When Jerry Draper and Mea McNeill went to raise their straw bale barn in San Anselmo, they had no idea what to expect, but they had heard that there was a large, dispersed group of straw bale fans. And sure enough, volunteers from these sleeper cells just started arriving. A man road his bike all the way from Berkeley, a banker rolled up his sleeves and took his turn hauling hay. Now this eco-friendly barn serves as a meeting center for Marin County Beekeepers Association and an outpost for the small one acre CSA, Draper Farms a member of Marin Organic , where neighbors walk, bicycle and push strollers over to pick their own heirloom tomatoes, leafy greens, broccoli and brussel sprouts.

The diminutive farm started as a family project, but when they began selling their produce to neighbors, learned that this is illegal to sell directly to the public in a non-commercial area and by law people had to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). There is not a fee to join this one, but all members have to register and learn when produce is ready and how to pick. Then they weigh, pay, and stroll home. Both Jerry and Mea have full time jobs, and run their farm as an example of how small a carbon footprint can be created by small scale urban and suburban CSA's. Most of their members live nearby neighbors and also get their exercise by not just getting there, but with the light gardening--and children especially like to come and pick their own produce and meet the chickens that lay their eggs. The restaurants they supply, like Bubba's Diner and Comforts Cafe are nearby in San Anselmo.

This farm helps to keep the family from arguing politics as they turn their attention to irrigation and interplanting. Jerry's father, a retired Napa grape grower and their nephew used to work on it. But one got tired and the other went off to college, so local high schoolers have been working internships at the farm. "At first we didn't want interns, as we thought they would be more work," Mea explained. "But they have all been wonderful. The young people really believe in this. Look at the changes in our lifetime in civil rights. The next big social shift that needs to happen is with our food."

Jerry and Mea want to spread the word so that people will be inspired to start their own small CSA farms.

Jerry and Meas' Tips for Getting Started

1. Find a plot of land. If you don't own it, get permission. There are organizations like Farmlink that help connect farms to future farmers.

2. Find a mentor or resources such as "Successful Small-Scale Farming: An Organic Approach" by Karl Schwenke)

3. Choose a format -- boxes, farmers' markets, u-pick, work-share or your unique idea. Then make a business plan.

4. Create a membership. This helps to control who comes to your farm.

5. Canvas local restaurants and connect with locals to sell produce in season.

6. Lobby local governments to ease property tax burdens on urban farmers so they can be financially solvent.