About this 2018 CSA venture:
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I have been growing food crops for my family over 10 years with a healthy amount of success. I grow most of the vegetables we eat, purchasing very few fresh vegetables from the store, and no one has starved. Because there is a generally a significant surplus in the garden, for 2018 (and possibly beyond), I am offering -for the first time- a mini-CSA that can include 2-8 other families, depending on size.
If you choose to go on this adventure with me, it is important to understand the potential risks and benefits of partnering with my CSA because I don't want anyone to be disappointed by unmet expectations. Hopefully, it will be a great growing season, but there are many things beyond my control besides the weather. The LocalHarvest website includes this helpful information on CSAs. There is an important concept woven into the CSA model that takes the arrangement beyond the usual commercial transaction. That is the notion of shared risk: in most CSAs, members pay up front for the whole season and the farmers do their best to provide an abundant box of produce each week. If things are slim, members are not typically reimbursed. The result is a feeling of "we're in this together". On some farms the idea of shared risk is stronger than others, and CSA members may be asked to sign a policy form indicating that they agree to accept without complaint whatever the farm can produce.             |
What is included in a share?
Here is the list of food crops that you can look forward to this year, shown in order of the anticipated harvest windows. It is subject to adjustment due to weather and potential crop failure. Based on past years, I anticipate both good and bad surprises.
In addition to the crops on the list, the following herbs are also included in a share: Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Chives, Garlic Chives, Dill, Sage, Oregano
Starting mid-late summer through frost, a weekly bouquet of cut flowers, mostly zinnias, will be added to your pickup. In the beginning you'll get up to 10 stems, and then as they come into their full glory, you can get up to 15 stems according to availability. I have started these bright, happy flowers in wide variety of colors, and I may have other flowers available to include as well.
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2019 Season Share: Runs 18 weeks from June 26th to October 23th.
Here are sample lists of what could be included in a weekly share. I will choose 8 or more of the listed food crops to include in each pick up, depending on availability, plus the available bunches of herbs. As this is my first time doing a CSA of any size, I am sure there is going to be a learning curve for me as I figure out these details. If you may have food preferences-perhaps you prefer carrots to beets, or chard to kale- let me know and I will do my best to select the veggies you like best whenever possible for your CSA box.
Here are sample lists of what could be included in a weekly share. I will choose 8 or more of the listed food crops to include in each pick up, depending on availability, plus the available bunches of herbs. As this is my first time doing a CSA of any size, I am sure there is going to be a learning curve for me as I figure out these details. If you may have food preferences-perhaps you prefer carrots to beets, or chard to kale- let me know and I will do my best to select the veggies you like best whenever possible for your CSA box.
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Early Summer
Lettuce greens Mixed mustard/Asian greens 1 bag arugula 1 bunch chard 1 bunch kale 1 head Napa cabbage 1 bag spinach 1/2 lb sugar snap peas (members need to pick their own) 1 bunch Oasis turnips 2 summer squash 1 bunch rhubarb 1 bunch chives/garlic chives 1 bunch cilantro 1 bunch parsley 1 bunch dill |
Mid-Summer
Lettuce greens Assorted mixed mustard/Asian greens by the bunch 1 bunch chard 1 bunch kale 1 bunch green onions 2 summer squash 2 cucumbers 1 bunch beets 1 broccoli 1 head cabbage 1 bunch carrots 1 pt hot / sweet peppers 1 qt tomatoes 1 lb. green beans (members need to pick their own) 1 pt raspberries (members need to pick their own) 1 bunch basil 1 bunch parsley 1 bunch chives 1 bunch dill 10 stems of zinnias/cut flowers |
Fall
Lettuce greens Mixed mustard/Asian greens 1 bulb garlic 1 broccoli 1 cabbage 1 bunch leeks 2-3 onions 1 qt tomatoes 1 pt hot / sweet peppers 1 bunch carrots 2 butternut squash or 1-2 trombochino squash 1 bunch of kale 1 qt mixed pears (with any luck) 1 bunch basil 1 bunch parsley 1 bunch chives 1 bunch sage 10-15 stems of zinnias/cut flowers |
Share Options
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One-Size-Fits-All Share: $450 for the season. This averages out to $20 a week for each of the 21 weeks. Suitable for couples/small families.
1/2 One-Size-Fits-All Share: $250 for the season. Suitable for individuals/couples. This share is the same size as described above, but you pick up every other week instead. Either of these options will lock you in for the season, and filling your share subscription will be a priority for me. If you are ready to subscribe now, full payment should be received by May 1st to solidify our mutual commitment for the growing season. If full payment doesn't work right now but you would still want commit, you can make a down payment of 50% by May 1st and then finish paying the balance by May 15th. Payment can be made via check or via Paypal. Pick up times will be Wednesday from 4 pm - 6 pm or Friday from 4 pm - 6 pm . If you need a special accommodation at some point in the season (we all have things come up at times) , just let me know. Ours is a small CSA so I have more flexibility than a large farm might, but no promises because we have a busy summer planned. The Weekender Special: $30 by-the week share. This is an additional offer that may be available. It would be a pick up share size similar to one of the above samples available, but on an individual weekly basis. This Special will only be available after I fill the full season share subscriptions and still have more crops ready to harvest. The pros of this deal are that you are not locked in, so don't need to worry about picking up if you are away; the cons of this deal are the you are not locked in and may not get any food crops in any given week that you want them. There is no sign up for this. Just contact me during any given week you would like a box of fresh produce to see what is available. |