There has been a growing movement to develop appropriate alternatives to the conventional ways that food is produced, distributed and consumed in this country and around the world. The concept of Community Supported Agriculture has led to the formation of numerous small groups of local farmers and consumers, called CSAs. Consumers support local farmers by buying shares of their harvest, which is then distributed periodically directly to the consumers.

In the midst of increasing growth and consolidation of the agribusiness industry, and the long-term effects of potentially devastating climate change, our independent farmers are fighting on the front lines.

Efforts to bring wholesome food to our tables are becoming even more of a challenge. We can expect some crops to be in short supply or very expensive both locally and nationally. The distressing development of family farmers forced to give up and sell their farms is continuing today.

But it doesn't have to be this way. We can become proactive in this changing landscape. If we don't, we could end up dependent on large agribusiness to supply our food, and we know what kind of food they tend to produce. It is increasingly genetically modified, and full of herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. The agribusiness industry will become our only source of food with the freedom to decide for us what is, and is not, available to eat.

Supporting our independent farmers has never been more important than it is now. Buying produce at our farmer's markets and from co-ops that carry locally raised food is one way to make a huge difference. Supporting CSAs is another. Community Supported Agriculture can be much more than a group of customers signing up for weekly fresh produce from a certain farm and paying for that allotment in advance. It can involve local farmers and small family gardeners working cooperatively to support each other.

Last year I had two CSAs near me that both made huge contributions to my small homestead gardening project. Between the two of them, someone always has a few extra plant starts for me to get in the ground, or the end of a packet of seeds that turns out to be just enough for my little plot.

They always share how they are dealing with fungus or pests , and they never fail to have a few extra vegetables for my household when I am running short, or have had a bad crop. Few are as generous as our farmers.

Last summer they both kept encouraging me to put a simple irrigation system in. Then one of them brought over a catalog showing me all the stuff I needed to set it up. They coached me and sat with me, and now I have an irrigation system that has changed my life.

They have always been there for me, but only recently did I realize that I can be there for them too.

A few years ago, in the middle of a drought when one of my neighbors with a relatively new CSA had trouble meeting her expected weekly output, the rest of us pitched in with extra organic crops from our gardens.

I'm just starting to open up my narrow view of what the CSA movement is all about. Together as a community, we really can supply ourselves with fresh healthy local produce. And we will preserve the tireless commitment and wisdom of our local farmers.