Why Join Our CSA?

Thank you for your interest in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership at Medway Community Farm.  We are striving to develop a working farm that enhances Medway's rural character, enriches our community, and provides a setting for outdoor and farm education for all ages.  We are reaching out, in our second year with a full-time farmer, to community members who believe in what we do and are willing and able to support our growth.  

The CSA model is a farm business plan in which individuals are able to pre-purchase a portion (usually referred to as a share) of the farm's harvest.  In our case, it is either $300 or $550 worth of vegetables to be distributed on a weekly basis for 25 weeks.  By paying in advance, individuals enable us to afford the supplies, tools and labor needed to grow your food without incurring significant debt. 

By purchasing a share you are committing to the realities of a local harvest, and to the farm itself, adjusting your diet week by week to include all the fresh, healthy vegetables the farm is able to produce at that time.  It takes some commitment on the part of the shareholder to be ready to cook a few nights a week, look up recipes (or be willing to try the ones provided by the farmer and other members), and the rewards are well worth the effort.
 
It is empowering to nurture yourself and your loved ones with vegetables that were grown in an ecologically and socially responsible way.  Please read more about the CSA we are planning for next year in the following paragraphs.  If you have any further questions, or would simply like to discuss farm or food related topics and issues please do no hesitate to contact our farm manager, Brittany Sidway, at bsidway@medwaycommunityfarm.org.

To Sign Up: Email our Farm Manager Brittany at bsidway@medwaycommunityfarm.org.

What’s in a share?

Each week you will receive vegetables that have been grown on the farm.  This means all vegetables will be fresh and seasonal.  We are buying some winter squash and potatoes to include in the share that have been grown by Gretta Anderson at Moraine Farm because we do not have enough room for these sprawling crops.  Each share will be as balanced as possible, providing a variety of vegetables.  One whole share is enough for a family of 4 who eats a vegetable side or salad with 4-5 meals/week, or two people who love veggies! The half share is meant for families with less time to cook or fewer family members.

Choice:  Based on surveys from last season, we are attempting to add more choice to the CSA.  When you come to the farm to pick up your produce, there will be some choices about what you take.  Remember, a CSA is not a grocery store, and part of the benefit of membership is being able to try new vegetables.  Nearly 100% of members who responded to our survey last season said they learned to love new vegetables because of the farm!

2012 CSA Description

Full Vegetable CSA Share $550 Begins the last week of May, ends Mid November.  Each week will provide an average of $22 worth of food to be picked up at the farm.  This share will be slightly larger than the full share last season ($2 more/week), and will run for 25 weeks instead of just 20.  We try to balance our shares based on what is in season.   We will be including more winter squash, carrots and potatoes this season, as well as adding corn, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts to the crop plan. 

Example July 30^th Share: 3lbs tomatoes, 5lbs cukes, zukes, peppers, eggplants (you choose which ones), two bunches of herbs (choice basil, parsley, cilantro), a head of lettuce, a bunch of carrots, 2 pints of cherry tomatoes, a bunch of fresh onions.  There will also be chard, beets and scallions on the table as trades.

Half Vegetable CSA Share $300 Begins the last week of May, ends Mid November.  Each week will provide an average of $11 worth of food to be picked up at the farm.  This share will be slightly more than half of a share last season and will go for 25 weeks instead of just 20.  The “half share” will not be half bunches, or cabbages cut in half – it will be $11 worth of our standard bunched/bagged/sized vegetables with choice options.

Example July 30^th Share:  1 lbs tomatoes, 2 lbs cukes, zukes, peppers, eggplants (you choose which ones), one bunch of herbs (choice basil, parsley, cilantro), a head of lettuce, a bunch of carrots, one pint cherry tomatoes.

