What does “CSA” mean?
“CSA” stands for Community Supported Agriculture. How it works: typically, CSA members or “shareholders”, pay the farm in advance to cover the cost of the farm operation. In return, CSA members receive freshly harvested produce each week throughout the growing season. Additionally, members protect farmland from being lost, and receive the satisfaction of being connected to a local farm, knowing exactly where their produce is coming from. The farm benefits from the CSA model as well: receiving working capital in the beginning of the season provides financial security while taking care of marketing the produce to be harvested later.
Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests or crop loss (i.e., tomatoes in 2009), due to bad weather conditions, pests or plant diseases. “Shared risk” and “shared reward” are essential to the idea of the CSA. The farm can distribute tremendous bounty during a good growing year, while distributing less in a difficult growing year. The community provides security to the farm in a difficult growing year. Because every growing year is different, members of a CSA who stay with the CSA over the years will experience varying levels of bounty.
Are you Certified Organic?
Our growing practices are in-line with organic standards, however we have not sought certification. We use no chemicals or pesticides in our fields. We use only organically approved materials for fertility. We start our own plants in our own greenhouse using organically certified potting soil. For seeds, we use many organic and heirloom varieties.
How much produce will I get?
Our harvest depends on conditions of the season. As such, the amount of produce you receive varies week to week, and throughout the season. Generally speaking, you should receive a greater quantity of produce mid/late summer than in early summer and fall.
How many people will this feed?
This depends entirely on your eating habits. You may find that there is too much produce one week, just the right amount of produce another week, and not as much as you want another week. You may find yourself freezing produce to be consumed another time, or perhaps making sauces, pickles or preserves.
Do you offer half shares?
We do not offer half shares, however, you are welcome to split the share with another person or family. If you plan to split a share, please send in only one check for your group. Only one name will be on our distribution list (though we can send our email newsletter to multiple people) as only one person/family will serve as the main contact. Who picks up the produce and how you divide the produce will be up to you.
Can I change my pick-up day?
The pick up day you choose is yours for the season. If you need to switch a pick up day a few times during the season, please let us know a week in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.
What if I miss a week?
If you are not able to make it to the farm to pick up your produce on a given week, you are welcome to have someone else pick up your produce. Just have them come to the farm and check off your name. Any produce not picked up will be donated. If you miss a week, you are not entitled to extra produce another week.
Do you donate produce?
Part of the farm’s mission and obligation to the community is donating produce to local hunger relief organizations. In 2010 over 4,000 pounds of produce was donated from the farm. To make this happen, on harvest days for the CSA we harvest additional produce for donation. Any produce not picked up by our CSA members is added to our donation. Thus, if you can’t make it one week to get your vegetables, know that your produce will go to people in need.
Bags
Please be prepared to bring your own bags for produce. Canvas bags, paper bags and plastic bags all can be used to take home your produce. If you have a stash of extra bags you’d like to bring to the farm, we’d be happy to have them.
How can I help at the farm?
Volunteers have played a big role at the farm. Volunteers have helped with harvesting, planting, weeding, distributing produce on pick-up days, and more. If you are interested in volunteering please let us know.