GardenShare is again offering help to make community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares affordable for people living on limited incomes.

For eligible households, GardenShare’s “CSA Bonus Bucks” program provides a $150 discount off the cost of a membership at a participating CSA farm.

In CSA, consumers buy a membership in a nearby farm at the beginning of the growing season. Then each week they go to a designated site to pick up a box of the farm's harvest -- vegetables or meat or perhaps an assortment of vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, maple syrup, and other wholesome farm food.

To be eligible for the CSA Bonus Bucks discount, the combined yearly pre-tax income of all household members must be at or below $20,147 for one person; $27,214 for two people; $34,281 for three people; $41,348 for four people; $48,415 for five people; or $55,482 for six people.

CSA Bonus Bucks will be distributed first-come, first-served as long as funds last.

For an application form, a list of participating CSA farms, and more details about the program, visit GardenShare's website at www.GardenShare.org, or call 261-8054.

In 2009, GardenShare shared the cost of CSA with 15 households of 55 people, ranging from babies to grandparents. Last year, GardenShare increased that to 22 households composed of 41 adults and 38 children, including one baby who ate her first solid food from her family’s CSA box.

An end-of-the-season survey of last year’s participants found that most had increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables as a result of CSA Bonus Bucks. At least half of the fresh produce they ate came from their weekly CSA box.

GardenShare welcomes donations to help spread the benefits of CSA to families that would not otherwise be able to afford a CSA membership.

Contributions are tax-deductible and may be made online through a secure donations page at www.GardenShare.org, or mailed to GardenShare, PO Box 516, Canton, NY 13617.