Grow Your Own CSA course

A 3 month online course, consisting of 12x90 minute sessions, with Tom O'Kane of Cae Tan CSA and guest speakers.

Running Mondays 6:00pm to 7.30pm, 28th September to 14th December 2026.

Community Supported Agriculture is a profitable, sociable and sustainable way to link land and community. We would like to see CSA projects thrive across the UK. Working from our own experiences, we will give you an overview of the main issues you should consider when setting up and successfully running your CSA.

The course runs from September to December, so growers who have finished the main season can complete this training in time to set up a CSA the following season! You may also want to take the course to help decide if CSA suits you.

More information:

• The sessions allow us to explore a subject more in-depth or invite guest speakers with particular expertise. They are also an opportunity for students to share ideas & raise questions.
• Before each session, we will send you a list of study resources, including web pages, short films, and documents. We will also give you an assignment to complete in each session. These assignments will form the basis of our discussion when we meet.
• Whilst the online session will be 90 minutes, we suggest you give 2 to 4 hours of additional study time and upwards per week to work on your CSA plans as we guide you through the session topics. The more time you put in, the more you will get out.
• You will also be part of our 2026 GYOCSA WhatsApp group where you can swap info and ask questions with other course participants, tutors and speakers.
• This course will ideally be supplemented by you receiving mentoring from various organisations. We will try to help you find this extra support.
• Each online session topic will last 90 minutes. There will be 12 sessions in total, running on Mondays between 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Course breakdown below and speakers list to follow
Session 1 The basic principles of CSA with Tom O'Kane
Session 2 Business planning and finance for your CSA
Session 3 Land and site with Andy Dibben of Abbey Home Farm
Session 4 The CSA network, CSA types, funding and all your questions answered
Session 5 CSA legal structures and logistics
Session 6 Crop planning with Tony Little of the Landworkers Alliance
Session 7 Marketing and memberships with Holly Budgen of Teign Greens
Session 8 Planning permission (across 4 nations) with Lucie Taylor of the Community Land Advisory Service
Session 9 Tools and equipment
Session 10 Volunteers, trainees and schools with Emma Bowen of Kirkstall Valley Farm
Session 11 Extending the season, storage and the hungry gap
Session 12 Food equity, social links and evaluation

Some bursaries will be available – please apply to: comms@communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk