The Cheshire County Conservation District is still accepting applications for the Monadnock Farm Share Program, where applicants pay half price for a Community Supported Agriculture share. The other half of the cost is covered by a grant from Cheshire Medical Center’s Healthy Monadnock Initiative and fundraising efforts from participating local farms. This is the program’s second year. The District had already planned to offer it again before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, District Manager Amanda Littleton said, but now, the program could serve to help families struggling with a primary earner out of work. People are applying that have lost their job and didn’t think they could have a CSA share or have the ability to support a farmer, she said.
The program is intended for limited-income residents, but it’s based on self-stated need, Littleton said, and applicants don’t have to prove they’re eligible for SNAP or other programs to be eligible. She is excited the program is growing and expanding. Last year, the program provided 20 discounted shares. This year, the District is offering 33 total shares, and seven were still available as of May 6. The District will continue to accept applications until shares run out, or June 1. Additional information and the application can be found at http://cheshireconservation.org/farmshare.