What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an agreement between farmer and consumer in which farmers provide produce to consumers who share in both the risk and bounty of the farm. Participants receive a box of produce/flowers every week and get to enjoy harvests at the peak of freshness while supporting local, sustainable agriculture!
What to Expect As a member you will be assigned 2 CSA boxes, which will be alternated every other week. For example, upon first pick up you will receive a box of fresh vegetables and at second pickup you will return that box to be used in the 3rd week. The same 2 boxes can be used throughout the season thus limiting the amount of waste produced by this CSA! If you are unable to pick up your share we ask that you contact us early that week so that arrangements can be made to either donate the box or have a friend or family member utilize your share. If arrangements are not made and a share is not picked up, the box will be donated and you WILL be charged for that week. With advanced warning it is possible that alternative pick up options can be arranged. The Agreement It is assumed that members will participate for the duration of the season. Initial and lump sum payments are required to support the farm and its employees during the growing season. The purchase of your share covers the initial investment into seeds, soil amendments and labor that are essential to the production of delicious, nutritious food! Please go here for specifics about payment options and methods. |
What Will Be in My Box?
You can expect ~$25 worth of fresh, local, produce, picked at peak ripeness. This equates to an average of 8 different items per box. In the spring expect asparagus, lettuces, leafy greens, turnips, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. In the summer: garlic, herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, swiss chard, kale, beans, squash, and carrots. In the fall: pumpkins, winter squash, melons, and a continued mix of Spring and Summer produce.
What is the Timeframe? While certainties are impossible, your first share should be available mid to late May. The first harvest is very vulnerable to shifts in weather and WNC springs are always unpredictable. Shares should continue into mid- late October with possible carry over into November. Risk While there is a plan for what crops will be produced, farming is a tricky business. As a shareholder, you will be taking on a portion of the risk and bounty of the farm. In rare but possible instances of crop failure, where one item may be unavailable, you will be compensated with more of another item. Growing on a small scale with large crop diversity mitigates the risk of massive crop failure. Thank you for sharing in this risk and supporting local agriculture. This is a step in taking charge of your own nutrition and changing the supply chain of food production. |