I just read this neat article about how community supported agriculture and subscription plans for produce are taking off in Alaska - literally, in that some of the plans provide air transport in cargo planes to the bush, where there is no road access.

Having lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, for a year, I can appreciate the value of fresh produce to Alaskans. I remember that when we lived there (about ten years ago, now) the health food store carried extremely expensive veggies and fruits that were flown in from the Lower 48. You could hit the farmers market during summer, but that was about it as far as options.

I thought this was a great example of how even in the shortest of growing seasons, farms can make CSAs and subscription produce services work for them. I also liked how they included examples of different scales of CSAs, from Arctic Organics, which caps members at 125, to Full Circle, based in Washington state, with 5,000 members. Arctic Organics is the only one without a middleman, according to the article, but even so - those middlemen are doing the work of distributing fresh food to people hungry for healthy veggies, fruit and other farm products like cheese and eggs.

USDA Rural Development is now accepting applications for Value-Added Producer Grants. These can be used for planning activities and working capital for value-added farm products as well as for renewable energy.

The folks to talk to are your state's Rural Development Office. Find yours here. Find out about other grants and resources for farming, too!

My baby chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery are growing big and strong! And my Freedom Rangers from Freedom Ranger Hatchery are even bigger! I am very happy with both these hatcheries and the health and vigor of our chicks this season.

How do your babies grow?

• Where to Buy Baby Chicks