Pick Your Own (in addition to a full or half share) $50 Each week will provide the opportunity to harvest a little bit extra yourself.  Crops in the pick your own section will include peas, beans, cherry tomatoes, herbs, sometimes flowers and husk cherries.  The farmer will let you know what is available to pick each week and you will receive instruction on where and how to pick.  For example, on July 30^st you might pick: a pint of cherry tomatoes and a quart of beans.  The next week you might pick: a pint of plum tomatoes and a bunch of flowers.  This is a great way to get more of these summer delights while getting your hands (and your children’s hands) busy in the field.  Other crops that might be included: kale, chard, broccoli shoots, spinach.

More Example Full Shares:

Spring
2 heads lettuce
bunch of beets
bunch of radish
Choice: bunch of kale or bunch of arugula
1/2 lb spinach
bunch of scallions
Choice: 2 kohlrabi or two bok choi
2 pints of peas
 
Summer
Head of lettuce
Bunch of Swiss Chard
1 lb tomatoes and 2 pints cherry tomatoes
Choice: Mix and match: 4 lbs cucumber, zucchini, eggplant
Choice: 1 bunch basil or 1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch sweet onions
1 lb sweet peppers
1 bunch carrots

 
Fall
2 Heads lettuce
Choice: Pick two: 1 bunch carrots, 1 bunch beets, 1 bunch turnips
1 celery root
1 bunch leeks
Choice: 1 bunch kale or 1/2 lb spinach
2.5 lb potatoes
3-4 onions
2 lbs winter squash
1 lb broccoli 

When is pick up?

Distribution days will be Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 to 7:00, and Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. 

Where is pickup?

Pickup will be at the farm 50 Winthrop St.

What if I am away for the week?

It is perfectly fine to change your pick up day, but you must email the farm manager by 6pm the day before your designated pick up day, or the day you choose to pick up on, whichever comes first.  You may also have someone pick up your share for you, or the farm will donate your share for the week to a local food pantry.

How do we determine the value of our vegetables?

Prices used to calculate the value of vegetables in each share will be based on prices in grocery stores and those used by other local, small organic farms.  We believe healthy, sustainably grown food should be available to all and will strive to price our produce fairly.

 How do I reserve a share?

It is most helpful to the farm if you are able to pay in full as early as possible.  We are able to use the money to buy things like seeds, potting soil, compost, irrigation materials, and tools that will be needed as early as February.  A payment of $150 will reserve a half share and $275 will reserve a full share.  The share must be paid for, in full, by April 15th.

Why are payments needed so far in advance?

The reason the CSA model benefits a farm, especially a startup farm, is that the profit from the sale of shares can be used to buy seeds, tools, supplies and labor needed to grow the vegetables from the start.  Because we will start planting seeds as early as the last week of February we will need to have purchased a lot of our supplies by then.

Why is the CSA model and financial support so crucial for a startup farm like us?

We are a non-profit farm.  We are the result of a grassroots effort to promote sustainable agriculture in Medway and have achieved great success with very few resources.  We rely on CSA funds to operate each season, and would not be able to have a farm without the important up front investment of people like you.

What if I decide I want to cancel my share?

If at any point after making a reservation, and before distribution begins, you decide would like to give up your share the farm will try to sell you share.  If it can be sold before the distribution begins you will be refunded all but a $25 processing fee.  If you decide you do not want to continue receiving your share during the distribution season the farm cannot be responsible for the re-sale of your share nor can your money be refunded.  You are welcome to sell your share on your own at any point.

Vegetables we will grow:

Arugula

Radishes

Japanese Turnips

Spinach

Kale

Broccoli

Peas

Scallions

Cabbage

Napa Cabbage

Kohlrabi

Salad Mix

Lettuce

Carrots

Beets

Endive

Escarole

Fennel

Bok Choy

Cucumber

Zucchini

Summer Squash

Eggplant

Peppers

Tomatoes

Beans

Potatoes

Onions

Garlic

Cherry Tomatoes

Sweet Corn

Melons

Watermelons

Tomatillos

Swiss Chard

Basil

Parsley

Dill

Cilantro

Parsnip

Sweet Potatoes

Brussels Sprouts

Winter Squash

Rutabaga

Turnips

We cannot guarantee quantity of each of these vegetables you will receive, but they will all be planted in an attempt to include them in at least one of your weekly shares.