With winter comes planning... strategizing...imagining....calculating. It's an off season for my body, but most definitely not for my mind. This winter I placed my seed orders in December. This was rather backwards, as crop planning and budgeting for the coming season were nowhere near done - but with crazy seed demand resulting in backlogs and possible shortages at many seed companies, I didn't dare wait! I've spent January getting crop plans in order for the fields and Seedling Sale, updating the website and registration process, working out some new partnerships, and running interviews. Thankfully, with 3 returning staff, our new hiring is pretty limited. AMAZING. While of course we'd hoped that the 2021 season would begin in a very different environment than last year, we're planning for another COVID-adjusted year (sigh) - at least we've got a lot of our adapted systems figured out for this time round. We're hopeful that we can build on them to create a more interactive CSA pick-up environment, without compromising safety.
Here's the rundown on what's new for the coming season:
New Share Add-Ons
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Mushrooms! (SOLD OUT - we will sell any extras through our online store)
Gisela Gaerdes of Pilz Mushroom Co. grows mostly Oysters, but also Shiitake, Lion's Mane and Chestnut mushrooms in nearby St. Clement's. As a former CSA member (now with her own large garden), Gisela has been working on scaling up her operation specifically to be able to offer us these shares. 1 pint of mushrooms weekly (~1/4lb) for $75
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Extra Greens Cut greens like salad mix, arugula and spinach are a lot of extra work to grow and process (double wash...spin dry...bag). We mostly provide lettuce heads as they give you more lettuce for less $. BUT we know some of you really love your cut greens. So we're offering a weekly greens add-onthat will top you up with 1/2lb of greens (mostly salad mix) weekly at wholesale pricing. $115/season
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Herb Share 'Remedy Box' |
Egg Shares
Egg shares aren't for sale yet. We don't have the ability to produce enough eggs ourselves due to quota limitations & the destruction of our 2nd coop in a wind storm last fall. Our regular partner farm isn't able to commit to us because of increases to their sales demands, so we're looking for a new partner in pastured egg production. If we find one we'll let you know. Otherwise eggs will only be available through the online store this season.
Online Store Expansion
Due to last year's popularity, we'll be continuing with weekly sales through our online store. We hope to expand offerings beyond extra veg to include local honey, maple syrup, meats and any extra mushrooms and herbal preparations if available. Some options may only be available for Friday on-farm members, due to refrigeration needs.
Speaking of the store.... we have some delicious soup hens still available (they're really very tender & delicious stewed in a slow cooker). Also a few sundry remants of veg... but the pickings are getting slim. Get them here.
Spring Greens
Lara plans to grow early greens in our tomato tunnel this spring - more news to follow, but she hopes to have a nice assortment of fresh offerings beginning sometime in April.
Community Shares
As always, donations received from members will go into our Community Shares Fund and be used to offer reduced-rate shares on a sliding scale basis. Have extra to donate? Awesome! Need a price reduction? No problem! Know someone in the community who would love a share but can't afford it? Please help connect us! More info here. Last year we raised an astonishing $8000 and provided reduced rate shares for 25 households. That's because you folks absolutely ROCK.
Ready to sign up? Your special advanced window lasts until Monday Feb 8th.
