CSA Vegetable Shares 2018
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Signups for the 2018 season are open until March 1st, 2018 For 2018, we are offering 30 garden shares at 500$ each. With our garden shares, produce begins being available in mid to late May and runs through to early November, generally covering 22-26 weeks. Full shares are large enough to provide vegetables for at least two adults and two children, harvest season baskets can weigh in excess of 25 pounds and are large enough to be shared between families. In response to several inquiries, we will also be offering half-shares for the season at 250$. These baskets will be delivered every two weeks and are suitable for singles or those who already keep a garden. CSA Vegetable Shares - Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is a CSA and how does it work? A CSA (community sponsored agriculture) is a system whereby individuals "sign up" with a local farm before the season starts by paying the membership fee. The farm then delivers a weekly box/basket of vegetables to the subscribers on a specified day throughout their growing season. This system allows members to receive local, organic food, as well as learn more about what fruits and vegetables are in-season at any time of the year. By receiving the subscription fees from members early in the year, the farm is able to offset the significant up-front costs that a vegetable season requires. 2. Is a CSA worth the money? CSA farms encourage members to ask questions of their farmers and to get a level of comfort with the farm's season plans and vegetable selection (Our 2018 vegetable list can be found here). Members are also encouraged to visit the farm and meet their farmer in person, this hopefully grows a sense of trust in your local producer and their operation. Knowing what your farmer is attempting and seeing the infrastructure they have developed to achieve those goals can help members determine if the member fee is reasonable for the operation, as well as give an overview of some of the expected risks/challenges the farmer expects to encounter during the season. 3. What vegetables can I expect to receive each week? CSA models are also at the whim of the local climate. Some vegetables and fruits grow faster than others and are therefore available sooner. While a grocery store will have all possible produce stocked all-year round, a farm might only be able to provide certain vegetables at certain times of year as they do not import any additional produce. In the early weeks of a season's deliveries, the selection might consists of items like spinach, lettuce, radishes, peas and other vegetables that are more tolerant of frost and can therefore be grown earlier. Some other vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers, have to be planted later in the season and might therefore only appear in the mid season (as an example, radishes can be ready for market by early May, whereas tomatoes might only mature by late June). These dates can be altered with greenhouses or other strategies. Communication with your farmer is essential in setting expectations. 4. Why didn't I receive a certain vegetable from the list this year? One of the reasons that CSA farms grow many different types/varieties of vegetables is to ensure a good variety even if certain crops fail. Unfortunately droughts, overly wet seasons, temperatures outside the seasonal normal and insect/animal infestations can all cause crop destruction. By planting a wide variety of vegetables that respond to a variety of conditions, farms hope to ensure that while some vegetables will be challenging, others will thrive. Which vegetables grow and which fail will change from year to year depending on the type of weather received for that year as well as which insects or animals damaged the garden. Below is a list of many of the vegetables and other items that we will begin growing this season. For more information, or to sign up for this year's CSA shares, please e-mail greenbearfarm@gmail.com Please note that the items highlighted in green are plants that can take more than one season to produce, as such they may not be included in the 2018 season. |
Eggs & Poultry 2018
***Currently unavailable, eggs and poultry will return in summer 2018 along with pork, rabbit and goat***
Fresh eggs are available from the farm daily, and throughout the season we have chicken, duck, turkey and goose for sale. Our poultry is raised to order from day-old chicks we order from local suppliers, and therefore requires a longer pre-order time than if we kept a larger standing flock.
Below is the information regarding prices and ordering times for eggs and poultry
Eggs - 5$ per dozen (available daily)
Poultry Type Weight (approx) Price
Chicken 5 lbs 20$
Turkey 16-20lbs 80$
Ducks 6-8 lbs 35$
Birds will be plucked, dressed and vacuum sealed
Order By Availability Window
May 1st July - August
June 15th September - October
For more information or to arrange a poultry order please contact greenbearfarm@gmail.com
Fresh eggs are available from the farm daily, and throughout the season we have chicken, duck, turkey and goose for sale. Our poultry is raised to order from day-old chicks we order from local suppliers, and therefore requires a longer pre-order time than if we kept a larger standing flock.
Below is the information regarding prices and ordering times for eggs and poultry
Eggs - 5$ per dozen (available daily)
Poultry Type Weight (approx) Price
Chicken 5 lbs 20$
Turkey 16-20lbs 80$
Ducks 6-8 lbs 35$
Birds will be plucked, dressed and vacuum sealed
Order By Availability Window
May 1st July - August
June 15th September - October
For more information or to arrange a poultry order please contact greenbearfarm@gmail.com