2014 CSA Program
Info and FAQ’s
Early Bug Special!
$25 discount with full payment
on or before March 15, 2014.
What
are you growing this year?
Spring Crops
Arugula
Asparagus
Bok Choi
Chives
English Pea
Herbs (assorted)
Lettuce (assorted)
Pansies
Scallions
Snow pea
Spinach
Sprouting Broccoli
Swiss Chard
Summer Crops
Beets
Broccoli
Carrots (assorted)
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Cucumbers
Eggplant (3 varieties)
Endive
Green and Wax Beans
Herbs (assorted)
Kale
Lettuce (assorted)
Mustard Greens
Peppers (sweet and hot)
Scallions
Summer Squash
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes (assorted)
Fall Crops
Cabbage
Swiss chard
Lettuce (assorted)
Spinach
Rutabaga
Celery
Winter squash (Delicata, Dumpling)
Pumpkins
Onions
Shallots
Parsnips
Kale
Mustard
Garlic
Brussel Sprouts
Celery Root
Herbs (assorted)
What is a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. CSA's are a
business model that allows you as a consumer and us as farmers to share the
risks and benefits involved in growing healthy foods in an urban, community-based
way. You purchase a subscription to the farm (a "share") and become a
member. Our CSA program gives an opportunity for families and individuals to
directly access quality fresh produce throughout the growing season while
directly supporting small scale, sustainable, community agriculture. Your
upfront payment is indispensable in covering start-up farm expenses and also
providing living wages for the folks who are growing your food. Without your
support, we would not be able to continue growing good food for our community.
We hope you will consider becoming a member of the B.U.G. CSA Program.
When is the season this year?
May-October (22-27 weeks)
How much does it cost?
$25/week- full share with delivery
Half shares receive same quantity and cost per delivery, but have bi-weekly delivery schedule.
What Are My Share Options?
There are 2 basic option types: The Full Share, and
the Half Share. Both provide the same amount of produce in each
delivery, but the Full Share comes every week, and the Half Share comes every other week during the growing season. If
you buy a Half Share, based on your delivery location, you will be assigned to
either Week A or Week B distribution.
How Long Is the season, and do I have to commit to the entire season?
How Long Is the season, and do I have to commit to the entire season?
We will plan to have our 2014 harvest season, weather
permitting, from mid-May to the end of October, give or take a
week or two depending on the good graces of Mother Nature. The total season
should last between 22-26 weeks.
We ask that when you join you are essentially signing a contract
committing to the entire 6-month growing season. We plan quantities and
schedules around the number of members at the beginning of the season. If you
decide you no longer want to participate, you may sell your remaining shares to
a friend or neighbor. Please let us know at least a week in advance so we may
contact them to set up a delivery schedule. You are responsible for the entire
seasons cost until you have secured another party to take up where you left
off. No refunds will be given for partial season membership.
Are all
the items I receive “organic”?
When and IF we need to spray a crop,
we utilize organically accepted and least toxic chemicals whenever possible,
generally at an early stage in the plant's growth before it has developed
edible parts and when it is most vulnerable to destruction by harmful pests. Most
of the crops never require this sort of intervention. This approach to pest
control is best described as Integrated
Pest Management. While this approach
is technically not 100% “organic” it is the most prudent and healthy approach
to guarantee strong, healthy crops and prevent dangerous pesticides from
entering our food. Any pest control methods that are not fully “organic” will
always be a last choice and are rarely or ever used and only as a last resort
to save a crop from complete destruction.
How Will I Get My Veggie Share?
HOME/OFFICE DELIVERY: One of the many unique things about B.U.G.’s
CSA program is our delivery service. If you live within Oakland County, MI there
is no need to remember to pick up your CSA share, we deliver it directly to
your house or office! If you live in a neighboring community outside of Oakland
County, there is a one time delivery fee at the beginning of the
season of $50 for a Half Share and$100 for
a Full Share. This helps us cover our costs in fuel and extra
labor.
If you are getting a Home/Office Delivery, we need to make sure
you have a way of keeping your veggies cool and fresh until they get inside
your fridge. Therefore, please make sure you have a cooler with a cold freezer
pack outside your front door of your house/apartment (preferably in a shady
spot), or have some way of storing your produce in your office, either in an
office fridge or cooler, before taking it home with you.
How Much Food Will I Get In My Delivery?
