CSA Share Memberships are OPEN!
Good news. Our CSA is now open for enrollment to our e-mail newsletter subscribers members!
As a member of this list, you get first dibs on our remaining spots until November 30.
** Everyone who signs up for a share before November 30 will be entered into a New Member Giveaway. The winner will receive a copy of The CSA Cookbook, a loaf of our sourdough organic bread, and a 8oz bag of our homemade organic granola during Week 1 of the CSA season. **
Our Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA Share is a 20-week membership from June 12 - October 23, where members receive a share of the harvested vegetables from the farm. Here’s how we view a CSA:
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a reciprocal partnership connecting farmers and customers to share in the bounty of the local food. Throughout the growing season, the farm provides a weekly share of agricultural products to customers, or “members“, in exchange for the financial support they received during the off-season for the purchase of seeds.
Is CSA Right For You? - this 6-question quiz can be your guide to help you learn the questions to consider when deciding if a CSA is right for you.
“Access to organic fresh items made all the difference this summer. We ate many delicious salads and had a greater variety due to the farm share. Also, I learned to cook some unfamiliar vegetables.” - 2023 CSA Member
So why would you want to join our CSA?
After all, you can just buy from us at the farmer’s market whenever you want, and get whatever you want.
But, something special happens to you when you join the farm as a member.
For example:
1. You'll get exposed to all kinds of new vegetables that you probably would never choose yourself if it were up to you... and you'll discover you like them! Because we're a traditional-style CSA, we decide what goes in the box each week. We give you familiar staples, but you might end up trying (and loving!) things like kohlrabi, celery root, and ground cherries too. This pushes you out of your comfort zone and gets you growing as a home chef.
Every week, for 20 weeks, you'll get a share like this with 7-11 (full share) items in it.
2. You'll start learning new ways to cook your food and try unusual flavor profiles. Between our Recipe E-Book, weekly emails, and ideas shared by other CSA members - support for what to make is endless! We highlight recipes each week and we continuously share ways to quickly finish eating or freeze your share before the next one heads your way. Over time, you remember these "exit strategies" and incorporate them into your life... like this batch of breakfast tacos made with kale, sweet peppers, and tomatoes that’s heading for the freezer!
3. You and your family will start to eat differently. Changing food habits is hard to do. I think the reason we're so successful at helping you “master” the CSA is because of the support. When you have a group of people around you all aiming for the same goal, it keeps you on track and shows you what is possible. Every year, we hear from members about how their kids who now LIKE to eat kale and kohlrabi, and their parents are secretly proud that their kids are turning into foodies. When you teach your children how to eat early on, you're giving them a gift that will last a lifetime. I mean, get a load of E enjoying Zucchini Butter Spaghetti!
Can you see that being a CSA member is more than getting a weekly box of vegetables? Something else happens in the space between.
I think the secret sauce is our community of members we have cultivated over the years.
I like to say, "We aren't just growing veggies. We're growing people."
So are you ready to join our CSA community?!
“Great variety and beautiful produce! We looked forward to our share every week. I loved the Sunday email to help me plan our meals. We also appreciated the range of information provided to get the most out of our share from preserving to using as much of the plant as possible.” - 2022 CSA Member
Below are some details about our CSA Shares. Other FAQs are outlined in detail on the Membership Agreement and on our website.
What do the different shares cost?
Full Shares cost $650 and Half Shares are $325. Full Share members receive 7-11 items each week, and Half Share members can expect 4-6. There are also a number of Add-On Shares that you can choose from to round out your local agricultural experience, including organic bread, flower bouquets, greens, organic cheese, and baked goods. Full details and cost are on our website.
How will payment work for the CSA?
When you sign up, you'll just receive an invoice via email with instructions for next steps. You can choose from 3 payment options when you sign up and whether you pay by check or credit/debit card.
When does the CSA actually begin?
Our plan is to begin CSA on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. But it all depends on when Mother Nature decides. Rest assured, you’ll receive 20 weeks of fresh produce from our farm.
