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What is a CSA?

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A Community Supported Agriculture program provides a way for a people to invest in a local farm and in return obtain fresh local produce every week during the season. CSA membership allows you to connect with your food, the farm where it is grown, and the people that grow it in a way that not even a farmer’s market can. As a CSA member, you are directly responsible for the food you receive with your membership, and are directly supporting the farmer that grows it for you. You know where and how your food is grown, and you will feel confident knowing exactly what you are eating or feeding your family. CSA members share in bounty of the farm, but also share in the risks inherent to farming with their farmer and other CSA members.

 

How does it work?

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The farm offers shares of the food it expects to produce to members for a flat rate at the beginning of the growing season and uses this investment to purchase the seeds, equipment and other supplies needed for the season. The farm then plants based on the number of memberships sold in order to provide the best and most wholesome produce available for their members. For their share, members will receive a box of produce every week throughout the season.

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How we run our CSA here at Farmer Tim’s Fresh Produce

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As a member of Farmer Tim’s Fresh Produce, you will receive an equal share of produce every week for 20 weeks starting on June 15th and running through November 3rd. As a member, you will share in the bounty of our labors, but also in the potential risks. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, the weather or the plants or other things beyond our control just do not cooperate and the harvest is less than we had planned for. In case of a failed or lean harvest on a certain crop, we will do everything we can to make up for it in other ways by adding other items that are doing well. But more often than not, we actually get a lot more than we bargained for and share our good fortune with our members. We have a website (https://timjennings2.wixsite.com/farmertim) and a weekly newsletter that will include what is in this week’s box, recipes and tips for what is included, and stories of life here on the farm. Contact information is available on the website.

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Is Farmer Tim’s Produce an Organic farm?

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While we do practice sustainable farming methods, such as using no commercial fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, we are not a Certified Organic Farm and never intend to be. We believe that simply being a Certified Organic Farm does not mean you are sustainable or that you actually use good farming practices. We believe in farming the way our grandparents did, using common sense, crop rotation and available natural fertilizers and pest control methods such as compost, farm animal manure and using plants and predatory insects as pest control. If you have any specific questions or would like to watch how we do things, just ask. Farmer Tim will talk your ear off about “The way Grandma used to do it.”

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How do I get my produce each week?

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Weekly boxes will be prepared and ready for pick up at the farm each Saturday. If you cannot pick up your box on Saturday, send us an email or text to make arrangements for another pickup time or to have someone else pick up your box for you (local delivery is available for an additional fee of $5). If you do not contact us to make arrangements by Sunday evening, you will forfeit your box for that week. No refunds will be given for missed boxes.

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What if I don’t like something that is in the box?

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We understand that not everyone likes every type of produce that may be in a weekly box. We promise to do our best to make substitutions based on availability but due to growing conditions we won’t always have enough to accommodate all requests. Therefore on pickup day we will have a “trade bin” where you can leave produce you don’t like and exchange it for something you do. This bin will be completely member driven by members leaving things they don’t care for.

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What if I want to cancel my membership?

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A CSA membership is a season long commitment. The farmer uses the membership fees to purchase the supplies needed to grow the food offered to the members at the beginning of the growing season. Although we are committed to being fair with our members and to making things right, since the money has already been spent we cannot offer refunds. You may however elect to transfer your remaining membership to someone else at any time for no additional fee.

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Sounds pretty good, but how much is this gonna cost me?

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Since not everyone needs the same amount of produce in a week, we offer both full and partial shares. The cost of each share is based on the percentage of what we consider a “standard” share. A standard share is designed to feed a family of 4 and will contain 6-9 items per week. Partial shares will contain the same items, just in smaller quantities.

Single person Share (25% of a standard share)                   $160 (breaks down to $8 per week)

Couple share (50% of a standard share)                              $300 (breaks down to $15 per week)

Standard share (based on a family of 4)                               $500 (breaks down to $25 per week)

Large family share (150% of a standard share)                    $700 (breaks down to $35 per week)

 

How do I pay for my CSA share?

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We accept cash or check or PayPal for membership payment. Although payment is typically expected in full by June 1st, we understand that it is a sizeable investment, so we offer a few options to help you manage your budget. We offer a 10% early bird discount for all memberships paid in full before April 15th. Also, for a 10% surcharge, you can split your membership into two payments the first due on June 1st and the second on August 3rd. For your convenience, you can make smaller payments in advance of the due date as long as your membership is paid in full by the due date.

 

Sounds great, sign me up!

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By signing below I agree to become a member in Farmer Tim’s Fresh Produce Community Supported Agriculture Program. I understand that farming has inherent risks including but not limited to drought, pests, and adverse weather. I agree to share equally in the risks and rewards of this program and will not hold Farmer Tim liable in case harvest is not up to expectations. I further commit to the entire season, and understand that if for any reason I cannot or choose not to continue, I can reassign the remainder of my membership to someone else or forfeit my share, but I will not receive a refund. I understand it is my responsibility to either pick up my weekly box, or arrange for someone else to pick it up for me and that no reimbursement will be made for missed boxes.

 

Box size: ☐Single ($160)              ☐Couple ($300)               ☐Family ($500)                                ☐Large Family ($700)

 

Payment method:  ☐Cash          ☐Check              ☐PayPal

 

Print Name___________________________Sign here_______________________________Date______

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