Understand that even with our best planning and farming efforts,
Mother Nature is the real decider on what grows and what doesn't! Each delivery
should contain typically somewhere between 5-9 different veggie/greens/herb
items. The exact quantity and variety will change each week depending on the
harvest for that time of the season. For example, if the slugs and snails
decide to eat up a certain bed of spinach, then you may not have spinach for a
couple of weeks. Generally, one delivery should be enough for 2-4
people cooking at home for several meals worth of veggies. If you are single,
think about teaming up with a friend and splitting a Full Share, or try a Half
Share where you will have longer to eat your produce before getting another
delivery. Remember this is sustainable fresh produce without chemical
preservers or waxy coating; it won’t keep as long as the chemically treated
foods in your typical supermarket.
June deliveries could look something like
this:
4 oz. peas/shoots
6 oz. lettuce mix
6 oz. assorted herbs and cilantro
1 bunch rainbow chard
1 bunch kale
1 bunch green onions
Fresh flowers
6 oz. spinach
1 cucumber
August deliveries could
look something like this:
2 lb. heirloom tomatoes
1 bunch carrots
1 bunch beets
2 zucchini
½ pound green beans
1-3 sweet peppers
1 bunch basil
1 bunch chard
½ pound broccoli
Fresh herb assortment
1 eggplant
2-3 cucumbers
October deliveries could look like this:
1-2 pounds potatoes
1 bunch carrots
2-3 onions
6 oz. spinach
1 bunch chard
6 oz. lettuce mix
1 bunch arugula
Cauliflower and broccoli
1-2 dumpling squash or pie pumpkin
1 carving pumpkin or large gourd
Exact quantities and varieties can vary a bit, and some weeks
you may receive more variety than others. This sample delivery description
is intended to showcase what might be typical, if nature was kind to us that
week.
Each crop has its typical growing season and is available for
only that window of time. For example, you will not have juicy ripe tomatoes all
summer, nor will you have spinach in August or pumpkins in May. Green peppers
might come in July and August, but red ones won’t arrive until September and
October typically. Learning to eat locally AND seasonally is a great experience
affording our diets a pleasant variation from month to month.
During particularly lean production weeks you might expect to
find bouquets of fresh garden flowers to brighten your table, or even a loaf of
fresh baked herbal bread.
Can I choose what goes in my box?
It is not possible to select what goes in an
individual box. All boxes are made up roughly identical based on the weekly
harvest.
What if I get something in my box and don’t know what to do with
it?
It’s kind of like a surprise party of produce every
delivery. We try to grow a lot of tried and true familiar things, but also
enjoy trying new things. While everything won’t always be to your liking, it
can be fun to try something new and unusual. We are always happy to provide
recipe suggestions or help in preparation/storage for any item in your box,
just ask!
What If I Am Out Of Town?
If you know you are going to be out of town, there will be a
couple of options: Coordinate with a friend who will pick up your share at your
delivery location and eat it or keep it for you for that week. We won't be able
to deliver it to a different address though. Another option for Half Share
members is to switch your delivery to your "off week". The bottom line
is to please LET US KNOW AT LEAST A WEEK AHEAD OF YOUR ABSENCE and we can
figure out something for you. Remember that even if you miss 2-3 weeks of
deliveries, you are still receiving a GREAT DEAL for all of the fresh, local,
sustainably grown veggies throughout the season and we can’t “make-up” the lost
quantity later. The garden waits for no one!
What if I miss my delivery?
If you are not home, or don’t have a cooler/cold
pack available for holding your delivery, we will not leave it for you.
Instead, we ask that you contact us to arrange pick-up within 24 hours. Picking up your box
the following day might compromise the quality and freshness of the produce and
the farm cannot be held responsible for any damaged or spoiled produce in
this situation. We will do our best to keep it fresh, but no guarantees.
How Do I Pay For My CSA Membership?
Currently, we only accept payments made by checks or cash for
CSA membership. We understand that paying for the whole season at once may be
challenging for some of you. If that is keeping you from joining, send us an
email and we will try to work with you in setting up a payment plan. We really
want to offer our tasty veggies to as many folks as possible in our community,
and offer as low of a price as we can, while still being able to function
sustainably as an urban gardening business. We are happy to pick up cash payments
or you may mail a check. Please contact me directly for instructions on payments.
pcngarden@outlook.com
Thank You for joining us this season and we look forward to a
delicious time together!
