Event
Setting Up & Scaling Up Your CSA Course
Thinking about starting a small-scale farm or growing your existing CSA? This course is for you.
Join Ed Hamer of Chagfood CSA as he shares over thirteen years of hands-on experience, developing a thriving community supported agriculture (CSA) farm.
This practical and inspiring course is designed to give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence to start — or strengthen — a CSA in your own community.
What You’ll Gain
- Real-world insights from a leading CSA farmer
- Step-by-step guidance on building a sustainable, community-rooted farm
- A supportive environment to explore ideas and share challenges
- First-hand experience from the host CSA where the course takes place
Who It’s For
This course is ideal for:
- Individuals exploring the CSA model
- Community groups looking to launch a CSA
- Existing projects aiming to grow membership or expand into new enterprises
Why CSA?
The CSA model is one of the most effective and rewarding ways to start a small-scale farming business. It builds strong community ties, ensures fair returns for farmers, and creates lasting local food systems.
What the weekend covers
Day 1:
- Introduction to Chagfood, the host CSA & the format of the weekend
- First steps of a CSA
- Identifying demand
- Start-up costs and infrastructure
- Finding a suitable site and securing planning permission
- Initial business planning
- Lunch
- Crop planning specific to CSAs
- Fertility building
- Delivering your first season
- Managing finances and membership
- Evening meal
Day 2:
- Tour of host CSA
- Increasing membership & marketing
- Growing field scale
- Generating additional revenue through wholesale
- Business planning for expansion
- Lunch
- Diversifying your CSA
- Flower shares
Tickets range from £180 to £220 (limited number of bursary places available)
Herbal Leys for Natural Flood Management
16th July 2025
This on-farm event will share insights from a project trialling enhanced herbal leys in the Wyre catchment. Explore challenges and view examples of best practice, and learn about the potential for herbal leys to support soil health and flood resilience.