Boulder Belt Eco-Farm Share Initiative like a CSA only more so...
The Farm Share Share Table for 9-1/3-15 had the following choices
Beets-3 1 pound bunches as "item"
Ailsa Craig Onions 3 pound bag as an "item"
Basil 1/2 pound bag as an "item"
Leeks 3 as an "item"
Garlic 5 heads as an "item"
Eggplant take 10 as an "item"
Red Onion 2 pound box as an "item"
Green beans 2 pounds as an "item"
Sweet peppers take 10 as an "item"
strawberries/red raspberries/blackberries take 2 boxes as an "item"
CeleryTake 2 heads as an "item"
Watermelon take 2 as an "item"
Garlic Powder 1 oz sandwich bag as an "item"
Hot peppers 1 box as an "item"
Take 3 herbs as an item
Fresh Thyme small bunch "item"
Savory 1 bunch as an "item"
Fresh Italian Parsley 1 bunch as an "item"
Tarragon 1 bunch as an "item"
heirloom Lettuce 1/2 pund as an "item"
Winter squash (butternut, sibley, delicata, buttercup) 3 squash as an "item"
Apples 3 pounds as an "item"
Zucchini Take 2 as an "item"
Blanton's Peas 1 pound bag as an "item"
Black beans 1 pound bag as an "item"
Butterbeans 1 pound as an item
Okra 1 pound as an item
Fennel 3 bulbs as an item
Cantaloupe Take 3 as an item
Heirloom Tomatoes Take 6 pounds basket as an item
Members come to the farm and "shop" from tables piled with freshly harvested produce from our farm. They get to fill their shares with what they want in the amounts they want: 6 items per share
Tour the Farm
The Row Cover Page A workshop I gave at the 2000 OEFFA Conference-updated 10-02
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Taking Members for the 2016 Season Our 19th Year as a year 'round CSA
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For the past 19 years we have operated a CSA on our small sustainable farm in Preble County Ohio. We offer our members virtually year round availability of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, all grown on our farm. We grow over 50 different kinds of produce including a lot of heirloom varieties, many from seeds we have been saving for decades. Members get the rare privilege of seeing where and how their food is grown and thus they become much more knowledgeable about and connected to their food and the farm upon which it is grown. The more one knows about where their food comes from and how it is grown, the less they will have to use the industrial food system as their proxy as to what food they put in their bodies. By eating more locally and supporting local farmers and farms, all of us can have a safer, secure and much more sustainable food system and healthier lives. Joining the Boulder Belt Eco-farm Farm Share Program is a great way to do all of this and more.
2016 Farm Share Initiative's Nutz and Boltz
Endless Share runs from about Mid March (we start when it gets decent enough for things to start growing which can vary by 2 to 3 weeks every spring) through January of 2017, is $1200 for a share
Spring Session runs May 3/5/ to July 19/21 is $400 for a share
Summer Session runs Aug 7/9 to Oct 25/27, cost is $400
The 2015/16 Winter Share program runs Nov 8/10 to Jan 24/6th. Cost is $500 for a Share (12 items every other week).
On farm pick up. Pick up days are Tuesday and Thursday on the farm. 5pm to 7pm On farm pick up is a market style pick-up where our members get to choose exactly what they want in their weekly share.
The Crops We grow over 50+ different crops including parsnips, lettuce, onions, garlic, carrots, beets, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes (over 15 kinds), peppers, cantaloupes, watermelon, potatoes, Turnips, parsley root, leeks, black popcorn, kale, chard, spring mix, arugula, pears, parsley, savory, cilantro, radishes, celeriac, spinach, spaghetti squash, black beans, etc.. Take a look at our What We Grow Page for the complete seasonal list
Shares Each week members will receive a choice of seasonal produce. We do a Market Share where our members construct their own share of 6 items from tables filled with the day's harvest. On farm pick up only. How it works is first thing in the morning, before members come to the farm to pick up their food, they will get an email newsletter that, among other things, will have a list of what will be available and will have an idea what they want to put in their share. Most weeks there will be 25 to 35 items, from which the members can choose. Members pack their bags and are on their way (unless they want to walk around the farm, go fishing or help on the farm)
A share should feed 1 to 2 vegetarians (or omnivores who already eat 5+ helpings of produce daily) or 3 to 5 people who are basically meat eaters most of their produce needs for a week The shares are seasonal and the produce will change weekly and monthly
Other Perks Coming to the farm to pick up one's share is a part of our attempt to reconnect as many people as we can back to the farms, but it is not enough. We email all our members a weekly newsletter with news of the farm, a list of what is in the share (there are often a few unfamiliar items) and usually a recipe. Read past farm share newsletters here. We have periodic events such as farm to table dinners, farm tours and work opportunities here on the farm. While we do not require work hours as some CSA programs do we do welcome any volunteers who want to help us out.
Flexibility We have been running CSA type programs on and off (more on than off) for the past 15 years and one thing we have found is that it is best to be flexible. So, unlike some other CSA programs, we do not have 20+ week seasons but rather have broken down our growing year into 12 week sections. This allows members to not be tied down for a long time and possibly miss out on a lot of shares
Refunds Like many other CSA type programs, we require our members to share the risk of farming with us. Farming is inherently risky, we do what we can to minimize the risk such as planting a wide array of different crops, succession planting, using crop protection such as hoop houses and row covers, not to mention our expertise at growing food crops. So far we have yet to have a major crop failure in 20 years of farming, but it could happen. But if we could make it through the 2012 growing season without missing a week and never shorting our members despite it being the worst growing year in about 100 years, than we can make it through almost any growing season. If the weather makes it impossible to grow crops, we will not be issuing refunds as this is the risk we all take (and while members might be out up to $2000, we farmers will be out tens of thousands of dollars and possibly our home). We do not issue refunds for missed (forgotten) pick-ups. We will send out an email newsletter each week reminding all members to pick up their share(s) along with other information. If you know that you will not be around to get your share, find a friend or colleague to pick it up and use it in your stead. This way the food will not be wasted and you may well turn another person on to the wonders of being a CSA member. We do not give refunds because a member leaves the CSA of their own volition.
To join the Farm Share Initiative or for more information Email Us We will never sell or trade your email address
