What if I forget to pick-up my share?
If you forget to pick up on your assigned day, you cannot just show up on another day and collect your share. We have harvested for you, it is your (or your designees) responsibility to be there to pick it up. We donate food to local food pantries several times each week. We are not able to hold food for you to pick-up on another day.
What are pick-up hours?
We are open from 2:30pm to 7:30 pm. Please do not come earlier than 2:30pm, as it takes us until then to harvest and wash and display the shares. Our greeter needs to close the Harvest House by 7:30. In the summer, you may continue to do U-Pick until about 8pm when the greeter will lock the farm gates.
What if I go on vacation?
Most of our members have a friend or neighbor pick up their share. It is important that you plan ahead and, if possible, bring that person with you at least once for a pickup at the farm. This way you can show them the system: where to sign in, how to weigh things out, where the U-Pick crops are, etc. Be sure they bring bags. Of course, our greeter will be happy to help them.
When is the first Pick-up (Summer/Fall season)?
Our first week pick-up is usually the last week in May or the first week of June. We will let you know the exact date via email, and post it on our website, in mid-May. We will have 24 weeks of distribution, which takes us to the beginning of November.
Bathrooms? Picnics?
There is a Port-a-Pot near the driveway. We make every effort to keep it clean and stocked with hand sanitizer. If you need to wash your hands, ask your greeter to show you to the sinks. You are welcome to use the picnic tables by the entrance or Edible Classroom, or go for a walk around the farm.
If I am splitting a share, what are the rules?
Be sure to make arrangements with your share partner so that you can pick up the entire share at one time each week. You can meet your share partner at the farm or you can alternate pick-up weeks with your share partner if that works better for you.
What is the work requirement (Share Duty) all about?
We ask for 4 hours of work over the course of the season from each farm share (2 hours per split share). We believe this is important so that you get a chance to see what goes into growing organic vegetables on a working farm. The work requirement hours are a great time to meet other farm members, and the best time to talk to your farmers. We have an online calendar where you can view scheduled work opportunities.
We have opportunities for people who are unable to do hard physical work, for example: trimming onion, shallot and garlic tops. We would also welcome assistance with our annual fall harvest festival, or organizing other social events and activities.
Please review the general pickup instructions
- When you arrive at the farm, sign-in at the Harvest House.
- Remember to bring your own bags.
- Read the large white dry erase board. This board lists the share for the day. It will note each vegetable and the amount to take, plus any relevant comments. Some things will be bunched, others will require you to weigh them. Some items will be “take one” others will be in bigger supply. Have the greeters explain our unit system thoroughly so that you take the correct amounts.
- U-Pick crops: These are items that are easy to pick, but too time-consuming for the farmers to harvest cost-efficiently. It is one of the most enjoyable parts of the pickup. Kids love it!
Following are hints to make the U-Pick experience more enjoyable:
- Your greeter will guide you to the correct location of U-Picks. There will also be signposts marking the beds to be picked.
- Walk in the paths between the beds.
- Use the quart and pint baskets provided to measure out your share and to pick into, but leave them at the farm.
- Some members get into the habit of bringing rigid containers to transport fragile crops (strawberries, etc).
- Wear a sun hat, change into comfortabe shoes, bring a baby stroller, water to drink, a basket to carry your things in.
- Bring your own clippers/scissors.
- If you are unsure of how to harvest a crop, please ask your greeter.
Ask questions!
There will always be a farm staff person at the CSA pick-up to answer your questions about the pick-up, pick-your-own crops, or our farming practices. We love to talk about farming, so please don't hesitate to ask.
Try something new
Try new recipes, become an
adventurous eater. The Local Foods Market sells the cookbook “
From Asparagus to Zucchini” which is geared toward CSAs and gives information, storage tips, and recipes for most veggies we grow. Your fellow farm members and greeter are excellent resources for hints. Use this opportunity to swap cooking tips and recipes.
Pick-your-own flowers
In the summer and early fall months there will be rows of pick-your-own flowers. (
Please do not cut flowers from the edible classroom).
Here are some helpful tips to extend the life of your bouquet:
- Bring a vessel you can fill up with water at the farm. Cut your flowers right into it.
- TIP: For a portable vase, take a plastic gallon milk or juice container with a handle and cut a larger opening.
- Strip the stems. No leaves under water!!
- Make a homemade preservative: Mix 1 tsp vinegar, 1 T sugar, and 1 aspirin tablet to 24 ounces of water.