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), adding subscription "add-ons" if you choose (bread, eggs, meat, cheese or fruit from other local producers), then adding optional weekly extras 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) 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 used to have our Mini Share, 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-ons subscription options: Organic Eggs (weekly or every other week) from Schoolhouse Farm Pasture-raised Meat from Snug Valley Farm Fresh Bread from Slowfire Bakery Fruit (Organic berries, IPM tree fruit) from Adam's Berry Farm, Sweet Roots Farm, Paradise Fruit and Champlain Orchards Cheese (delivered every other week) from Jasper Hill Creamery |
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 two types of pickup styles at four different pickup locations. Our Bristol and Hinesburg/Shelburne pickup locations are both "market style", while our Starksboro and Burlington pickup locations are pre-boxed.
Bristol pickups are at Tandem on Main St Thursdays 4-6pm
Hinesburg/Shelburne pickups are at Palmer's Sugar House on Shelburne Hinesburg Road Tuesdays 4-6pm
Starksboro pickups are from our farm on Tatro Road Tuesdays 4-6pm
Burlington pickups are at a private residence on Park Street Tuesdays 4-6pm
Bristol pickups are at Tandem on Main St Thursdays 4-6pm
Hinesburg/Shelburne pickups are at Palmer's Sugar House on Shelburne Hinesburg Road Tuesdays 4-6pm
Starksboro pickups are from our farm on Tatro Road Tuesdays 4-6pm
Burlington pickups are at a private residence on Park Street Tuesdays 4-6pm
Market Style Pickup - Bristol & Hinesburg/Shelburne
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. |
Boxed Pickup - Burlington & Starksboro
Boxed pickups are a truly grab and go option. Each CSA share is pre-packed with the week's subscription items plus a la carte items ordered from the store. CSA members find their name, transfer all items from their box into their own bag, and head home. Easy peasy. |
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. -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 (we took a hiatus from in-person events, but are bringing them back!) -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 2022 CSA members raised almost $2,000 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. |