CSA FAQS (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
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WHAT DO I GET IN MY CSA SHARE?
Throughout the growing season, we include a variety of crops each week (6-12 different vegetables, fruits and herbs weekly). Most staple items including corn, squash, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers will be included in multiple deliveries while some crops may only be included in one or two deliveries. Each week, our online newsletter is provided for CSA members prior to delivery to alert you to what is coming in the share. It will include a list of crops with preparation tips and recipes, as well as farm news and updates.

HOW MANY DELIVERIES WILL I RECEIVE?
Our 2012 CSA program will begin the first week in June and run for 13 consecutive weeks.

HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE EACH WEEK?
We pack all our produce in sturdy plastic agricultural totes which are slightly larger than contain approximately 1/2 bushel each. Standard shares receive (1) tote weekly and double shares receive (2) totes weekly. While the volume will remain fairly constant throughout the season, the weight of produce will vary dramatically. Spring deliveries will be lighter with crops like lettuce, spinach, greens, radishes, etc. Later in the season, totes will be much heavier with squashes, onions, corn, cabbage, etc.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE BLUE TOTES MY SHARES COMES IN?
These totes work great with our produce, which at times can be wet. They don't get soggy or fall apart. These agricultural totes are FDA approved for fresh produce and will last for many seasons to come. We ask that members rinse out and return their totes each week when they pick-up their new shares.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I'M ON VACATION?
We require vacation notices in writing so we are sure we have the proper days to start and stop your delivery. CSA members may request up to two weekly deliveries skipped during the season. Requests must be received prior to the Sunday before the requested skipped delivery week. A double order will follow in the week immediately after your skipped week(s). We do not offer refunds or credits for missed deliveries or make-ups for requests made after your missed day.

WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK WILL MY DELIVERY ARRIVE?
You will receive your delivery on the same week day each week throughout the season. Once your delivery day is set, it will remain the same. We are sorry, but we can not accommodate requests for a specific day of the week since the routes are set by address and intended to balance our driver's loads. Delivery days are set in early May and members notified at that time.

WHAT TIME OF DAY WILL MY DELIVERY ARRIVE?
Most produce is picked, packed and then delivered within 24 hours. We deliver between 10am and 5pm (your delivery time may vary within this range each week depending upon the weather conditions and how they affect harvesting). If your delivery has not arrived by 5pm, please call the farm to let us know so we can research the situation.

WHAT IF I FORGET TO PICK UP MY SHARE?
If you forget to pick up your share, please make sure to contact your site host immediately! We recommend you put their contact information in your cell phone or PDA, and keep a copy of the information in your glove box or your bike bag. Because it is your responsibility as a CSA share member to pick up your share within the set time frame, please keep in mind that your site host is under no obligation to hold your share past 8pm on delivery day. We give the site hosts permission to donate any shares that have not been picked up to a local food pantry or shelter. We cannot switch delivery dates, send replacement shares, or issue credits/refunds for missed pick-ups.

WHY ARE PAYMENTS DUE IN APRIL WHEN DELIVERIES DON'T START UNTIL JUNE?
Believe it our not, many of the farm's biggest expenses occur in the first few months of the year. We buy all the seed, repair equipment and pay taxes early in the year. This is one reason why CSA is such a help to farmers because it provides cash-flow when it is most needed.

HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH CSA MEMBERS?
The most efficient way we can communicate with members is through E-mail. Please make sure that you always have a valid E-mail address on file with us. CSA members will also receive an informative newsletter each week (posted on the website) to compliment each share filled with delicious recipes, storage tips, and farm news.

CAN I VOLUNTEER AT THE FARM? CAN I BRING MY CHILDREN?
Helping out here at the farm certainly isn’t required for our CSA members, but we highly encourage volunteers! With a CSA arrangement, we really feel like we share the farm with our members, so we think it’s great when folks want to pitch in, get their hands dirty, and participate in the production of their own food. It’s obviously a huge help, too! Let us know whenever you’d like to come and help out, and occasionally we’ll send out a call, too, for volunteers if we have a special project that requires extra manpower. We love kids, too, and want them to feel comfortable here as well. Keep in mind, however, that a lot of the work we do is pretty tedious and detail-oriented. In our experience, we’ve found that weeding and kids under 7 or 8 don’t mix very well! So, bring the kids, but keep their limits and attention spans in mind, and please make sure to keep them under your supervision at all times. An overly eager child with a hoe can wipe out months of work with a few swipes, so be vigilant! There are also some very real dangers here like tractors, sharp tools, livestock and several electric fences, so please keep an eye on your child.

CAN I WORK FOR MY SHARE?
Absolutely! We value and depend on a small number of hard working folks to help make our CSA program a success each year. Click here to find out how to sign up for one of our 2012 work shares.