What are the benefits of joining a CSA?
Obtaining Healthy Food: When you belong to a CSA, you are getting fresh, nutritious food that often has been harvested the same day.
Deepening Your Understanding of Food Production: Through your involvement in a CSA, you will gain a deeper appreciation of what is involved in producing the food you eat.
Strengthening Your Local Economy: CSAs keep money within the community by supporting local farmers and preserving the land where they work.
Expanding Your Community: When you join a CSA, you form a relationship with the farmer and a group of people who share your values and ideals when it comes to food.
Reducing Your Impact on the Earth: The act of transporting food over long distances contributes to global warming. When you join a CSA, you are reducing your negative impact on the earth.
What are the risks and rewards of joining a CSA?
In order to have a truly sustainable food system, both farmers and consumers take a “shared risk” in food production. Crop yield is dependent on weather, insects, diseases, and many other variables. CSA members make a commitment to support their farmers even though some harvests may be more or less than planned.
How much does it cost to become a member?
The cost of membership in 2025 is $875 for a full share and $450 for a half share (bi-weekly).
Where can I buy eggs?
Our eggs are sold year-round to Arboretum visitors at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis. Our birds work hard to keep up with the demand for their delicious eggs!
When can I pick herbs and flowers?
The herb garden is open to members on Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 pm – 4 pm during the CSA pick-up. Members can come any Wednesday or Friday, regardless of their designated pickup day. The farm is not open for herb/flower picking on other days of the week. There is no limit to herbs or cut flowers, but please be mindful that others will be picking as well!
What if I miss a pickup?
We ask that you give us at least 48 hours of notice if you will not be able to pick it up on your designated day. With 48 hours’ notice, we will work to reschedule you. You are welcome to send someone to pick it up for you on your behalf if you cannot provide 48 hours’ notice. If you miss a pickup and have not made arrangements with us in advance, your share will no longer be available. There are no exceptions to this due to limited storage space.
Going on vacation? Please notify the farm manager (48 hours’ notice) so we do not harvest for you that week.
What happens with the leftover produce?
No food goes to waste! We give extras to our volunteers, save what can be held in the cooler for the next pickup day, feed our chickens, or donate extra leftovers.
What should I expect from an organic farm?
Imperfection! Sometimes our leafy greens have spots and holes, or our tomatoes are cracked. We give out perfectly edible and delicious produce, but sometimes it’s ugly! Especially when transitioning seasons or a pest problem arises, some veggies start out looking beautiful and then begin to look a little rough around the edges. If you’re looking for perfect produce all the time, organic produce isn’t for you.
What should I expect from my CSA share?
Your share, during the height of the growing season, will contain about 8-12 different seasonal vegetables. The beginning of the season may be a bit less, but the yields will increase rather quickly as the season progresses!