CSA re-up

[magid]

I got the form in the mail for getting a 2007 share in Red Fire Farm. I'm definitely re-upping; they've been the best fit of the farms I've tried. I still have to choose how much to pay (they offer a sliding scale, and anything more than the minimum suggested for non-low-income people will go to subsidize shares for people with less), which is also based on whether I get a main season share (20 weeks) or a full season share (24 distributions, with the four after the end of the main season being every other week)(I'm planning to get the longer one), and whether I want to get a fruit share on top of that as well.

I got the fruit share last year. It costs $180, and the fruit isn't necessarily organic, though if it isn't, it's low-spray, IPM, and so on. I'm not sure whether it would be more useful for me to use the many farmer's markets for fruit, though. For comparison, the list of what was in last summer's fruit share (it's only through the main season, whatever other share I get), by week.

1. a pint of strawberries
   
2. a pint of strawberries
   
3. a pint of strawberries and a small box of sugar snap peas
   
4. a quart of strawberries and a half-pint (?) of peas
   
5. a small box of peas
   
6. a rounded pint of blueberries (not organic, but not sprayed, either)
   
7. a pint of blueberries
   
8. a pint of blueberries and a pound of beans (green or purple, except that only green were left by the time I got there)
   
9. a pint of blueberries and five peaches
   
10. a pint of cherry tomatoes (I got all Sungolds. Bliss!) and ten peaches
    
11. a half-pint punnet of blueberries and four peaches
    
12. six apples and three yellow plums
    
13. six peaches
    
14. twelve apples (possibly Paulas)
    
15. eight Gala apples
    
16. eight apples
    
17. four pears
    
18. eight Cortland apples
    
19. five huge Cortland apples
    
20. five yellow-green apples

I still haven't decided about the fruit share.

This year there will be three pick-up points locally, at the Cambridge and JP Harvest Co-ops and at an as-yet-undetermined location in Somerville, which will have longer hours (2:30-7 rather than Cambridge's 3-6:60 and JP's 4-7). Cool.

Longer term, the farm is also be looking to partner with a landowner and youth group or garden group somewhere around Boston to have a satellite growing location that would focus on the pick-your-own crops that most of the Boston members don't (really) get to take advantage of. This would be so incredibly cool; I wish I had some suggestions for them.

Comments

[theora.livejournal.com]

On their website it says the Somerville location is the Somerville Growing Center, on Vinal St. However, it also gives the times as 2:30-6pm, not 7pm. Hmm.

[theora.livejournal.com]

Er, make that Vinal Ave., not Vinal St.

[theora.livejournal.com]

And the website doesn't say anything about full season vs. main season. Poo.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I didn't think to check the website (OK, I find that their website is just problematic enough when trying to access from work that I avoid it until I get home); they must've figured that out after the flier was printed up. I'd go with those hours then, too.

Hm. Usually the Vinal Growing Ctr. is only reliably open on Saturdays; it's nice to know I could meander by on a Wednesday after work if I want (and I get there in time :-). I'll stick with the Cambridge pick-up, though; it's about the same distance from home, but a more useful direction for me.

Thanks for the update.

[magid.livejournal.com]

This year was the first year with the winter share at this end of the state, so 2007 is the first year they're offering a full season share everywhere. I bet they didn't update the website carefully...

According to the flier:
Full season shares are 24 distributions, mid-June until mid-December. The sliding scale is $500-$625, with a request that people pay at least $550 unless they're low income. Anything over $550 helps subsidize others.
Main season shares are 20 distributions, mid-June to late October. The sliding scale is $400-$525, with a request that people pay at least $450 unless they're low income. Anything over $450 helps subsidize others.

Also, there are payment options, either paying in full now or paying $100 now with three equal payments for the balance on July 1, August 5, and September 16.

PS

[magid.livejournal.com]

Should I photocopy the form for you?

[magid.livejournal.com]

*nod*
I've given up on the Vinals' Ave/St status and focus on whether it's the Growing Center one or not :-).

Re: PS

[theora.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer, but I think we're going to do it by email. They accept paypal, and jaq's recent ebaying has built up some credit that needs spending. Here's hoping they actually remember I joined this time.