Farmer Profiles

"Melanie and George DeVault"
Pheasant Hill Farms, Emmaus, Pennsylvania

"CSA farmers need to be organized, and learn how to plan and budget. Keeping up a level of quality every year is a tremendous amount of work. You need to be friendly and listen to your customers. Be creative but find a mentor to help get established."

Farming Operation: George and Melanie DeVault started CSA marketing in 1995. They currently farm approximately 4-1/2 acres of a 20-acre certified-organic farm in southeastern Pennsylvania, in an area that is quickly being developed by housing. George and Melanie are considering moving out of CSA farming to focus on their farmers' markets and retail farm market stand. Melanie told us that this will also allow them to concentrate on the crops that are most profitable, and those they feel they have developed "expertise" in. In 2001, Pheasant Hill Farms supported Melanie and Don (their son) full-time year-round, and George part-time. They also use some labor on a barter basis.

CSA Marketing: At its height in 2000, Pheasant Hill Farms had 75 members in the CSA. In 2001, they provided full-shares at $450, with an optional $75 delivery charge and an optional flower share. In addition, they connected their shareholders with a neighbor providing pastured chicken and eggs monthly. The shares were distributed for approximately 18 weeks from the end of May until early October. The DeVaults wrote a weekly newsletter, and held an annual open house with over 175 attendees. They also provided group tours of the farm and presentations about CSA to the public.

Views on CSA: George has thought and written about CSA farming for many years. The DeVaults believe that CSA allows the farmer to do a lot economically with small acreage. For example, George calculated that to bring in the same amount of money through conventional farming on the 2-3/4 acres that Pheasant Hill Farms used in 2000, they would need 200 acres in corn, or 261 acres in soybeans. They told us that "CSA is a great way to get started-we would recommend it to anyone. The organization and the discipline you need to have something like a CSA makes you a better grower and marketer. As a whole, in the broadest terms, it really is a great thing-probably the key to survival for agriculture in this country. I feel very optimistic about it. But, it isn't perfect and it isn't for everyone."

Key Challenges: The weekly pressure of providing the CSA share was difficult after several years of running a CSA. As part of their own personal philosophy, the DeVaults never felt that the consumer should shoulder the economic risk of CSA farming, and believed that they needed to provide a shareholder bag every week, regardless of weather and occasional crop failures. After 6 years, they are ready to move onto other challenges and different marketing systems that allow more free time with similar profitability.

Words of Advice for New CSA Farmers: "CSA farmers need to be organized, and learn how to plan and budget. Keeping up a level of quality every year is a tremendous amount of work. You need to be friendly and listen to your customers. Be creative but find a mentor to help you get established. Start small and do a lot of homework and reading. Get involved in local, regional, and national farming groups. Conferences are a good place to get new ideas."

Contact: George and Melanie DeVault, Pheasant Hill Farms, 3502 Main Road East, Emmaus, PA 18049; phone 610-965-6871; e-mail devault@fast.net; website: http://www.phforganics.com/.

Profiles of Community Supported Agriculture