Definition Of CSA
CSA stands for community supported agriculture. It is an opportunity for you to connect to a local farm in a unique way. A CSA allows you to buy shares in our farm before the season even begins.
This arrangement benefits both the farm and the share members. It gives us capital in advance to buy seeds, supplies, and prepare for the growing season.
You know in advance where your vegetables are coming from each week and can be confident that by investing in our CSA, you are supporting a growing local food economy. Your CSA participation supports a sustainable farm, preserves farmland, and keeps your food dollars local.
CSA members also share the risks of farming as well as the harvest. Weather is the biggest factor but insect damage and diseases are also contributing factors.
To minimize the risk, we are constantly planting a wide mix of vegetables. If one crop fails, there is good chance that the next planted will succeed.
A Share
A share consists of a diverse mix of vegetables delivered weekly for 22 weeks. The season begins with greens and lettuces as well as early root crops. Next comes cabbage, broccoli, beets, and hopefully carrots and peas. I say hopefully because carrots and peas in the spring have been hit or miss crops for us. Some years they work and some years they don’t. Then comes the summer bounty. Tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, etc.
One thing we want to try and do this year is to have more greens in the share at the height of summer. We will be growing a thin-stemmed chard that is heat tolerant and makes an excellent spinach substitute. We will also have Chinese/napa cabbage and are going to try some heat tolerant varieties of lettuce. Having lettuce in July is tough but it can be done.
We often get asked how many people will a share feed. In general, we say a family of four but it really depends upon your eating habits. A couple of vegetarians who rarely eat out may easily consume a weekly share while a family of four with small kids that eat out a few times a week may have stuff left over.
Delivery
Shares can be picked up Tuesday afternoons at the Charlotte Tailgate Market. or at the farm if you live close by. There is a possibility that we may have a drop-off point in Plaza-Midwood. One of last year’s share members has offered to host a drop-off point. Please indicate if that is something you are interested in.
We do not offer pick-ups on Saturdays at the farmer’s markets. Harvesting for the CSA and harvesting for market are two completely different operations. Since we are growing a much wider variety of vegetables for the CSA than we are for the farmer’s markets this year, I think we would go crazy if we tried to do both on Fridays.
CSA deliveries will begin sometime in April, depending on the weather, and run for 22 weeks. Last year, we were not able to start deliveries until June because of the cool, wet spring but this year we are dedicating our 28′ X 96′ greenhouse to early CSA production.
Eggs
The eggs we offer are from our pastured flock of free-range hens.
Newsletter and Events
Based on feedback from last year’s CSA, this year’s weekly newsletter will contain more recipes and preparation tips. Always remember though, if you have a question about anything in your bag, feel free to e-mail or call us.
We would like to have at least one on farm event this year for CSA members. We are not sure yet what that will be and we welcome any thoughts and ideas you may have.
As always, you are welcome to come visit your farm anytime except Saturdays.
Payment
Vegetable shares this year are the same price as last year, $600. A vegetable share with a weekly dozen of eggs is $700. We do not offer 1/2 shares but feel free to split a share with friends or neighbors. It will be your responsibility to divide up the share.
We are also offering a few working shares. A working share is an exchange of labor for food. Working shares would be flexible and would require 4 hours of work a week. We would be open to the idea of 8 hours of work every two weeks.
To tentatively secure your share, send an e-mail and include your name, phone number, and e-mail. Also indicate if you would like a weekly dozen eggs in your share. Please do this step even if you have already contacted us in the past couple of weeks.
We request that you send a $100 deposit within the week. A payment of $300 is due February 25 with the balance of $200 ( $300 with eggs) due March 18. You are welcome to pay in full if you like.
Make out checks to Laughing Owl Farm and mail to
Dean Mullis Laughing Owl Farm 28016 Ryan Rd Richfield, NC 28137
If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail or phone.
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