COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE - CSA - 2012

If you like raspberries, hickory syrup, cooking with fresh herbs, herbal teas, experiencing foods lost in modern days then our CSA might be for you!

This is our first year offering crop shares and we look forward to working with you! Our CSA is intended to compliment not compete with other farm share programs. Our entire product line enhances fresh produce and supports healthy living. We have designed our offerings to work side by side or to compliment what you may be getting from other farmers.

HOW IT WORKS
We offer full shares and will deliver what is listed in the chart below. Full shares are $250.00 and are paid in advance. A full share consists of 10 bags delivered May to September, or twice a month, at the farmers markets we attend. Or you can pick it all up at the farm on the listed dates. (Please note the farm is approximately 1 hour East on 32 from Cincinnati. )

As we determine which Farmer's markets we will be attending, we will post the market dates for CSA pickup. We generally like to plan being in 1 or 2 centralized locations 2 days in the week. All non-perishable items not picked up by the end of season will be donated to the Freestore Foodbank which does serve the Adams County Community.

RISKS
In farming, the risk is greater than in most businesses because it is dependant on Mother Nature. With the exception of the fresh produce, we can guarantee we will be able to deliver our items. We don't anticipate not having the fresh items listed, should Mother Nature decide to change our plans, the replacement items are listed in the chart below. By paying up front for a portion of the harvest, a CSA member shares the risk with the farmer that some portion of the crops might fail.

BENEFITS
Market Pre-Order Discounts
As a member of our CSA you will receive 10% off additional items you wish to add to your share bag. Items must be pre-ordered by the Wednesday before pickup. Because market day can be hectic, the 10% discount only applies to preordered items. We will send you pre-order forms just indicate on the application where you'd like them sent.

Product Alerts
We will email members the status of our crops and how well things are going periodically so you will be the first to know when raspberries will be ready, when and if we'll have mushrooms, how the salad and micro greens are doing, how the pawpaws are growing and so forth. You'll also be the first to know of any new product we may cook up over the summer season.

Farm Visits
Also you are welcome to visit the farm on the pickup dates we list. Our farm is located in the heart of Amish country and there is a lot to see and do, so it can be a nice family day if you decide to make it one.

Check out the Adams County Travel and Visitors Bureau for more information!

JOINING
We accept applications up to April 30, 2012. We accept a maximum of 15 and need to have a minimum of 5 members. Important questions to ask yourself before joining:

1. Are we enthusiastic about trying something different?
2. Do we cook several meals at home during the week?
3. Will we be able to pick up our shares during the season?
4. Are we willing to share the risks with the farmer?

Once you understand what is involved, print the .pdf application form and mail it with payment. Please don't mail cash. Please do not be afraid to ask questions, email is best.

FARM PICKUPS
Our farm is approximately 1 hour East on 32 from Cincinnati. The farm itself is approxmately a mile off a paved road, much of our "road" is a typical Adams county back road, gravel and deep pot holes which we try to keep box graded to keep the tire ruts from forming. We seriously recommend 4WD or SUV that sits up very high from the ground, think 4-wheeling, only slower. As we are not responsible for vehicles which are damaged on the drive, use common sense here please.

Our farm does not have paved sidewalks, we use decorative gravel to the fullest extend possible, but Adams county is famous for yellow sticky clay, much of which sticks to shoes and boots. Dress apropriately in hiking boots or sneakers and clothes you don't really care if they take home dirty souveineirs! If you come and we are picking raspberries, we may let you help, or at least let you pick your own. We ask you to think about bringing small children to pick, raspberries have nasty thorns which we pick out of our fingers up until Christmas day, but we do encourage parents to take advantage of hiking our grounds and enjoying what we get to enjoy. Also please note, we have an outhouse, not a "potty", so be prepared for that one! It is an adventure and we do have the bold look of a Kohler toilette seat as one of the two holes in our two holer.

FARM PICK UP DATES
TBD