Community-Supported Agriculture
What Is a CSA?
CSA stands for “community-supported agriculture.” A CSA is a community of members who support a farm, with the farmer and the members providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.
Is it a real CSA? See this fun info-graphic!
Do I have any say in what I receive? Yes – while the overall planting begins before most members sign up, you can let us know which things you don’t like with our simple opt-out process. We also frequently offer extra items at no additional cost.
How it works: Members generally buy their shares in advance, which helps cover the farmer’s costs of seeds, soil amendments, labor, etc., which all begin long before the harvest is ready. In return, once a week the members get a share of that week’s harvest (or every other week, with our biweekly shares). You can feel good that 100 percent of the food dollar goes straight to the farm, instead to middle-men. And, our food typically reaches your table within 24 hours of harvest, rather than sitting in a warehouse for weeks.
Your share purchase allows us to employ and educate interns, as well as continue to build the soil and improve our garden.
Joining a CSA is wonderful way to connect with the wisdom and healing benefits of eating in harmony with the seasons, and support the environment and small farmers. We try to care for the earth and are organic certified, as well!
Joining our CSA is also a way to give: we donate a portion of surplus produce to shelters and food banks, and individuals can purchase shares to be donated.
CSA Membership Offers Many Benefits:
- Seasonal organic produce picked at the peak of freshness
- Expanded food choices by offering new produce you might not have tried
- Sustainable farming practices working in harmony with the land
- Food grown locally, less dependent on fossil fuels than food shipped from another state (or country)
- Heirloom varieties that preserve genetic diversity
- Preservation of the direct, traditional connection between the farmer and the customer
- Education of aspiring farmers through our internship program
CSA Membership Offers Many Benefits:
- Seasonal organic produce picked at the peak of freshness
- Expanded food choices by offering new produce you might not have tried
- Sustainable farming practices working in harmony with the land
- Food grown locally, less dependent on fossil fuels than food shipped from another state (or country)
- Heirloom varieties that preserve genetic diversity
- Preservation of the direct, traditional connection between the farmer and the customer
- Education of aspiring farmers through our internship program
With each delivery, you can expect to receive 6-10 different items from our planting list, farmer’s choice from what is ready that week, but with the ability to customize (see below). Early and late in the season will have a little less, the mid-season will have more. Full and bi-weekly shares get a full-sized bag. The small shares sometimes get different or fewer items, but always at least half compared to the full shares.
- Full share = a full bag every week, suitable for 2-4 people (on average)
- Biweekly share = a full bag, every other week, suitable for 1-2 people
- Small share = half a bag every week, suitable for 1-2 people
Customize Your Share!
Each week we send you a list of what’s planned for that delivery, and you can opt-out of anything you don’t want. We also usually have extras that you can request more of. So if you hate beets or kale, you can opt-out and request something else! And you can get extras whether you opt-out of anything, or not. Some weeks we have up to six extra items. To get the most out of your share, be sure to read the newsletter each week and request extras.
Is it a Good Value?
CSA produce generally costs about what you find at farmer’s markets or a good organic store. It is not a “bargain bag,” however we feel the freshness and flavor make it worthwhile. In our most recent member survey, 100% thought our price was right for what we delivered.
To get the most out of your share, read the newsletter and ask for extra items. We offer extras almost every week, after giving out what we feel is a reasonable amount in the share bags. Some things are on the extra list because there’s not quite enough for everyone, but enough for those who really want it, like when something is just starting to come in, or at the tail end of its season.
Customers who regularly customize their shares, by opting out of whatever they don’t like, and asking extras, tend to be the most satisfied with their shares at the end of the season.
What We Grow
We strive to offer traditional favorites (such as tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers) plus items that you may not have tried before (such as salad turnips, Asian greens, and garlic scapes). We plant several types of heirloom tomatoes (Cherokee Purple, Valencia and Brandywine, for example) and kale (lacinato, green curly, and red winter). Our lettuce comes in a rainbow of varieties and makes a beautiful salad. Below is a list of what we plan to include in your shares this year, roughly by season. Depending on the weather, spring items might flow into summer, or summer items ripen early, and so on.
Current Delivery Locations:
- District of Columbia
- Chevy Chase / NW (Morrison Street)
- Maryland
- Silver Spring (Hanover St.)
- Takoma Park (Sherman Ave.)
- Northern Virginia
- Herndon, VA (Hiddenbrook neighborhood)
- Sterling, VA (near Potomac View/Rt 7)
- Pennsylvania
- Warfordsburg – Farm of Peace
- West Virginia
- Berkeley Springs (Sunday at the Farmers Market))
Other Locations:
We choose locations that allow the safe keeping of your share indoors or in a shady area for those who may need to arrive after the scheduled time. At front porch drops, we ask that you please pick up by 9 pm, or notify us so the drop point host can hold your bag until the next day. If you plan to be away, ask us for a vacation hold, to donate it, or feel free to have a friend or neighbor pick up your share instead. Shares abandoned with no communication for more than 24 days may be shared with the neighbors!
Retail Sales:
- Berkeley Springs Farmer’s Market, Berkeley Springs, WV – Sundays 10 - 2 pm. April through November.
by Heart Light Digital