CSA - Community Supported Agriculture

"Since our existence is primarily dependent on farming, we cannot entrust this essential activity solely to the farming population, just 2% of Americans. As farming becomes more and more remote from the life of the average person, it becomes less and less able to provide us with clean, healthy, life giving food or a clean, healthy, life-giving environment. A small minority of farmers, laden with debt and overburdened with responsibility, cannot possibly meet the needs of all the people. More and more people are coming to recognize this and they are becoming ready to share agricultural responsibilities with the active farmers.

In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Members or "shareholders" of the farm or garden typically pledge, in advance, to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and the farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing."

Above is an excerpt from Suzanne DeMuth's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): An Annotated Bibliography and Resource Guide, USDA, National Agricultural Library, September 1993.

How our CSA Works:

·         You buy an annual share of the farms harvest. The share is picked up or delivered weekly as noted below.

·         We start the first week of June and run through the end of October. The program runs around 22 weeks.

·         In June, crops are usually lettuce, scallions, dandelion greens, escarole, Broccoli Rabe (or Raab), some herbs, peas, beets with greens, collards, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, and more!

As the season goes by we pick more and more. Greenhouse cucumbers, squash, pickles, beans, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower all start to being harvested by the end of June.

In July our field tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplants, and of course our sweet corn are ready!

Fall brings Leeks, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Turnip Greens, Turnips, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Radishes, Lettuce, Spinach, and Winter Squash.

·         The program cost is $600.00 per share or $300.00 per ½ share at the Farm. Half shares delivered are $350.00 for all drop points.

·         Half payment due with completed application and the second half is due before first pick-up 2011.

·         The weekly share is a box full of fresh farm products worth a minimum of $27.50/week (which is $600/22 weeks).

·         Unclaimed Farm pick-up boxes will be available at the farm until the next day. (If you forget your box it can be picked up after hours or the next morning)

·         Unclaimed Fairfield, Westport and Market boxes will be donated to local food banks.

·         Failure to pick-up shares at set times or without prior notification in will result in a forfeit of the week’s share.

Share pick-up options:

o   Tuesday Farm pickups will start June 5th and end October 30th. Pick-up times: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

o   Friday Farm pickups will start June 8th and end in November 2nd. Pick-up times: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Alternative locations:
 Delivered Half shares are $350.00/season.   Delivered Full Shares are $600.00/season 

·         Fairfield – Greenfield Hills Congregational Church 1045 Old Academy Rd.

o   Tuesdays  12pm-6pm     June 5th- October 30th

·         Westport- Wakeman Town Farm, 134 Cross Hwy.  This location requires an additional fee of $25 paid directly to Wakeman Town Farm.

o   Tuesdays 12pm -7pm Half shares only  June 5th – October 30^th

o   Thursdays 12pm-7pm Full Shares only  June 7th- November 1st

·         Greenwich - St. Paul Lutheran Church. 290 Delavan Ave.

o   Thursday's after 2PM

·         GE Norwalk 201 & 401 Merritt 7 - must be an employee of GE to participate

o   Thursday’s After 1PM

·         New Haven- Cityseeds’s Wooster Square Farmers’ Market

o   Saturdays 9am -1pm  June 9th- November 3rd

Choice of days will be granted on a first come first serve basis and cannot be changed. 

 Download the CSA Sample Share Historical Examples PDF format
 Download the CSA v1.9 Enrollment Form PDF format

Get Acrobat

** Farm Credit **
(Farm Credit is not a Farm Share)

 - Pre-pay in $90.00 increments to receive a respective $100.00 credit at the Farm Stand only.
 - Good for Flowers, Vegetable Plants, Fruits and Vegetables.
 - Unlimited renewals, no time limits.
 - Credit can be used in fractions or all at once.
 - Credit can be used by designees pre-authorized by credit holder.
 - Purchaser is required to sign credit slip at the time of credit purchase.
 - Download the Farm Credit Application here in PDF format.
 - Farm Credit does not expire.  Will carry over year to year.
 - Farm Credit can be used for  Beef, Chicken and Turkey Purchases.