Community Supported Agriculture

In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or "share-holders" of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary.

In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing. While share hlders get fresh picked produce delivered to them direct from the farm weekly.

What is a subscription membership?

Many CSA farms require seasonal prepayment to buy a share, however we provide two options. You can choose to pay at the beginning of the season (with this option you'll receive a free box, as well as discounted price and 5 weeks of free "Cut flower CSA"). Or you can choose to be a "subscriber", this option allows the of paying for your boxes at the beginning of each month. If you choose that option, your payment is due by the time you get your first box each month. There are two subscription sizes: bushel and 1/9th box and half-bushel box. The vegetables you receive from our farm will vary in size and appearance during the season, looking and tasting similar to those you would grow in your own home garden. The vegetables in the grocery store tend to be more uniform and perfect, because those varieties were chosen mainly to keep their appearance through shipping and storage, and then graded to remove those that were misshapen or had blemishes. The varieties we grow were chosen for their flavor and their ability to produce well in our climate, and are not expected to look perfect. (You might receive a double squash or pepper, an eggplant with a "nose", or an ear of corn with baby ears attached-these are all vegetables that would have been thrown away in a normal commercial grading operation!)

What you can expect to recieve would be a collection of the things grown on the farm, picked fresh and delivered to you. What we are growing this year is 6 varieties of lettuce, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, lebanese squash, patty pan squash, eggplant, cuccumbers, kirby cuccumbers, radishes, turnips, beets, khol rabi, broccoli, cauliflower, and over 6,000 flowers, as well as strawberries.

Why join a CSA? Mainly for the freshest vegetables you can buy. Most of them are harvested within 24 hours of the time you receive them. That means they have less time to lose their flavor and nutritional value, and they last longer once you get them. Most store bought vegetables were harvested 'green' sent to a warehouse where they are 'commerically' ripened. This is why farm fresh vegetables always taste better. You’ll also have a chance to cook with vegetables and herbs that are difficult to buy in other stores-maybe your family will even be willing try some they may not have tried before.

Cost of CSA

As covered above there are two sizes of box available and two methods of payment. These are a half buchel box, about 18 - 20 pounds containing from 6 - 8 items per week, and a large bushel and a 9th box (which is about the size of a case of apples) which wieghs about 35 - 40 pounds and contains 8 to 12 items. You can pick your box up at the farm or one of the local green markets, or for a slightly higher price can get it delivered directly to your home or office weekly. The price for the small box delivered is $27.00 a week for 24 weeks (current predicted lenght of this season) or for $24.00 picked up. The cost for a Large bushel and a 9th box is $40.00 delivered for 24 weeks or $38.00 a week picked up. In all cases you are required to make a $100.00 deposit when signing up for your subscription. If all shares are already sold or reserved, you deposit will be returned to you and you will go on a waiting list on a first come first served basis and you will be added to the CSA delivery upon the cancellation of another customers membership. For ful details on price and payment see our "Terms and Conditions" as covered int he side box on the left of the home page.