What is CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Purchasing a CSA share has benefits for both consumer and producer.

Consumers benefit by getting a weekly distribution of the freshest seasonal produce.  Your weekly produce is usually harvested on the same day you receive it.  Once you have purchased your CSA share, you just come weekly to the distribution site to pick up your produce.  There is no worry about placing an order in time or bringing your checkbook.  That is taken care of at the beginning of the season.  The consumer also has the opportunity to try new and heirloom varieties of produce, many of which are unavailable at the  supermarket.  Local producers are free to select varieties for supreme taste qualities instead of durability for shipping and long shelf life.

Producers benefit by having an assured market for their products and having consumers share in both the risks and rewards associated with farming.   Receiving payments before the season starts helps with the up front costs of production.

Farm to Folk is committed to providing the producers with fair compensation for their labor. 

Grinnell Heritage Farm

Thursday delivery only of a pre boxed CSA vegetable share. For more information and to sign up: www.grinnellheritagefarm.com

Tell them you want to pick up at Farm to Folk in Ames.

The Homestead CSA share--single $465, double share $875

This share will be 18-20 weeks from late May through September and includes midwestern staple vegetables as well as some heirloom varieties, greens, fruits (apples, strawberries, and raspberries), herbs and occasional baked goods. A single share is designed to supplement fresh fruit and vegetable consumption for 2-3 person households. A double share is designed to supplement the fruit and vegetable needs of a larger household. It may also be useful for those 2-3 person households that eat more vegetables than most or who use food preservation for longer term use.

Click here for a chart of when and how many vegetables to expect.

Another benefit of the Homestead CSA share is the chance to visit the farm during "gleaning" days. Members can come and pick fruits and vegetables that are nearing the ends of their season. These days will be announced in the newsletter or by email and are available at no extra charge to members.

Tuesday delivery only.

Click here to sign up. More info about the producer

Iowa Fresh Produce Regular Veggie Share--$285

We'll offer either Tuesday or Thursday delivery this season.

This share is generously sized for a family of one to two people and plans are to include the following crops from June through mid October:

Iowa Fresh Produce Extended Share--$100

Extended share will be delivered on Tuesdays only.

This share will include 3-4 deliveries in May before the main season starts and 3-5 deliveries in Oct-Nov after the main season is over. The early season will include spinach, lettuce, radishes, boc choi, etc. and the late season will include root vegetables, winter squash and fall greens.

Click here to sign up. More info about the producer.

TableTop Farm CSA vegetable share--full share $490, half share $280(every other week)

Tuesday or Thursday delivery available.

The full share will include 20 weekly deliveries, May 29/May 31– October 9th/11th. The half share will be a full share quantity delivered every other week. Plans are to include the following vegetables:

Click here for a chart of when/how many to expect of the veggies.

Farming Practices:

• Chemical-free, natural fertility with compost/manure and soil building cover crops
• Transitioning to organic, with certification beginning in 2014
• Local ecotype native prairie will be established around fields to support wildlife, pollinators, and beneficial insects
• Within five years, our goal is to be able to provide farmers and workers with a fair, living wage

Buffet-style distribution will enable:

• Exchange of an unwanted item for a more desired one in the swap bucket
• The offering of alternate choices alongside less popular vegetables
• Members to donate unwanted items directly to the food pantry

On-Farm Activities: We feel it is important for us to get to know our members, and for members to have a more down-to-earth understanding of how our farm works. As an added benefit of your TableTop Farm share, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside your farmers. You can help harvest winter squash, mulch garlic and more by signing up for any of our on-farm activity days. There's a place at the table for all ages and levels of mobility.

Click here to sign up. More info about the producer.

Berry Patch Farm fruit subscription--$100 full subscription, $60 berries only subscription

Berry Patch will offer Tuesday or Thursday delivery this season beginning when strawberries are ready, usually around the first week of June.

The berry only subscription will include a total of 3 quarts strawberries, 4 half pints raspberries, 6 pints blueberries. The full subscription will include the above plus 27 lbs of various apples varieties.

Click here to sign up. More info about the producer.

Picket Fence Creamery

Tuesday delivery only for dairy subscription.

The dairy subscription is designed to suit your individual needs. The price in the table is for a weekly delivery of the selected quantity. For example, one might select 1 gallon of skim ($33) and 1 half gal of 2% ($33) and then would receive that quantity each week for 10 weeks for a total price of $66.

10 week sessions start Jan 3, 2012, Mar 13, 2012 and Oct 9, 2012

20 week summer session starts May 22, 2012 (roughly coincides with summer veggie share deliveries)

Click here to sign up. More info about the producer.