12.03am - Monday 28th April 2014 2,796

When people join your CSA that are buying into you as a farmer as well as into your farm. Taking the time to organize volunteers days benefits you in several ways.

First you get the extra help that you may need. Second you develop relationships with you CSA members and customers. Ans thirdly you have a good time, like I did today!

It takes time to organize volunteer days. You have to make sure you have the right equipment (enough shovels), you should put out water and food, and make sure to break for lunch. Those are all the obvious things. Then there's sun block, bug spray, work gloves, etc...

The non-obvious things are mental. Start with a good talk explaining not only what you want to do, but how having them do it benefitst the farm.

Have a clear and achievable goal. Rememebr "SMART" goals? They apply here. If the group has and end to work toward, they will will harder to reach that end than if there is no end in sight. It's not good for morale.

Keep it light. Volunteers aren't going to do things exactly as you would like it done. However they will get the bulk of the work done for you. Better one day finishing and finessing what your crew started than 6 days doing it yourself.

Have I mentioned have fun? Have fun! It's the only way to get people to love your farm and to keep them coming back.