“By the people, for the people” is the philosophy of the Magic Beanstalk’s Community Supported Agriculture program.

In its fifth year in Ames, the Magic Beanstalk CSA project is a partnership between local organic growers and community members who want fresh, chemical-free produce.

The program took off in 1995 with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation.

What started as one producer supplying organic produce to a few participants has grown to five weekly suppliers filling 125 shares of food this year. One share is able feed two or three people.

Marilyn Andersen, co-founder of the program, said one reason sustainable agriculture has gained popularity is because “people are becoming aware of the dangers of pesticides.”

She said Magic Beanstalk CSA gives people a better understanding and appreciation of the work that goes into producing their food.

“People learn their food comes from the ground, not the grocery store,” Andersen said.

One of the participating farms is Heenah Mayah, an organic farm run by ISU students. Last season, the farm supplied peas, pumpkins and carrots to the program.

The farm raises produce to supply shares to the Magic Beanstalk CSA for the farmer’s market and donates the leftovers to the Bethesda Lutheran Church’s food pantry.

Ricardo Salvador, associate professor of agronomy, instructs student volunteers who work at the farm. Salvador said the farm provides students with more information than could possibly fit into one of his classes.

“What they learn in a season is more than I can teach them in one semester,” Salvador said.

Contrary to popular belief, Salvador said organic farming isn’t “a step back in time,” though it is more labor intensive than common farming methods, and there’s generally more planning involved.

Pernell Plast, ISU alumna, volunteered on ISU’s farm as an undergraduate and continues to do so, splitting her time between Heenah Mayah and Magic Beanstalk CSA.

“One of the biggest things I learned is there is more than one way to do everything,” Plast said. “There are a lot of time-saving things you can do.”

Plast also works for the Field to Family Project, a project linked to Magic Beanstalk CSA helping low-income families purchase produce shares from the CSA.

Robert Carp, co-director of Field to Family, said the organization provides many services designed to help strengthen the local community and support local agriculture.

“Magic Beanstalk demonstrated a new approach to food and agriculture,” Carp said. “[This] shows we can support local agriculture.”

Members of the two groups help distribute the food among various food pantries including Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave., Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support and a local homeless shelter, Carp said.

Carp said Magic Beanstalk CSA helps meet the demand for chemical-free produce.

“People want their money to go to environmentally safe food and agriculture,” Carp said. “It shows there’s a real longing and demand for a farm connection and fresh produce,” Carp said.

Bruce Smith, owner of the Iowa Fresh Produce farm in Jewell, has been producing for the Magic Beanstalk CSA for the last three seasons.

“It’s not a business but a way of life,” Smith said.