The sun beat down relentlessly on an acre and a half stretch of dirt that would soon quench the thirst of anxious localvores across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

However, last weekend’s North Texas heat did little to deter the progress of getting that land ready for a new development in Balch Springs. It isn’t everyday you get to be at the ground level of an urban farm, but those seeking organic, locally-grown food are taking the plunge with Balch Springs resident and businesswoman Marie Tedei.

Tedei, owner of Eden’s OrganicGardenCenter, located at 4710 Pioneer Road, is working to produce a viable Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA as it is commonly known in organic farming circuits, right in her own backyard. The farm has been stamped as Certified Naturally Grown by a non-profit alternative certification program tailored for small-scale, direct-market farmers using natural methods. “The main reason I decided to do this is because I noticed a huge gap in the marketplace for local produce,” Tedei said. “A CSA is the best way to achieve the goal.”

The way a CSA works is that people looking to buy locally-produced food purchase a share into the farm which helps with “seed” money and necessary upfront costs for the farmer. It creates a relationship between the farmer and the food-buying public. When fresh fruit and vegetables are ready to harvest, the members, or shareholders, of the CSA take home a weekly basket of food.

Full Story: http://neighborsgo.com/stories/21140