CSA FAQ
What is CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture - the premise is that you are buying a share of the bounty and harvest from our farm, thereby supporting our farm. In fact, by committing to support us for a season and purchasing a share in the winter or spring you help us when we need it most, since we have most of our input costs in the early spring but most of our produce doesn’t come in ‘til summer. The main event of our CSA is weekly (or every-other-week) boxes of certified organic produce for pick-up or delivery to your door - a share of the harvest from our farm. You’ll also receive a newsletter that includes some farm updates and recipes and recommendations for the veggies in your box that week.
What is included in my CSA membership?
Weekly or every-other-week boxes of certified organic produce for pick-up or delivery to your door from early June through late October - a share of the harvest from our farm. You’ll also receive a newsletter that includes some farm updates and recipes and recommendations for the veggies in your box that week.
What share options do you offer?
We offer two share sizes, full and small. With a full share you can expect 8-12 items, 1-2lbs each. It’s enough for a family of four or a house of two that loves to eat veggies and might can or freeze some for winter. The small share is half of a full share (or slightly more than half), with 6-10 items but a bit less quantity of each.
We also offer two delivery frequencies - weekly or every other week.
Finally, we offer two payment options. You can pay in full, up front (the traditional CSA model, and what helps our farm most), or you can pay in 5 monthly installments. The monthly installments will start when you first checkout, and repeat automatically for 5 months, at which point you will have paid for the whole season. If you are unable to make your payments or would like to receive our produce but the price won’t work for you, please contact us to discuss options. Everyone deserves local, organic, fresh food.
Where and when can I pick up my CSA? Do you offer delivery?
We will be offering CSA shares to the Madison, La Crosse, and Viroqua areas on Wednesday afternoons, starting in early June and ending in late October. There will be one pick up location in Viroqua, two in Madison, and also at our farm (Ferryville, WI). We will also offer delivery in these areas for an additional $6 per delivery. Please be sure to select the right option when you check out. For instance, if you want an every-other-week box delivered right to your door, be sure to select the “every-other-week CSA Delivery” option.
Will you offer any add-on products?
Yes - if you are signing up for a CSA you will also be able to add other items to your box each week by checking out items from our normal Online Store. This includes extra veggies, transplants for your own garden (veggies, flowers, and native plants), tinctures, or anything we have available. If you want to receive flower bouquet weekly in the summer (12 weeks from mid-June through the end of September), you can purchase our Weekly Flower Share option for $144.
Keep an eye out for updates about bread and meat add-ons.
Can I opt out of receiving certain vegetables?
Yes. When you select a CSA box option and add it to your cart, you’ll have the option of indicating if you have any allergies or intolerances to certain vegetables. We are not yet able to offer fully customizable CSA boxes week-to-week, so please let us know of these preferences at the start of your subscription so that we can give you boxes you’ll be able to enjoy all summer.
What if I’m going to be gone for a week and need you to hold my box?
We can do that, but we aren’t able to offer week-by-week refunds. However, if the bounty of the farm and mother nature allows, we are happy to coordinate with you to offer a replacement (double) box during a subsequent week. If you already know of any weeks that you will be gone please indicate that in the form after adding your share to your cart.
Does all the produce come from your farm?
We guarantee that 95% of the produce in your CSA will come from our farm. However, we leave this 5% option open just in case we have crop failures (we don’t want to leave you without veggies!) and because there are a couple veggies (like potatoes) that are impossible for us to produce competitively because of the normal level of mechanization for those crops. However, those few options we may buy in will still be certified organic, and come from farms local to us and you.
How do I sign up?
Choose your CSA membership share size, delivery frequency, and payment options from the items above. When you check out, fill out the form in case you need any opt-outs (see above), and select your delivery or pick up option.
What is a worker share, and how do I sign up?
Worker shares - otherwise known as working members - are CSA members that choose to volunteer for 4 hours once per week (or the equivalent) in exchange for for share options of their choice. It’s a great way for folks to engage with the farm, learn something about reduced tillage and organic vegetable production, and spend some joyous time outside! We will particularly be looking for worker shares available on Mondays or Tuesdays, but any day can work (including weekends).