Sweetwilliam Farm, Upton MA

CSA

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CSA - Community Supported Agriculture

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

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



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

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

Sweetwilliam Farm 
153 North St. Upton, MA 01568 
508-529-2000

 * seasonal hours *

Current Hours: 

Mon: noon-5pm
Tue & Thu: noon-7pm
Fri: noon-8:30pm (live music nights)
Sat: noon-6pm
Sun: noon-5pm
(closed Wed)

members of: Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce
NOFA - Northeast Organic Farmers Association