Waterbear mountain organic farm

Community Supported Agriculture

(please note that our 201o CSA is now full,

we are accepting forms for 2011 only.)

What is a CSA?     How Our CSA works    

JOIN NOW BY DOWN LOADING THE CSA REGISTRATION FORM

What is a CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relatively new idea in farming, one that has been gaining momentum since its introduction to the United States from Europe in the mid-1980’s. The CSA concept originated in the 1960’s in Switzerland and Japan, where consumers who were interested in ‘safe food’ that was grown locally, hopefully organically, and available at below retail prices and farmer who were seeking stable markets for their crops joined together in economic partnerships.

In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risk and benefits of food production. Typically, members or “share-holders” of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation. In return, they receive shares in the farms 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 the community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers offer better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and all members have a shared commitment to building a more local equitable agricultural system, one that allows growers to focus on land stewardship and still maintain productive and profitable small farms. Waterbear Farm uses both organic and biodynamic farming methods to grow their produce.
 

How Our CSA Works

With a pre-season or monthly payment, you can purchase a “share” of our harvest. We offer half-shares (plenty for two), full family shares (plenty for four adults), and a new mini share (enough for one). You will then receive a box each week of high quality, fresh, locally-grown, certified organic and biodynamic seasonal produce. If needed, you can change your share size one time during the growing season. 

Once a week we pick the crops, and deliver them to the designated sites. Time and locations are listed below.  All shares will be pre-bagged and boxed.  On the sign up form you can tell us what vegetables you do not want in your share, and what ten vegetables you would like the most in your share. We then take this information and decide what to grow. While we will try our best to fill your box according to your preferences, you can expect a wide variety of produce through out the season.  A half share in May might look like this: One 1 pound bunch of asparagus, one bag of lettuce or salad mix, one bag of kale or spinach, one bunch of carrots, one butternut squash from 2009, a big bunch of Spring onions, and one loaf of bread. In August you would get tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, potatoes, and salad mix. Every month the variety of vegetables changes, some items appear in the Spring and Fall only such as spinach. We include bread from Sweetwater Bakery with the option to replace the bread for more vegetables. We also have local, free range, hormone free meat (chicken, beef, & pork) and free range local eggs at an additional price, see sign up form.

Pick Up and Delivery. We deliver for 30 weeks starting the first week of May, weather pending. Your main responsibility as a member is to pick up your box within three hours of the drop off time. If you are unable to pick up your produce, ask another CSA member or friend to help you.  If you are unable to find someone who can assist you, call the store or site representative and let them know you will be late.  Ask them to please put your box in the back cooler and tell them what time you will be in to pick it up. If you do not communicate this directly with the store/site rep, they reserve the right to  assume your produce after a 24 hour period of time.  You may cancel your weekly share up to 24 hours before delivery via phone, and email.

Signing Up. We accept new members on a first come, first served basis, and use the date we receive the registration form and deposit. We advise joining as soon as possible as we are accepting 80 members who will receive the 2010 harvest.  Although you may sign-up at any time throughout the season, priority is given to returning members and folks who send in their pre-season payment by March 1st.  You get a 5% discount if your pay for the entire season by March 1st.  Pre-payment is encouraged as it provides the working capital needed to purchase seeds, compost, equipment and pay salaries for work that begins before the first vegetable harvest. If you cannot pay the entire amount upon sign-up,  you can pay by the month. Payment is due exactly thirty days before the first delivery date of each month (one month ahead of time). This allows us to serve you with consistency, knowing a month ahead of time that you plan to continue.

Pre-payment due March 1, 2010 (receive 5% off)                  First monthly payment due April 1st

Share Size                             Season Price             5% off                Monthly Pay 4 wk/ 5 wk           

Family Share (full)               $1,050.00                $997.50             $140.00/$175.00

Couple (half)                          $600.00                  $570.00             $80.00/$100.00

Single (mini)                          $360.00                  $342.00             $48.00/$60.00

 

Picking up your weekly share: (please note this is subject to change)

Wednesdays:  2:30- Harvest Moon, Floyd, V.A.

3:00 Martins Pharmacy in Pulaski, V.A.

                             3:30 pm - Dr. Castleberries office, Radford, V.A.

                                                     4:15 pm- EATS Natural Foods, Blacksburg, V.A.

Thursdays:   2:00  pm- Copper Hill , Smiths Store,  V.A.

                               3:30 pm- Roanoke, Roanoke Natural Foods, V.A.

 

We are currently looking for ideal sites for deliveries in other areas. This place needs to be shaded, sheltered from rain, wind, sun, and user-friendly, please e-mail us if you can help with this. We are looking for site representatives; if you are interested in being a site rep, please contact us. Site reps get special deals for their assistance with organizing the drop off and assisting with the distribution for their area.

                                                                                    List of Vegetables we grow:

Asparagus Spinach Beets Carrots Lettuce Salad Mix Sweet Corn Tomatoes Eggplant Parsnips Melons

Sweet Peppers Cucumbers Strawberries Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Summer Squash Butternut Squash Cabbage Broccoli Asian Greens Acorn Squash

Cilantro Basil Dill Kale Red Chard Turnips Leeks Green Beans Sugar Snap Peas Celery Collards

Each share also includes bread from local bakers at Sweetwater Bakery.

Other options available at an additional price: Pastured pork from our farm, eggs and meat from local farms.