Our CSA shares are based on the traditional "farmer's choice box of weekly vegetables" subscription model, but with a modern flair. Subscriptions begin with choosing a season of vegetables from our farm (Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter) plus optional "Add-on" Subscriptions (such as fruit, bread, eggs, meat, cheese, mushrooms or flowers from other local producers). Each week during the CSA season, members may also add one-time items from our online store. This flexibility allows smaller households to stick with a base subscription, and larger households to do their weekly grocery shopping at one convenient pickup location.
For households that have a large garden, travel a lot, or have fewer vegetable needs we also have an "Online store only" membership that gives you access to a la carte ordering only on the weeks you need it.
What's in a share?
We have one Vegetable Subscription CSA size. This share is made up of 6-10 different types of vegetables per week*, with about a meal's worth of each vegetable. We think of our shares in terms of categories, and aim to have something from each of the following categories: a snack (carrots/snap peas), a cooking green (kale/spinach), salady things (lettuce/arugula), something substantial (potatoes/zucchini), an herb (basil/cilantro), an allium (onion/garlic), and tomatoes when in season.
We find that the amount of food is just right for families with small children who cook 3-4 nights per week, for couples who eat a lot of vegetables, or for families with older children who are using the CSA more for side dishes or lunches for the week. For families who need more veggies we offer an online store with a la carte items that can be ordered on a weekly basis. |
We also have an Online Store-only Membership. This is a small membership fee ($20 for the year or $5 per season) that allows you to order a la carte from our online store and pick up from a regular CSA pickup location. This option is great for folks who garden and just need to supplement with a few things, have smaller households, or who travel a lot. There is no obligation to order each week, and these memberships may be combined with one or more Vegetable Subscription CSA shares.
*Our Spring CSA Share (April - May) is a little bit different. It consists of just 4 items per week for 8 weeks. This share is smaller because all vegetables come out of our high tunnels and will start with primarily leafy greens and end with greens plus some fresh roots like radishes and beets. We are one of only a few farms that have greens this early in the year and this CSA option fills up extremely quickly.
*Our Spring CSA Share (April - May) is a little bit different. It consists of just 4 items per week for 8 weeks. This share is smaller because all vegetables come out of our high tunnels and will start with primarily leafy greens and end with greens plus some fresh roots like radishes and beets. We are one of only a few farms that have greens this early in the year and this CSA option fills up extremely quickly.
Add-on subscriptions
All CSA members have the option of including "add-on" subscriptions to their weekly vegetable CSA shares. We are proud to provide eggs, meat, bread, cheese and fruit from other local farms and businesses. All add-ons are Organic or produced in ways that we feel really good about. Each add-on subscription is "farmer's choice", meaning that each producer chooses what to bring you each week. This keeps things interesting for you, and helps bring a CSA-model stability to other types of food producers.
This year's add-on subscription options: Pasture Raised Eggs (weekly or every other week) from Maple Wind Farm Pasture-raised Meat from Snug Valley Farm and others Fresh Pasta (every other week) from Trenchers Farmhouse Fruit (Organic berries, IPM tree fruit) from Adam's Berry Farm, Sweet Roots Farm, Last Resort Farm, Paradise Fruit and Champlain Orchards Cheese (every other week) from local creameries Fresh Flowers from Four Blooms Farm |
A la Carte online store
All Vegetable CSA subscribers are guaranteed a selection of vegetables from the farm, but some customers want a few more items to round out their weekly shopping. Each week we provide a range of additional produce from our farm, plus eggs, meat, fruit when in season, ferments, honey and maple products. Items are simple to add to your share through our online platform, and will be ready and waiting with your subscription items at your preferred pickup location.
Pickup Locations
We provide "market style" CSA pickups at four pickup locations.
Burlington pickups are at a private residence on Park Street Tuesdays 4-6pm
Bristol pickups are at Tandem on Main St Tuesdays 4-6pm
Hinesburg pickups are at Red Wagon Plants Thursdays 3:30-6pm
Starksboro pickups are from our farm on Tatro Road Thursdays 3:30-6pm
Burlington pickups are at a private residence on Park Street Tuesdays 4-6pm
Bristol pickups are at Tandem on Main St Tuesdays 4-6pm
Hinesburg pickups are at Red Wagon Plants Thursdays 3:30-6pm
Starksboro pickups are from our farm on Tatro Road Thursdays 3:30-6pm
Market Style Pickup - Bristol, Hinesburg & Burlington
At each pickup you will see a table of vegetables laid out, and a blackboard with a list of the week's items. Following the blackboard, you will take designated amounts of each item on the table. There will often be choice sections (choose 1 bunch of kale OR 1 bunch of rainbow chard). There will also be a farmer at each pickup to say hello and help make choices or give more information on the week's items. |
What comes with the membership?
In addition to fresh food weekly, CSA members:
-Become members of a community that directly supports young farmers. We have been growing vegetables for over 10 years here in Starksboro, and continue to push for a local agricultural system that is sustainable for the land, the people and the local community. -Have a direct connection to the people who grow their food. This relationship provides transparency in a food system that is more and more difficult to navigate, plus we all really like to cook and can give you plenty of recipe ideas for those tricky to use ingredients. -Can rely on us to provide food free from harmful chemicals and PFAS. We are certified Organic by both Vermont Organic Farmers (USDA) and the Real Organic Project, our soils have never been contaminated by PFAS, we reduce plastic use as much as possible by using natural mulches, reducing single use plastics on our soils and in our washing and packing processes, and striving to continuously improve in these arenas. -Receive weekly newsletters (here's a sample) with stories or tidbits from the farm, a recipe that uses the week's CSA items, and storage tips -Get invites to on-farm tours and events -Get one "vacation week" per season, which provides store credit for a missed week of vegetables. -Can contribute to or benefit from subsidized CSA shares. In 2023 CSA members raised $2,500 to help cover costs for 20+ of their fellow CSA members. These contributions go even further due to partnerships with NOFA-VT's Farm Share Program, HOPE, and Mountain Health Center. |