working off a csa share

Money is kind of tight these days. I just spent a couple hundred dollars on cover crop seed for the farm in Silk Hope, and another hundred or so on farm tools. Add to that the need to save up a bunch of money to pay the impact fees for the new house on the land, the impending need for a car, putting out a book and buying a bunch of other miscellaneous crap (including beekeeping equipment and plants for the garden). So when it came time to rejoin Robb’s CSA, I hesitated.

Knowing that I couldn’t come up with the full share price – but still wanting to participate – I asked Robb about the possibility of working off part of the share price. She considered it, and last Monday I ended up spending a few hours at her farm.

I pulled weeds, helped roll out row covers and cut up seed potatoes. I also took a bunch of pictures of a hawk that was watching me work. I don’t know if it was hoping I would stir up a mouse or what. It wasn’t interested in the fire ants biting my hand that’s for sure.

My tool of choice was the wire weeder, a light and quick weed killer that slices off the main plant from the roots. It also allows for precise cultivation between plants.

As I said, I put in at most two hours out the farm. From my research tonight, it looks like the going rate for CSA labor is between $4 and $6 per hour. I’ll shoot for the average and ask for $5 an hour. A few hours a week should get some of the share paid off. Even without compensation, the ability to get out of the city, hang out with hawks, hear turkeys and chickens and horses make their noises all around, and put your hands in the dirt…that has to be worth something.

Well, the first delivery came yesterday –

That’s what it is worth.  Yeah!