Community Supported Agriculture

"What You Want, When You Want It!"
2012 CSA Program

Farmers Mark and Joanie are excited to announce the 2012 CSA. A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a program where we offer customers fresh-picked USDA certified organic produce by purchasing a share of the season’s harvest in
advance. By participating in a CSA, customers become dedicated to sustaining the farm by supplying capital for start-up expenses, (farm labor, seeds, potting soil, utilities, greenhouse supplies, stakes, etc.) that need to be paid before the first crop is harvested. This year a share entitles our members to fresh produce, vegetable, flower and herb plants, and all other products available in our farm store (honey, maple syrup, goat and cheddar cheese & goat soap, jams, baked goods, etc.). Members will be able to choose what’s in their share anytime the farm store is open from May through October. We strive for a wide variety of USDA certified organic produce throughout the season. A major benefit to this program is its flexibility. You select what you want when you want it!

We offer three different share levels to help you decide the share best suited to your needs.:

• With a payment of $325 you’ll receive a farm store voucher share for $400
  (19% discount–a savings of $75)

•With a payment of $600 you’ll receive a farm store voucher share for $740
  (19% discount–a savings of $140)

•A work share entails an obligation of 45 or 80 hours of farm work during the season. These shares are extremely limited and selected at the discretion of the farmers. Work share choices include field work (weeding, planting, harvesting); greenhouse work (preparing seed trays, seeding, watering); washing and bunching produce; farm store (cashier & restocking); helping at farmers’ markets; picking up corn. A work share is equivalent to a farm store voucher share for $400(for 45 hours of work) or $740(for 80 hours of work). Work shares are mostly needed in the Spring and late Summer-Fall.

Produce and items that you may choose to include in your shares:

Early Season - Vegetable, flower and herb plants; asparagus, lettuce, radishes, scallions, Napa cabbage, kale, bok choy, swiss chard, spinach, kohlrabi, garlic scapes, peas, salad mix, arugula, rhubarb, strawberries.

Mid Season - Lettuce, scallions, radishes, zucchini, yellow squash, cukes, green beans, fennel, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, herbs, watermelon, garlic, onions, shallots, salad mix, arugula, artichokes, beets, swiss chard, golden & red raspberries, blackberries, blueberries.

Late Season - Lettuce, scallions, radishes, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celeriac, carrots, beets, leeks, cabbage, winter squash, kale, brussel sprouts, turnips, parsnips, sunchokes, salad mix, arugula, husk cherries.

Other Items - Honey, maple syrup, jams, our own tomato sauce & salsa, baked goods, goat and cheddar cheese, yogurt, goat soap, etc.

How does it work?

Come to the farm anytime the farm store is open from May through October. Select the products that you want. Tell the cashier you are a CSA member. The cashier will total your purchase and deduct it from your farm store voucher share balance. Any share balances remaining at the end of the season will be donated in produce to the Canton & Winsted Food Banks (see policy below*).

How do I sign up?

All 2011 CSA members will be given first priority for the 2012 sign up. We will be increasing our total CSA shares for 2012. To enroll click here to download and print the 2012 Harvest Agreement Form or Work Share Form, fill it out and send it in with your payment immediately as we sold out for 2011 quickly. No phone calls please – we offer our shares on a first come first served basis.

Like the Farmers, by participating in the CSA, customers not only reap the rewards but share the risks in agriculture. However, because of the large quantity of different crops we grow, what will be a difficult year for one item will be an exceptional year for another item. We also do multiple plantings of many crops. Please be aware before committing to the program that we do not refund shares due to any force majeure events, such as but not limited to weather damage or Mother Nature’s whims.

We are optimistic that this endeavor again will benefit both the customers and the farm and we look forward to sharing a wonderful season with you.

~ Farmers' Mark & Joanie

*CSA Policy for Unspent Share Balances at the End of the Season: Unspent share balances at the end of the season are donated in produce to the Canton & Winsted Food Banks. Each week CSA members are notified by e-mail detailing crops being harvested and available that week. The farmers go through great lengths to keep the farm store fully stocked seven days a week throughout the season and put any remaining perishable and non-perishable items on sale for two days each November.