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Environmental Benefits
Community Benefits
Personal Health Benefits
Community Supported Agriculture is a system that connects people who live
in urban areas to an environmental and socially responsible source of food
from a local farm. CSA programs provide a framework for a relationship that
allows consumers and farmers to collaborate efforts in order to ensure and
sustain a safe and healthy food source in their community. The potential
benefits of a CSA to a community are far reaching. Below is a list of positive
contributions community supported agriculture brings to a community and an
example of how Full Circle Farm reaches each of these goals.
Environmental Benefits
Urban Sprawl is a major issue facing nearly every community. Now more than ever communities
need to join together to protect the farm land that is located around urban areas. As housing
developments and suburbs overtake the landscape the importance stopping urban sprawl is a major
issue facing nearly every urban community. Now more than ever communities need to join
together to protect the disappearing farm land located around urban areas. As housing
developments and suburbs over take the landscape the importance of protecting local farm
land has never been greater. By investing in a CSA program, members provide direct
financial assistance to local farms, and protect the rural environment located in their
own community.
Full Circle Farm was started on a 15 acre plot of land located in
North Bend, Washington at the base of Mt Si. After a couple years of
successful business, driven by a successful CSA and sales of produce to local
grocery stores and restaurants, Full Circle Farm was able to move to an 140 acre
organic farm located in Carnation, Washington along the banks of the Snoqualmie River.
The direct investment our CSA customers provide to our farm give us the financial
security needed to protect local farm land for future generations.
 With the addition in 2006 of land in Carnation purchased with the assistance the PCC Farmland Trust,
Full Circle Farm has grown to 260 acres. This newest addition, known as Ames Creek Farm, is located adjacent to Ames
Creek and the Snoqualmie River.
Protection of local wildlife habitat is another major issue concerning the health
of our environment. As urban sprawl increases wildlife is left with a dwindling
amount of protected habitat and rivers and creeks are negatively effected by sediment
build up caused by runoff and soil erosion. Organic farms provide a large homogeneous
area of land free of chemicals and large amounts of soil erosion. If a farm is conscious
of its agricultural practices, it can work in harmony with nature and serve as a good
source of habitat for wildlife.
Full Circle Farm is located between Griffin Creek and the Snoqualmie River. Griffin Creek
is a salmon bearing creek and serves as an important habitat for the local
salmon population. The condition of the Griffin Creek has steadily improved each year
that Full Circle Farm has been farming at our current location. Full Circle Farm has
been converted from a cow pasture, and as a result a decrease in run off has created
a healthier habitat for salmon. Farming utilizing sustainable farming practices,
including using cover crops and natural fertilizers, to restore soil health and protect
against erosion has lead to a healthier habitat for wildlife surrounding Full Circle Farm.
The bald eagles nest that overlooks Full Circle Farm is proof that small steps can lead to
giant environmental accomplishments. Recently Full Circle Farm was awarded the prestigious
Green Globe Merit Award from the Washington Department of Natural Resources and Parks
for its outstanding protection of wildlife habitat in King County.
Decreasing the emissions of greenhouse gases in our environment is a growing area
of concern world wide. Green house gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
are by products of fossil fuel combustion and are linked to the phenomenon of global
warming. It is estimated that a normal consumer's food travels an average of 1500
miles before being eaten. CSA programs provide food at a local level and drastically
cut down on the distance food has to travel. CSA programs also cut down on the amount
of time food is refrigerated because food is delivered to CSA members fresh from the
farm therefore conserving energy.
Full Circle Farm is able to provide the Greater Seattle area with a supply of local,
organic, nutritious, and delicious food. By shortening the distance our CSA members
have to travel to get their food, and more importantly drastically decreasing the
distance their food has to travel to reach them, our CSA decreases emissions of
greenhouse gases. Full Circle Farm is located approximately thirty miles from Seattle
and is only a few miles away from several of our pick up locations. Pick up locations
are located in convenient areas in neighborhoods in and around Seattle. Members are
able to pick up their weekly produce on a bike ride or by swinging by the pick up
location on their way home from work. Why buy food from anywhere else besides right
down the road?
Decreasing the amount of solid waste caused by food packaging and grocery shopping is
another environmental benefit of a CSA program. When food is harvested from the fields,
processed, and then put fresh into a CSA box there is no need for useless packaging waste.
CSA programs allow for members to cut down on the overall consumption of cardboard,
plastic bags, and grocery bags.
Full Circle Farm members return all of their CSA boxes to their drop off sites
upon their next pick up. Full Circle CSA staff then pick up the used CSA boxes
and reuse them the next week. Our recycling program is very successful and
decreases our consumption of waste. The direct relationship a CSA program brings
to a farmer and a member of a community creates a less complicated and wasteful system
for delivering and enjoying fresh produce.
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Community Benefits
Education is an important goal of a successful CSA program. Many CSA farms host field
days and workshops to educate members about sustainable farming and healthy food choices.
CSA farms are often very active in their community and work with organizations and
neighborhoods to educate citizens about the importance of supporting sustainable
farming and local agriculture.
Full Circle Farm has farm tours, whole foods cooking classes, organic farming seminars,
and education outreach programs available to our CSA members and members of our community
throughout the year. Each week Full Circle Farm CSA members receive a "fresh sheet"
in their CSA boxes. Fresh sheets give our members relevant nutritional information and recipes
that contain the current weeks selection of fresh produce. Full Circle Farm is
always exploring new ways to become involved in Seattle's community as we believe
community service is a vital component and a necessary responsibility of a properly
managed CSA program.
Supporting the local economy is a healthy economic choice for any community. When
you support a local farm you are supporting a group of local people that will, in
return, support your industry or place of business. CSA programs increase the
amount of workers a farm can employ by creating a solid and stable market for the
sale of the farm's produce. Buying your food from a local farm also allows consumers
to see the labor practices their personal farmer utilizes. CSA programs serve as a
great source of revenue for local jobs and help to create safe and healthy work environments.
Full Circle Farm is very proud of the fact that we have been able to keep around 15 full
time employees, year round, for the last couple of years. Full Circle Farm employees are
given a great paying job that is consistent and mentally, physically, and spiritually
rewarding. Full Circle farm also employs 6 interns over the summer. Interns work and
live on the farm while leaning how to run a sustainable organic farm and business.
Interns increase our farms efficiency and educate young people who are interested in
making organic farming their professional career.
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Personal Health Benefits
The overall health of individuals can be positively affected by joining a
CSA program. Several CSA customers find that they begin eating more fresh produce
when it is readily available to them. CSA programs often cause their members to
eat healthier and feel better. When combined with an organic farm, CSA programs
provide their members with food that is not genetically modified and does not
contain any chemicals such as pesticides. The result is a decrease in the risk
of cancer and heart attack.
Full Circle Farm utilizes sustainable organic farming practices which focus on
soil health as the foundation for nutritious produce. Sound tillage techniques,
use of natural fertilizers, and fully integrated pest management are the cornerstones
for providing nutritious organic produce. The health of our farm's soil is passed on
to our plants which is eventually enjoyed by our CSA members.
Make a positive choice for the health of your body, the health of our community and
the health of our environment, join our CSA today.
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