Digging in to CSA Planning, Recordkeeping and Marketing

Join in for this CSA-focused walk through the planning, recordkeeping, and marketing systems and strategies of multiple Kentucky and Ohio farms and their Community-Supported Agriculture operations. 

Kristi Durbin is the UK Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Manager at the University of Kentucky’s Organic Farming Unit since 2016. In her decade with the UK CSA farm, Kristi has witnessed and assisted with continual growth and change as the operation has increased from its original ½ acre to the current 10-12 acres of year-round production serving more than 300 CSA shares each year.  Kristi has played a leading role in the certified organic production and marketing advancements while also working tirelessly on improving and documenting the CSA’s recordkeeping and resultant efficiencies.  Assisting with the development of the UK-CSA Economic Analysis and creating the soon-to-be-released CSA Production Manual, Kristi has been integral in building an arsenal of tools to educate on-farm apprentices and the larger community of farmers in our region - she’ll share these tools and a wealth of lessons learned.

Marykate Glenn, of Mustard Seed Farm, and Lyric Morris Latchaw, Mount Marigold Farm, grow on a patchwork of urban and rural land and have combined efforts for 3+ years on CSA distribution for up to 90 shares. Marykate and Lyric have many years of past experience using the pay-as-you-can model they now offer via their collaborative Mustard Seed CSA. They will share planning documents they use for collaborative distribution planning and tracking to support each other in meeting their needs and goals together.

Ben Abell and Bree Pearsall operate Rootbound Farm, a certified organic farm in Oldham County that direct-markets organic pastured chicken, eggs, lamb, and veggies. Rootbound delights in opportunities that allow them to connect with their community including a 700-member CSA program, nonprofit partnerships, local restaurants, and farmers markets. Rootbound will share the set up, planning, and staff collaboration involved with the packing process and efficiencies involved in customized shares.

Corinna Bench is the co-owner of Shared Legacy Farms — a 450 member CSA and certified organic vegetable farm in NW Ohio. In the early years, she was put in charge of marketing and sales, but had no clue how to do it. After a lot of failed attempts, she began to study and apply the principles of digital marketing to her CSA sales. The results were so life-changing that she now teaches other farmers these same online marketing tactics to build a profitable business.  She is the founder of MyDigitalFarmer.com, the My Digital Farmer podcast, CSA Quickstart course, and her Farm Marketing School. Corinna will highlight 4 CSA Marketing Principles She Learned the Hard Way (so you don’t have to!)

Open to all, this OAK virtual event is geared toward current or aspiring farmers interested in Community-Supported Agriculture programs, and allied professionals. Registered participants will receive an event recording. Funding for this Field Day was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service.