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Q&A about a CSA: What is a CSA? Community Supported Agriculture (also called CSA or Subscription Vegetable
Farming) is an innovative approach to the relationship between farmers and those who enjoy good food. Members of CSA’s
pay a fixed fee to a farmer in exchange for a weekly share of the farm’s bounty. Generally paid in
advance of the growing season, the money provides working capital to small family farms so farmers can earn a living wage
while providing urban and suburban families with fresh and often organic produce. CSA’s also give
members a tangible connection to the food they eat and the farmers who grow it. For the most part, produce
is harvested the same day as it is picked-up and includes a range of seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as rare and heirloom
varieties rarely available in grocery stores.Eat local to preserve the environment and support sustainable farmland stewardship
in your region. Teach children where their food comes from. Eat healthy with fresh vegetables grown by organic practices and
principles. This CSA is located at Sweetwilliam Farm, Upton, MA.
What do I get for my share? Members of the farm are called shareholders, and usually receive from 7 to 13 vegetable
items a week throughout the approximate 20-week growing season. Once a week June through Fall, you will receive produce
grown on our farm. These are pre-set pick up days. Produce will vary weekly pending on the season. We usually start
out with lettuce and greens, move into beans, squash, tomatoes then into eggplant, beets and potatoes. Generally, distribution
in the first three to four weeks or so will be much less than in the height of summer production. Fall's distribution
will be somewhere inbetween Spring & Summer. We offer two share options: A 1/2 share will generally feed 2
people for one week. A full share will generally feed a family of 4 for one week.
Is
the produce certified organic? Our fields
are in transition so our soil hasn’t been certified as organic. We do follow organic policy and procedure.
Do I need to work on the farm? We do not ask our share holders to contribute hours
working in the fields. Most farms require 8-10 hours of farm work during the season.
As
a member, can I work on on the farm? Starting the 2009 season, we will be offering work share options.
We are looking for individuals to work in the fields as well as people to manage pick-ups. Please inquire for more information.
How much does a share cost (2010 pricing)? A 1/2 share is $550.00 for the season and a full share is $750 for the season. Terms are available
upon request.
When & where do I pick up my share? You come to the farm on the same day
each week. Produce is conveniently boxed and labeled for each family. We offer three pick up days days:
1) Tuesdays 3:30pm - 7:00pm 2) Thursdays 3:30pm - 7:00pm 3) Sundays 1:00pm - 6:00pm
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We take pride in providing our share holders with 'real food'.
Below is our crop list. We've also listed the seasons in which crops hope to be harvested. For our first time
members, growing in New England can be challanging. As the saying goes, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute.
So, thanks to Mother Nature, crops could arrive early or late. And some could be total failures and others
a huge success! Welcome to farming in New England.
2010 anticipated crops:
Asian Greens; spring, fall Baby Greens; spring, fall Beets;
spring, fall Broccoli; spring, fall Brussel Sprouts; fall Carrots;
fall Cantaloupe; late summer Cauliflower; spring, fall Celery;
summer Cucumber; summer Eggplant; summer Garlic; summer Green beans; summer Herbs; summer, fall Kale; spring, summer,
fall Leeks; summer Lettuce; spring, summer, fall Onion;
summer Peas; spring Peppers; summer Potatoes; summer Pumpkin; fall Radish; spring, fall Summer squash; summer Sweet Potatoes; fall Tomatoes; summer Turnip; spring, fall Watermelon; late summer Winter squash; fall Zucchini; summer
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CSA's give members a tangible connection to the food they eat and the
farmers who grow it.
Benefits of being a shareholder: - Eat healthier by adding more vegetables to your diet - Know where your food comes from, direct from our farm - Organically grown produce, pesticide free - Think green,
reduce your carbon footprint and buy local - Teach the children where food really comes from - More economical than
buying produce from the grocery store weekly, thier prices go up, ours don't - Enjoy our pick your own crops -
Partake in our egg & bread share addons, convenient one-stop shopping
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A portion of the 2010 agreement:
Produce Share:
(approximately 20 weeks)
_______$550
One 1/2 share
_______$750 One full share Egg Share Add-on Option: (20 weeks, farm fresh eggs)
_______$60 Half Dozen share, ½ dozen eggs per week _______$120 Full Dozen share, one dozen eggs per week
Bread Share Add-on
Option: (20 weeks, traditional European bread)
_______$60
Mini Loaf share, one 8 oz loaf per week _______$80 Regular Loaf share, one 16 oz
loaf per week _______$110 Deluxe Loaf share, one 16 oz loaf per week
Check out the followig sites for recipes: epicurious.com recipesource.com foodnetwork.com allrecipes.com recipezaar.com animalvegetablemiracle.com
We are currently taking on members for the 2010 growing season. Membership enrollment will end March,
2010. Send us an e-mail if you are interested in our 2010 CSA membership program. Our e-mail address
is sweetwilliamfarm@charter.net.
CSA
News for the 2010 Growing Season:
June 1st - Pickups start
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