Managing household food and feeding : gender, consumption and citizenship among Community Supported Agriculture members

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) links consumers and farmers through a sustainable, direct-marketing method that makes consumers participants in food production. CSA brings consumers to the place where their food is grown and creates relationships between consumers and the farmers growing their food. Synthesizing literatures on gendered food and feeding work and theories of consumption, this thesis analyzes consumer-members\u27 experiences with Community Supported Agriculture in Burlington, Vermont, USA. This research focuses on participants in two CSAs, based in an urban greening project called Intervale, located near downtown Burlington. Utilizing qualitative research methods, the research addresses two main questions: How does CSA food affect the gender politics of food and feeding management in members\u27 households? And, how does the CSA experience shape members\u27 scope of concern and their identities as consumers? The findings are based on data gathered from face-to-face, in-depth interviews conducted with 18 CSA members in August 2003. CSA food is shown to shift some of the gendered expectations of food and feeding work, in ways that often minimize the drudgery of food work for women and can encourage men\u27s participation in household food work. Yet, these CSA members\u27 experiences show that the management of food and feeding is strongly influenced by other household factors, such as childcare responsibilities and social living situations as well. Members\u27 impetuses for consumption are also investigated to examine the construction of identity as affected by CSA involvement. The data demonstrate how the pick-up procedure of a CSA shapes members\u27 relationships to the land and their CSA. Furthermore, the data suggest that CSA members\u27 concerns can potentially move beyond reflexive consumption, focused primarily on self-benefit, and embrace broader notions of citizen responsibility through food consumption. CSA offers consumers an alternative to industrialized food production, shifting notions of gender and consumption in a way that begins to rework some of the social inequalities embedded in the food system

Interview with Tim Patrick

Tim Patrick talks about his farm and local farming.https://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_interviews/1037/thumbnail.jp

Interview with Rodney Mowery

Leah Sokolofsky recounts her interview with Rodney Mowery.https://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_interviews/1039/thumbnail.jp

Interview with Sam Gilardi

Sam Gilardi talks about where local food comes from and the costs of it.https://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_interviews/1036/thumbnail.jp

Interview with Rod Mowery

Rod Mowery talks about running the food aspect of the Kenyon Inn.https://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_interviews/1038/thumbnail.jp

Interview with Tim Norris

Tim Norris discusses local farming and the Farmers Co-op.https://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_interviews/1034/thumbnail.jp

Interview with Regina White, and Morrison at A Taste of Country

Regina White and Elaine Morrison talk about a bulk food store in Frederickstown, Ohio.https://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_interviews/1011/thumbnail.jp

Managing household food and feeding : gender, consumption and citizenship among Community Supported Agriculture members

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) links consumers and farmers through a sustainable, direct-marketing method that makes consumers participants in food production. CSA brings consumers to the place where their food is grown and creates relationships between consumers and the farmers growing their food. Synthesizing literatures on gendered food and feeding work and theories of consumption, this thesis analyzes consumer-members' experiences with Community Supported Agriculture in Burlington, Vermont, USA. This research focuses on participants in two CSAs, based in an urban greening project called Intervale, located near downtown Burlington. Utilizing qualitative research methods, the research addresses two main questions: How does CSA food affect the gender politics of food and feeding management in members' households? And, how does the CSA experience shape members' scope of concern and their identities as consumers? The findings are based on data gathered from face-to-face, in-depth interviews conducted with 18 CSA members in August 2003. CSA food is shown to shift some of the gendered expectations of food and feeding work, in ways that often minimize the drudgery of food work for women and can encourage men's participation in household food work. Yet, these CSA members' experiences show that the management of food and feeding is strongly influenced by other household factors, such as childcare responsibilities and social living situations as well. Members' impetuses for consumption are also investigated to examine the construction of identity as affected by CSA involvement. The data demonstrate how the pick-up procedure of a CSA shapes members' relationships to the land and their CSA. Furthermore, the data suggest that CSA members' concerns can potentially move beyond reflexive consumption, focused primarily on self-benefit, and embrace broader notions of citizen responsibility through food consumption. CSA offers consumers an alternative to industrialized food production, shifting notions of gender and consumption in a way that begins to rework some of the social inequalities embedded in the food system.</p

Sam Gilardi, co-owner of Lannings, in meat freezer with meat

Sam Gilardi, co-owner of Lannings, in meat freezer with meathttps://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_images/1006/thumbnail.jp

Suzanne Hardie, Gambier resident, smiles after making a purchase at The Village Market

Suzanne Hardie, Gambier resident, smiles after making a purchase at The Village Markethttps://digital.kenyon.edu/elfs_images/1007/thumbnail.jp