JCC?

Hazon CSA energizes your members, brings new individuals and families into your community, and strengthens your institution.  Here’s how:

Hazon CSA energizes your members by:

• Strengthening your members’ connection to the synagogue/JCC by giving them a new way to participate in community life;
• Improving the health of your community by providing fresh, organic produce;
• Being a platform for innovative education programs for adults and families—from cooking classes and farm visits to text study at a “green” Shabbat oneg;
• Spurring a new dialogue about what kosher, or “fit,” food is, and thus renewing members’ sense of excitement about what it means to keep kosher.

“[Hazon CSA is a] very tangible way to begin discussion about who we are as Jews – what we are eating, what we are thinking about, how we are living on the earth.” – Hazon CSA Site Coordinator

Hazon CSA brings new individuals and families into your synagogue/JCC by:

• Opening a welcoming door to unaffiliated Jews;
• Offering a non-traditional way to get involved; 
• Creating opportunities for inter-faith community-building as people of all faiths join your Hazon CSA.

Hazon CSA strengthens your synagogue and JCC by:

• Placing your institution at the cutting edge of contemporary food issues that are important to your members and prospective members;
• Offering new marketing and fundraising opportunities as you reach out to individuals who care deeply about health, environment, and food issues; 
• Building a new cadre of lay leaders as core group members are trained to run the program;
• Offering a new way to engage your Hebrew school students and families in synagogue programming;
• Raising your institutional profile through media coverage.  Twelve of the Hazon CSA sites in North America received coverage in local press and/or radio during their first year, and many have received additional coverage in their second year.  The Hazon CSA program hosted by Congregation Tifereth Israel in Washington, D.C. was featured on the front page of the Washington Post.

What are the program costs for my synagogue, JCC, or other institution?

There is a $2,800 program fee the first year of the program.  This fee includes:

• Intensive training for 2 coordinators who will launch and run your Hazon CSA program.  Training takes place starting during the Hazon CSA track at the Hazon Food Conference.
• Ongoing consultation for site coordinators, with conference calls, one-on-one phone assistance, and an on-line list serve.
• The Hazon CSA Bible: A comprehensive manual that guides new sites through all the steps required to start and operate a CSA, including finding a partner farm, marketing and recruiting members, setting up a distribution site, organizing volunteers, creating a weekly newsletter, and getting feedback from members to evaluate the program.  Includes all templates and timelines for marketing program, managing share payments, and more.
• The Program Bank: an on-line manual with step-by-step guidance on how to run a range of community education programs.
•  Weekly articles and other materials for your newsletter. Learn more here.
• A webpage for your site, if you desire. This webpage allows sites to market the program to their community and to make the registration form readily accessible.
• Access to Hazon's international distribution network and marketing support for events and CSA marketing in your home community by email.
• A shared community of other site coordinators who can serve as mentors and supports.

Administrative costs for your synagogue/JCC may include purchase of a table and/or scale for food distribution, copying flyers or postcards for marketing, copying weekly newsletters, and purchasing food or other supplies for education programs.  The cost of travel to the Hazon Food Conference will vary depending on where your site is and how many people attend. 

Administrative costs are generally not prohibitive, and many sites cover these costs by adding a small ($10-$18) administrative fee to each member’s share price.  Please note that it is not advisable to charge the $2,800 program fee to your members.  Hazon CSA farmers work hard to keep their costs down to keep share prices affordable.  Please speak to the Rabbi or Director at your synagogue or JCC about other options for funding the program fee.  Hazon staff are also available to discuss strategies for funding your program.

Are there program costs after the first year?

After the first year, there is an annual Hazon CSA Tuv Ha’Aretz membership fee of $100. There are also costs for sending 2 or more volunteer leaders/key staff from your site to the Hazon Food Conference for more advanced training in the areas of building leadership skills, creating and running educational programs, and strengthening the community of volunteers who lead your Hazon CSA program.  

The annual membership fee includes:

• Ongoing consultation for site coordinators, as needed, to address issues that arise for your site.   You are welcome to continue to participate in conference calls, one-on-one phone assistance, and an on-line list serve.
• Updates to the Hazon CSA Site Coordinator Manual (aka "the Bible").
• Updates to the Hazon CSA Program Bank. Hazon is continually adding new program ideas and strategies for community education programs.
•  Weekly articles and other materials for your Tuv Ha’Aretz newsletter.
• Continued use of your personalized Hazon CSA webpage .

Administrative costs after the first year may include copying flyers or postcards for program marketing, copying weekly newsletters, and purchasing food or other supplies for education programs.  Costs may also include registration, board, and travel expenses for those who attend the Hazon Food Conference.

What kind of training does Hazon provide?

Hazon’s staff assists first year sites in all start-up procedures, including negotiating prices and contracts with farmers, creating a site-specific marketing timeline, creating an effective member database, developing a strong core group of volunteers, and setting up/managing a distribution site.

After the Food Conference, the staff is available via email and phone for questions.  Hazon staff conduct monthly phone conference training calls covering a variety of topics related to running your Hazon CSA as well as continuing education calls related to Jews, Food and Contemporary issues.  These conference calls allow networking among sites, with best practices and ideas being shared by site coordinators and core group members.  Throughout the season, Hazon’s support includes a substantive weekly article for the newsletter, continued support and troubleshooting via email and phone, and assistance in creating an evaluative survey for members.

What happens at the Hazon CSA Pre-Conference?

Click here to learn more about the Pre-Conference Hazon CSA training.

 
What did Site Coordinators say about last year’s Pre-Conference Training?

“I learned that Hazon CSAs are a great community-building tool.  It allows you to strengthen existing community while reaching new people.”

There is something special about the group of people who are the site coordinators.  We all really like to share ideas and give advice on how to help the new sites succeed.”

“The training is helpful and the information is well-organized and easy to follow.  The sessions were not just informative, they were engaging on not just a CSA level but on an ethical level.”

“The training was a wonderful personal development experience.”

What happens at the Hazon Food Conference?

Check out the Food Conference webpages!

Can Hazon create educational programs for my synagogue or JCC?

Yes!  Hazon can design special intensive educational programs, including “scholar-in-residence” programs that are tailored to the interests and needs of your synagogue or JCC.   Please contact csa@hazon.org for more information.

When is the Hazon CSA appplication due?

Applications for 2010 sites have now closed. If you'd like to be among the first to get the 2011 application please email csa@hazon.org and we'll put you on our list.

What’s the timeline if my community becomes a Hazon CSA site?

During November, Hazon will schedule initial phone meetings with the new sites.  The new sites will also be responsible for registering and booking travel for 2 site coordinators to the Hazon CSA Pre-Conference Training & Hazon Food Conference.
 
Formal training for the Hazon CSA season will begin at the Hazon CSA Training at the Food Conference.  Between December and the beginning of the Hazon CSA season (May/June for most communities in the Northern part of the country), Hazon will work with the site coordinators to launch Hazon CSAs in their local communities—establishing partnerships with farms, marketing the program, registering members, and more.  Most Hazon CSA sites run their season on a “Shavuot-Sukkot” model, with 20-26 week seasons that run from May/June – Oct/Nov. 

When did Hazon CSAs start? How many Hazon CSA sites are there?

Hazon launched the first Jewish CSA in the U.S., at a synagogue in Manhattan in 2004. Click here to see the complete list of our Hazon CSA communities.

Please contact csa@hazon.org with any other questions.