2013 CSA Program
Green Gardens' will have a 130-member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in 2013.
In Battle Creek, we are offering traditional shares (boxes of 8-12 crops each week) that will run for 21 or 29 straight weeks. Pick-up is on WED.
In Kalamazoo, we are offering a market-style CSA whereby you purchase credit and get the vegetables, eggs, herbs, or flowers that you want each week from the farm's stand at the Bank Street Market and Kalamazoo Foods Market for up to 33 weeks.
What's in a Box (for Battle Creek members)?
8-12 seasonal vegetables (and sometimes herbs) each week (photos below). Expect to see up to 35 vegetable crops and seven herbs in the boxes. Weekly recipes included via email.
Spring:
Summer:
Fall:
Each weekly box is likely enough to feed...
1. A family of four light vegetable eaters for one week
2. A couple who are heavy vegetable eaters for one week
3. One vegetable-eating machine!
With farming, there are no guarantees when it comes to having crops. Excess rain, early and late frosts, pests and diseases, and lack of time can all hamper crop production. Fortunately, most things go right most of the time. Sharing the risks and reaping the benefits of the harvest is an integral component of the CSA concept. CSA members will be updated with crop-growing information, farm gatherings, and recipes.
Can I Share a Box?
Sharing a box is perfectly acceptable. It is fine for family/friends to either rotate weeks or share the box's contents.
If possible, we can connect you with someone else at a pick-up point, so you can each pay for your portion of the box. Rotating weeks is likely the best option for most people. For example, for a 21-week share, one member would pay $226.19 (10 weeks) and the other $248.81 (11 weeks).
If you are interested in this option, please contact us wth your name, e-mail, and desired pick-up point and we will do our best to connect you with another person.
What If I Can't Pick Up My Box?
If you nor anyone you know can pick up your box, you can either donate it to a local food bank or tell us to not prepare a box for you that week. No money is returned for boxes that are not used during the course of the season, nor is there any vegetable credit.
How does the Market Style CSA Work (for Kalamazoo members)?
As a member, you purchase credit before the CSA season starts for a small ($400), medium ($500), or large ($600) share. Then, you come to the farm's stand at the Bank Street Market and Kalamazoo Foods Market and use up your credit over the course of the season (33 weeks). This CSA model is designed to offer you freedom to choose what you'd like (vegetables, herbs, eggs, or flowers) as well as giving you the flexibility to not have to come every week. Recipes are included via email every week.
To thank members for their investment in the farm, we will have weekly market specials for CSA members from May-October on 2-3 crops per Saturday. This could mean a savings of 5-10% off market prices, depending on how frequently you take advantage of the specials.
You can also use your market-style credit at the online farmacy for farm pick-up on Mondays in Battle Creek at White Rabbit Rd.
We keep track of your balance and will e-mail you your remaining balance frequently. You can add credit in $100 increments if you run out. Maximum purchase of of $75/market day. Your balance will not carry over for 2014.
There's a lot to choose from on the Green Gardens stand! We have over 35 different vegetable crops, 10 herbs, and flowers over the course of the season. Want to see what's in season? Click here.
Length of Season and Cost?
Extended Season Share ($675)
29 weeks May 29 - December 11 (Farm and McCullough Chiropractic pick-up only for the last 8 weeks)
Regular Season Share ($475)
21 weeks May 29 - October 16
Market Style CSA in Kalamazoo ($400 small, $500 medium, $600 large)
up to 33 weeks May 4 to December 14
Pick-Up Days and Times
WED in Battle Creek:
- Farm on White Rabbit Rd in Pennfield- 3:15-7:00 PM
- McCullough Chiropractic on Columbia - 4:00-6:00 PM. THURS pick-up possible.
- Lynwood in Lakeview, 4:00-7:00 PM
- Edgebrook in Lakeview, 4:00-7:00 PM
- Wabash on North-side, 4:00-7:00 PM
- Silver Spring Lane in Harper Creek - 4:00-7:00 PM
SAT in Kalamazoo:
Bank Street Farmers Market at the farm's stand (7:30-12:30 PM) from May 4 - November 16
Kalamazoo Foods Market (corner of Crosstown and Burdick) at the farm's stand (9-12:30 PM) from November 30 - December 14.
When to Pay?
Your membership total is due by May 15, 2013.
Pay by check, Dwolla, or PayPal (there is a $15 surcharge to cover the transaction cost to farm if using PayPal) after you complete the sign-up process. We appreciate your payment in full as soon as you can reasonably afford. This helps get us through the winter and helps fund winter and spring projects.
If you need some help, we are willing to work out a payment plan. Please contact us.
When to Sign-Up?
If you are ready, you can sign-up now! Click here to join the 2013 CSA!
Is the Produce Organic?
The farm follows the standards as layed out in the National Organic Program for organic growers. However, the farm is not Certified Organic. Instead, we opted to be Certified Naturally Grown. For more information on CNG and the farm's growing practices, click here.
Questions?
Contact the farmers direct at trent@greengardensfarm.com or ruthie@greengardensfarm.com