Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
We welcome you to become part of the Earth Sky Time Community Farm! Our CSA program facilitates a beautiful and sincere partnership between you, your food, the people who grow it and the land where it’s grown.
Prepaying for 20 weeks of our organic produce provides the capital we need up front when our seeds and supplies must be purchased. You support the local food movement, inspire our hard work, and enjoy the harvest all season long.
We raise hundreds of vegetable varieties, old favorites and exotic crops too. We start seeds early in our wood heated greenhouses, do succession plantings to keep the crops coming, and use high-tunnel hoop-houses to extend the season. Each week you can count on a wide variety of produce always grown with love and never with chemicals. Here’s how membership works:
You choose your veggies! When you pick up your share, you’ll find bushels of organic vegetables fresh from the field. You take what you need for the upcoming week, if you don’t like kale, don’t take kale. Want extra spinach or tomatoes instead, no problem. Grab scissors, pick your own flowers and herbs. Our CSA also includes fresh organic eggs. We offer two share sizes, our regular share is perfect for a family or a couple with a healthy appetite. We also offer a limited number of smaller shares (approx 2/3 the size) ideal for a single person or a family that doesn’t eat a lot of vegetables. The cost of one share for the 20 week season is $460, just $23 per week. The smaller share is $300 or $15 per week. A CSA share is an investment in your health and our community (and costs less than you’d spend at the store).
Pick up days are Tuesdays from noon to 1PM or Fridays from 4-6PM. Packed shares and home deliveries are available for folks with special needs. Our weekly newsletter blog lets you know what’s happening on the farm and provides delicious seasonal recipe ideas for your veggies. Our homemade food products including: Bonnie Mama’s Granola, Hoomoos Za’atar, Open Sesame Crackerbread, Pesto, and Veggie Burgers are available at a 20% discount for shareholders. And new for 2010 we are offering a bread share. For $60 upfront, shareholders will recieve a weekly loaf of whole grain artisan bread baked right here in our brand new commercial kitchen. The bread varieties will vary from week to week, but they will always be made with localy milled whole grain certified organic flour. We have been working with Jeremiah Whitten, a phenominal baker to develop our recipes, and we hope you will take advantage of this new opportunity to eat fresh local bread from Earth Sky Time Farm.
Our farm is small by any measure, but our productivity is high, relying on our community of friends, interns and volunteers. We are proud to work with local schools, getting young people into the garden. We feed others and help others learn to feed themselves. We enjoy the honest work, appreciate the good food and strive to live gently on the earth. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to meeting you soon.
In peace,
Oliver, Bonnie, Gavriel, Talula, Eden
and the Earth Sky Time/Levis family
Click here to sign up for the 2010 CSA
CSA FAQ
Q: How much food can I expect each week? How do the two different share sizes compare?
A: The quantity and selection of produce will change as the season progresses (learn more on our homegrown page). Our goal is to feed you and your family and we leave a lot of flexiblity in our program for you to take what you feel you will use. Each week we let you know the quantity per point for each crop, you then spend the points as you like. full shares get 9 weekly points and small shares are entitled to 6.
Q: How do the pick your own flowers and herbs work?
A: There are scissors provided along with garden maps. Shareholder families are encouraged to spend time in the gardens and help themselves (PYO flowers and herbs don't use up points).
Q: What day is my share ready?
A: Shares are to be picked up either on Tuesdays 12:00 - 1:00 or Fridays 4:00 - 6:00.
Q: Is there an option to have my share prepacked in a box so that i can pick it up after the normal pick up hours? (or so that my friend can schlep it home for me)
A: Yes. Because we now have a walk in cooler, we can pack a box of produce up with your name on it (just tell us in advance). All you have to do is come pick it up within a day of your normal pickup.
Q: I like buying your stuff at the farmers market, can I claim my share there instead?
A: Sure, just let us know one day ahead, and you can get produce from our market stand instead. And shareholders always get 20% off on our prepared food.
Q: Does being part of the CSA entail doing farmwork?
A: You don’t have to do anything except enjoy the food, but we certainly welcome your involvement on the farm. (and we can let you know when we need some help) This year we'll also be having CSA work session/potlucks throughout the season.
Q: I have my own garden and I have plenty tomatoes (or whatever), why would I join the CSA?
A: With our plan, you choose your veggies. So you can take stuff that you might not grow at home (like broccoli), thus ensuring that you will never have to go to Shaws! (at least not for produce).
Q: What if it is a bad year for crops?
A: You are buying into a share of the season and so you are assuming some of that risk, however, a bad year for potatoes might be a good year for melons, so we can assure you you’ll get your money’s worth.
Q: I’m going away for 2 weeks, what happens to my share?
A: tell a friend to pick it up, they’ll thank you for it!
Q: I can’t afford to pay $460 (or $300) up front, what can I do?
A: We want to feed you and we’ll figure out a payment plan that works for you.
Q: Remind me about the discount for renewing '09 shareholders who sign on again by the end of March.
A: $20 off full shares =$440 and $10 off small shares =$290 ... but hurry up!
Q:When do I have to decide/pay?
A: We only offer 60 CSA shares each year, so act quickly, send payment to hold your share.
For more information,
Please contact Bonnie or Oliver at (802) 384-1400
or stop by the farm.
