Farming is unpredictable. From the ancient world to the present day, farmers have been fending off ruin and coping with the volatility of sun, rain, pests, and diseases. When the hay is ready to cut, it might rain every other day. A mid-summer heat wave could burn up the lettuce crop. Perishable items all too frequently go bac before a market can be found.
Land is essential to farming.
Land prices have risen steadily, making it difficult for new farmers to begin. Existing farms watch property taxes eat up increasingly large portions of farm income, and near bigger towns and cities, open fields are being replaced by subdivisions and strip malls. The farmer no longer shoulders all of the risk of producing food and maintaining a vibrant open landscape. Consumers agree to share the risk by purchasing a portion of the harvest in advance of the growing season, guaranteeing the farmer an income. By taking this active role, the community preserves its farms and farmers, thereby securing a safe local food source into the future.