COMMUNITY SHARED AGRICULTURE (CSA)
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
Community Supported Agriculture is a way to connect farmers with those who eat the foods they grow. Typically, a farmer will offer a certain number of shares and in exchange for the purchase of shares, members of the public gain access to the food harvested. This typically comes in the form of a weekly veggie box but can take other forms.
A concept embedded in Community Supported Agriculture is the idea that farmers never know what Mother Nature has in store in a given year. Different crops will produce to varying degrees, and there is always the risk that some crops will suffer as a result of less than ideal growing conditions or unwanted pests. Being a shareholder in a CSA means riding out the highs and lows inherent to agriculture.
How does this CSA work?
By joining the Barefoot Farms CSA you are buying a share of the farm and supporting a local farmer. In return you will receive a box of fresh vegetables each week to stimulate your taste buds, nourish your body and liven up your dinner table. The Barefoot Farms CSA veggie box runs for 18 weeks.
Community Supported Agriculture is a way to connect farmers with those who eat the foods they grow. Typically, a farmer will offer a certain number of shares and in exchange for the purchase of shares, members of the public gain access to the food harvested. This typically comes in the form of a weekly veggie box but can take other forms.
A concept embedded in Community Supported Agriculture is the idea that farmers never know what Mother Nature has in store in a given year. Different crops will produce to varying degrees, and there is always the risk that some crops will suffer as a result of less than ideal growing conditions or unwanted pests. Being a shareholder in a CSA means riding out the highs and lows inherent to agriculture.
How does this CSA work?
By joining the Barefoot Farms CSA you are buying a share of the farm and supporting a local farmer. In return you will receive a box of fresh vegetables each week to stimulate your taste buds, nourish your body and liven up your dinner table. The Barefoot Farms CSA veggie box runs for 18 weeks.
VEGGIE BOX DETAILS
What options do I have for purchasing shares?
This year we are offering a HARVEST SHARE and a GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE. The HARVEST SHARE veggie box can feed a family of four for a week or two veggie lovers for the same amount of time. The GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE veggie box is a good size for two for a week or one veggie lover for the same amount of time.
What does it cost? The HARVEST SHARE costs $610 for 18 weeks which works out to approximately $34 each week. The GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE costs $370 for 18 weeks which works out to approximately $21 each week.
The prices reflect the cost of growing as well as paying the wages of the farmer and interns. Also embedded in the prices is a farm improvement fee. This goes to helping grow the farm in a variety of ways.
Tell me more about the farm improvement fee?
The farm improvement fee is embedded in the share prices. This helps the farm grow. In our first year we built a greenhouse, installed irrigation systems, broke ground on multiple plots and invested a great deal of time and resources to prepare our plots for growing. We continue to build our infrastructure and acquire tools and equipment. This year the farm improvement fee will go towards funding new hoop houses and covering the expenses associated with breaking ground on new yards joining Barefoot Farms in 2013, among other things.
How big is my veggie box?
The size of the veggie boxes will vary from week to week. At the beginning of the season they will be smaller and will grow as the growing season progresses. At the peak of the season, the vegetables will be fighting for a place in your bin.
What will be in my HARVEST SHARE veggie box?
Your box will nearly always contain a lettuce head or lettuce mix, kale or chard and some item from the onion family. A typical mid-season box will contain some variation of the following:
Most boxes will contain at least 9 items and the size and variety will vary over the course of the growing season.
What will be in my GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE veggie box?
Your box will nearly always contain a lettuce head or lettuce mix, kale or chard and some item from the onion family. A typical mid-season box will contain 5 to 6 of the items contained in the HARVEST SHARE veggie box.
Do the boxes contain any fruit?
Last year we had access to plums, apples and grapes so these items sometimes appeared in the boxes. We hope to include some of these fruits in this year's box. Furthermore, this year we have acquired a strawberry patch and just transplanted some rhubarb into the field that we hope will produce enough to include in the boxes this year. Strawberry rhubarb pie may be on the horizon!
Are the veggies organic?
We grow with organic principals however Barefoot Farms is not certified organic. If you require any information regarding the growing practices, please contact us or come out to the farm and chat with Mark.
