Community Supported Agriculture takes hold in Live Oak

Local News

Discussion

January 12, 2009

Another source for local, organically grown food

By Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter The Suwannee Democrat Mon Jan 12, 2009, 02:53 PM EST

Guests will have another reason to stay at Camp Weed and the Cerveny Conference Center. Fresh, organically grown vegetables will be grown on site and served up in the kitchen.

The vegetables will be provided as part of a partnership between Camp Weed and Magnolia Farms. Officials at Camp Weed are allowing Magnolia Farms to use a portion of their land to produce naturally grown produce, and in return Camp Weed will purchase the vegetables at a discount.

Joe Chamberlain, executive director of Camp Weed, said he got the idea for the partnership while on a trip to Oklahoma.

"I picked up the magazine in the airplane and I'm reading about a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)," Chamberlain said. "That's where people in big cities pay a farmer in a rural area to grow their fresh, organic vegetables."

He went home with the idea and contacted Magnolia Farms.

But the CSA program is not just about shipping produce out to other areas, said Darlene McElwee, who owns Magnolia Farms, along with her husband, Michael. It's a program that local folks can take advantage of, too.

Members of the CSA program can order food through the farm or grow it on their own land. There's also a program for low-income families, who can help work the farm for food at reduced costs.

"This area is starved for organic food," McElwee said.

McElwee said naturally grown foods provide healthful meals and promote food safety.

"They are very strong in nutrients," McElwee said. "People don't know what chemicals were used on their food; here they know what they're eating."

She said growing food locally also has economic benefits, since there's no shipping and fuel costs.

"It keeps the money here in Suwannee County and in turn it's going to taste 100 miles fresher," she said.

Magnolia Farms has been a Community Supported Agriculture farm for about four years, and McElwee said as far as she knows it's the only one of its kind in North Florida. The farm offers various organic and naturally grown produce, as well as goat dairy products, farm fresh eggs and grassfed turkey and chicken.

For Camp Weed the partnership is a tasty deal.

"(The vegetables) have been fantastic," Chamberlain said, adding they taste better than regular produce.

Numerous churches and other groups and organizations visit Camp Weed throughout the year. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stayed there for a conference.

"Our guests have had organic vegetables and organic salads items all week long," Chamberlain said.

"I was overwhelmed by (Chamberlain's) generosity and support for the Community Supported Agriculture program," McElwee said.

"It's a responsible use of our land to benefit our people -- our guests and visitors here and the people of the Episcopal churches in North Florida and Magnolia Farms," Chamberlain said.

Text Only

Local News

Showers possible for Memorial Day
May 25, 2012
5th grader belts a rendition of "I Will Always Love You"
A Suwannee County fifth grader mesmerized students, parents and faculty during the Suwannee Intermediate School Spring Talent Show Thursday evening.
Brittanie Powell performed “I Will Always Love You” which was immortalized by the late Whitney Houston. It was Brittanie’s first performance and she selected the song a few weeks ago after watching a contestant perform it on American Idol.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Pournelle receives valedictorian title
The only SHS senior with a 4.0 GPA was left out previously due to district policy

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Jeep driver receives serious injuries following collision with semi trailer
May 25, 2012
Mayo woman loses unborn child in car crash
May 25, 2012
Suwannee Democrat obituaries - May 25, 2012
Agnes Barr Taylor

Bobby Roberts

Clifton E. Riley Sr.

May 25, 2012
SHS spring game tonight
May 25, 2012
Suwannee County's vals and sals
Editor's note: In today's paper (May 25) salutatorian is above Mara Lance's photo. Lance is a Suwannee High School valedictorian.

SHS

Valedictorians
Laura-Kaitlyn Boatright
Mara Magee Lance

Salutatorian
Christopher Cole Thomas

BHS
Valedictorian
Robert Hansen
GPA - 3.83

Salutatorian
D’Vonte Cherry
GPA - 3.76

May 25, 2012 5 Photos
Democrat Morning Update for Friday, May 25
Good morning. This is what's happening in your county today.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
FCAT 2.0 math and reading results
Suwannee falls right in line with state averages

May 24, 2012
More Local News Headlines

With school almost out, how will your kids spend summer?

Local News

Search Results

Discussion