Growing food in a community can have a significant positive affect on well-being, according to new research.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has a significant effect on the life, health, skills, and general well-being of those involved, with a striking 70 per cent of participants stating their overall quality of life has improved, according to the initial findings of the Soil Association’s CSA project evaluation.
The evaluation also found that CSA projects impact positively on the local community, benefit surrounding wildlife, encourage a diverse volunteer base, and provide important employment opportunities.
The Soil Association is hosting a one-day conference in Bristol on 16 September to mark the end of a successful five-year project helping to support the development of CSA in England and to celebrate what has been achieved. The project has been funded by the Big Lottery via the Making Local Food Work partnership.
The future of CSA in the UK will be discussed and speakers from overseas will inspire, inform and give advice on how to develop the growing, but relatively young, movement here.
Bonnie Hewson, CSA project manager at the Soil Association, said:“These findings confirm the positive impact that CSA projects have not only on those involved but also on their surrounding community, economy and environment. The Soil Association has been supporting the development of CSA for 10-years and it makes us proud to see the movement really start to take shape here in the UK and grow so dynamically.
“As part of our conference we want people involved in the relatively new UK CSA movement to hear how CSA has evolved abroad.”
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