This year we are offering a HARVEST SHARE and a GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE. The HARVEST SHARE veggie box can feed a family of four for a week or two veggie lovers for the same amount of time. The GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE veggie box is a good size for two for a week or one veggie lover for the same amount of time.
What does it cost? The HARVEST SHARE costs $610 for 18 weeks which works out to approximately $34 each week. The GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE costs $370 for 18 weeks which works out to approximately $21 each week.
The prices reflect the cost of growing as well as paying the wages of the farmer and interns. Also embedded in the prices is a farm improvement fee. This goes to helping grow the farm in a variety of ways.
Tell me more about the farm improvement fee?
The farm improvement fee is embedded in the share prices. This helps the farm grow. In our first year we built a greenhouse, installed irrigation systems, broke ground on multiple plots and invested a great deal of time and resources to prepare our plots for growing. We continue to build our infrastructure and acquire tools and equipment. This year the farm improvement fee will go towards funding new hoop houses and covering the expenses associated with breaking ground on new yards joining Barefoot Farms in 2013, among other things.
How big is my veggie box?
The size of the veggie boxes will vary from week to week. At the beginning of the season they will be smaller and will grow as the growing season progresses. At the peak of the season, the vegetables will be fighting for a place in your bin.
What will be in my HARVEST SHARE veggie box?
Your box will nearly always contain a lettuce head or lettuce mix, kale or chard and some item from the onion family. A typical mid-season box will contain some variation of the following:
- a head of lettuce
- beans
- beets
- broccoli
- cucumber
- green onions
- herbs
- kale
- swiss chard
- zucchini
Most boxes will contain at least 9 items and the size and variety will vary over the course of the growing season.
What will be in my GREENS WITH ENVY SHARE veggie box?
Your box will nearly always contain a lettuce head or lettuce mix, kale or chard and some item from the onion family. A typical mid-season box will contain 5 to 6 of the items contained in the HARVEST SHARE veggie box.
Do the boxes contain any fruit?
Last year we had access to plums, apples and grapes so these items sometimes appeared in the boxes. We hope to include some of these fruits in this year's box. Furthermore, this year we have acquired a strawberry patch and just transplanted some rhubarb into the field that we hope will produce enough to include in the boxes this year. Strawberry rhubarb pie may be on the horizon!
Are the veggies organic?
We grow with organic principals however Barefoot Farms is not certified organic. If you require any information regarding the growing practices, please contact us or come out to the farm and chat with Mark.
THE START DATE AND THE PICK UP
What are the start and end dates?
The start date for the CSA will depend on what sort weather we get this spring. It will likely fall sometime between mid June or the beginning of July, this will be dictated by the weather. The CSA will then run for the following 18 weeks ending in mid to late October.
There will be one week with no veggie box so that the farm team can get away and enjoy some time in the sun without being in the field. The date is to be determined and will be exclusive of the 18 weeks, that means you will still get 18 veggie boxes.
How does pick up work?
The pick up will take place from 5pm to 7:30pm in the backyard of our Flemming plot at 1607 E 31st Avenue. The specifics of the pick up will be sent in a follow up e-mail after registration.
What if I am away during a pick up day?
You need to arrange for someone else to pick up your box. Alternatively, tell us two weeks in advance and we can donate your veggie box to a individual or organization in need.
The start date for the CSA will depend on what sort weather we get this spring. It will likely fall sometime between mid June or the beginning of July, this will be dictated by the weather. The CSA will then run for the following 18 weeks ending in mid to late October.
There will be one week with no veggie box so that the farm team can get away and enjoy some time in the sun without being in the field. The date is to be determined and will be exclusive of the 18 weeks, that means you will still get 18 veggie boxes.
How does pick up work?
The pick up will take place from 5pm to 7:30pm in the backyard of our Flemming plot at 1607 E 31st Avenue. The specifics of the pick up will be sent in a follow up e-mail after registration.
What if I am away during a pick up day?
You need to arrange for someone else to pick up your box. Alternatively, tell us two weeks in advance and we can donate your veggie box to a individual or organization in need.
