What is a farm share? What does CSA mean? What's good about getting a share? What's odd or challenging about being a farm member? What makes Sweet Morning Farm's shares/farm special?
Good questions.
1) What is a farm share?
A farm share is a portion of the harvest at the farm. When you buy a farm share, you are reserving some of the coming harvest. Your money is an investment in the farm that the farmers use to buy seed and supplies and tools and mulch and soil amendments, etc. in order to grow the food that we all enjoy. In return, you get a share of the season's harvest.
More than that, when your buy a farm share you are choosing to be part of our farm and the growing season. Each plant goes through a cycle of growth and you get to enjoy that cycle.
2) What does CSA mean?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. But more than that it stands for people who like good, fresh, locally-grown food helping their local farmers thrive.
3) What's good about getting a share?
Fresh food and plenty of it! A wide variety of produce. A chance to try new vegetables and fruit. Being part of a farm community, meeting farmers and other farm members, people who care about the land, our health, and our happiness. Opportunities to visit the farm and see the gardens. A chance to learn how things grow and be closer to the process of growing food, without actually getting your hands dirty. (Unless you want to!)
4) What's odd or challenging about being a farm member?
Each week the farmers (Robin and Laura) pick what is ready in the garden. Then we divide it up among the farm members. We try to choose a good sampling of what is available and and an assortment of kinds of produce. And we make sure that farm members get to choose many of their items based on personal preferences. For example a share might include a choice of kale or chard, your choice of an herb, a bag of mesclun or head lettuce, some scallions, a bag of spinach, some beans, some carrots, and a choice of a mix of things. That means that to some degree, the farmers are choosing what will be on your menu that week. I've never gotten a farm share anywhere but I imagine that it might be odd to have someone else deciding what will be in my fridge each week. On the other hand, it might be a fun surprise and interesting challenge to figure out what to do with the veggies in the share. Lots of people tell us about cool things they made with their farm share items, smoothies, pizzas, roasted bok choy, new recipes, current favorites, new vegetable discoveries. That's really great. We love hearing about your experience.
Many people find it challenging from time to time to use all the produce in their share. The most content folks set up a regular routine of examining and storing their share the day they get it and making sure that everything is used up before the next pick up day. (Stir-fry or soup works well here.) Of course, some things just disappear immediately because they are favorites! (Ground cherries, cherry tomatoes, and peaches all come to mind.)
5) What makes Sweet Morning Farm's shares/farm special?
We are a very tiny farm. It's just two people who love to grow things. Our farm has a fairly personal feeling. When you pick up your share, chances are you will get to talk to your farmers and fellow farm members. We're always happy to show you the crops and animals or you can walk around yourself and see what's growing. Over time, people get to know each other and enjoy visiting. People are kind to each other and help one another. That feels great.
MORE QUESTIONS? Just ask! And if you have thoughts to share, we'd love to hear them.
 |
| Photo by Leslie Lynn Lucio |