What kind of veggies will be in my share each week?
Each week it's different because our members eat with the changing seasons! (See what full share members received each week in 2022 and 2023). Full Share members receive 7-11 items and can roughly expect:
Weekly 7oz. bag of salad mix (various lettuces, greens, herbs, and/or edible flowers)
1-2 greens (ex: kale, collards, spinach, etc.)
1-2 alliums (ex: onions, scallions, garlic, etc.)
1-2 root veggies (ex: radish, beets, rutabaga, etc.)
1-4 fruiting veggies (ex: tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, winter squash, etc.)
1-3 “assorted” veggies (ex: peas, beans, cabbage, ground cherries, etc.)
1-2 bundles of fresh herbs (ex: basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, etc.)
Half Share members receive 4-6 of the items listed above. Half Share members do not receive a weekly bag of salad mix.
What resources do you provide to your members to help them enjoy the CSA?
We work to make sure you feel supported as a member of our CSA, because honestly, it is different from going to the grocery store, or even the farmers market, each week.
Weekly Sunday email detailing what’s in the share, so you can meal plan/grocery shop
An E-book with over 150 recipes, so you can have new recipe inspiration at your fingertips
A guide for properly storing and prolonging the life of your fresh produce, that way you don’t waste your $ or veggies!
Digital resources where you can learn about the nutritional value of and how to best cook each vegetable, so when something unfamiliar is in your share you have a guide for what to do with it
Options to purchase additional fresh vegetables and herbs and add them to your weekly pickup, so you don’t have to make a million trips to the grocery store
Options to purchase add-on shares of other local products and add them to your weekly pickup, that way you can savor the best of the season
Opportunities to speak directly with the people who grow and harvest your food, so you don’t have to wait for an email or text response to a question you have.
Is everything in your CSA certified organic?
At this time we are not certified organic. However, we follow certified organic standards and practices. We grow all of our crops without the use of conventional, synthetic or artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. You can learn more about our growing practices on our website.
Do I get to pick out what goes into my share?
No. We pack your share for you. We feel like we've got a good formula for putting the classics into the share, but also pushing you to try some new foods as well. You can see what members received each week in 2022 and 2023 to get a sense of what to expect. That being said...You will have the option to purchase other items from our online store and there will be weeks where you will have a choice between select items.
Where/when are the pickup sites and times?
Pick up is at the farm at 5340 Cambria Road, in the town of Cambria on Wednesdays, anytime between 4:30pm - 7:00pm. We are located 32 minutes (~22 miles) from Buffalo's west side; 22 minutes (~14 miles) from Niagara Falls; and 19 minutes (~13 miles) from the village of Lewiston.
What if I go on vacation for a week? Will you hold my share or credit my account?
For the weeks that you are gone on vacation, we are not able to “save” your share for long-term storage, or credit your account. Instead, we have the following options:
1. Send a substitute in your place to pick up and enjoy the share.
2. Let it flow into the Buffalo Community Fridge.
3. Ask us to hold your share at the farm for 2 days (until Friday). You are responsible for scheduling and confirming a time to come to the farm to pick up your share.
4. Choose Vacation Mode for up to 3 weeks. By selecting this option, you will not be charged for those weeks ($30 off final payment for each week selected, which will be reflected on your invoice). More details about Vacation Mode are on page 10 of the Membership Agreement.
What if I don't like the CSA? Can I back out?
As a small farm, we rely on the commitment of our members to sustain the farm community throughout the season. Our expenses and commitments are tied to those who sign up to be members of our farm. As such, payments are nonrefundable.
However, you can transfer your share to someone else. Simply let us know who will be taking over your membership, start date, and their email address. You are responsible for working through payment details with the new member.
How do I sign up?
Click the button below!
“This CSA was one of the best decisions we have made. We ate healthier and had fun experimenting with new vegetables. I have already recommended it to family and friends for next year.” - 2022 CSA Member