HOW TO JOIN OUR CSA
WHEN TO JOIN OUR CSA
We collect email addresses throughout the year and invite those folks to fill openings in our CSA in mid to late January for the following growing season. The waitlist group is not offered openings in chronological order. We speak to interested folks who inquire from the list and make sure we are a mutually good match. Our CSA is a participatory one and this is not for everyone; see below for more on that.
We understand how difficult it is to think about summer harvests when there is snow on the ground, but wintertime is the time to inquire and join our CSA! By March we are planting those seeds...so it is great to have our membership all set up early. We often sell out quickly, so midsummer inquiries can get on our waitlist and receive first offerings to join in January for the following year.
ABOUT US AND CSA SHARES
House in the Woods CSA is a certified organic Community Supported
Agriculture farm just south of Frederick, Maryland. We grow a wide variety
of vegetables, mostly heirloom varieties, and also some herbs and flowers.
We offer for sale products from other farms when possible, such as organic
fruit. Harvest pickups run for 20 weeks from early June
through mid-October, pickup on-farm only, Fridays and Saturdays. We have a
list of vegetables we tend to grow (may vary from this list), listed at What We Grow.
The fee for 2008 is $265 for the 10-week share (every other week pickup), and $485 for the 20-week share (weekly pickup). The 10-week share accommodates households that don't need as many vegetables, since most of the veggies will last for more than one week. Shares are for one household only (no splitting shares, please).
FARM PARTICIPATION
We are a very small CSA that prioritizes the whole farm experience. For this reason, we seek membership that will pick up their vegetable share weekly at the farm, and are committed to helping out on the farm a few times during the season (3 times for 20-week shareholders, 2 times for 10-week shareholders). Some members come to Farm Hands Days, others come at their convenience for more solo worktime. Members, including children, are involved in almost all aspects of the farm. All enjoy the experience and consider the participation a valuable membership perk. Some CSA's don't request or require participation and these will be a better fit for some people.
WORKING SHARES AND INTERNSHIPS
All members of our CSA help out on the farm a few times each season, but we also offer a Working Share which is a more intensive responsibility, in exchange for a share of the harvest. A three hour work day earns a veggie pickup, with a minimum of 10 days (30 hours) for a half working share or 20 days (60 hours) for a full working share. Work must be done in advance of the veggie pickup, whether it is a previous day or the few hours of harvest time before the pickup. Inquire within!
ARE WE A GOOD MATCH FOR YOU?
We are a very small CSA that prioritizes the whole farm experience.
For this reason, we seek membership that will:
* Pick up their vegetable share weekly at the farm, on their selected veggie pickup day of either Friday or Saturday, between 12pm-dark. We do not offer off-farm delivery or have any drop-off sites.
* Commit to helping out on the farm a few times during the season, and consider the participation a valuable membership perk. Farm Days are fun and a great learning opportunity for adults and children alike. No gardening experience is required.
WE'RE THE FARM FOR YOU IF...
HOW TO JOIN OUR CSA
Email me (Ilene) or call at 301-607-4048. Find out if we have shares available. Ask questions. When you are ready to join, I will email you the Membership Form to complete and mail in with a deposit check or payment in full, your choice. I can hold your spot for a week until your check arrives. We look forward to feeding your family, spirits and tummies alike!