2012 CSA Membership
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs have become a popular way for consumers to buy produce directly from local farmers. By taking part in a CSA program, the farm gets the benefit of an advanced working capital and has the ability to prepare for materials needed for production early in the year, such as seed and equipment. You also share in the risks of production by taking part in a CSA. In return for your membership, you will receive high quality produce and plants throughout the growing season of May to October, which has been grown locally on our farm.
We have two different forms of CSA memberships, so you can choose what suits your lifestyle. Option 1 is purchase a full share harvest basket. This basket is designed to feed a family of four and provide a variety of produce each week from mid-May to mid-September (or 17 weeks). You will receive between 6-10 different vegetables each week as they are in season. There are no substitutes, but you can add to your share. A benefit to this is you will be able to try some of the different crops we are growing to broaden what we offer at the market. The cost for the full share is $340. We will also offer a half share of the same basket for those who do not need as much produce for the season. The half share is exactly that, the same basket with half the amount of produce for 17 weeks. The half share will cost $205.
Option 2, is that the member can purchase Garden Dollars, or market credit. Your credit will be tracked throughout the growing season as you make your purchases at the Farmers Market or on the farm. A great advantage to this, as an ‘al la carte’ method CSA, is that you are able to purchase your produce or other items at your convenience, which should limit any waste from unused produce. You can miss a week without having a basket of vegetables that you will not be able to use. You will have the option to purchase what you need and when you need it, to best suit your family’s needs. All market credits will have to be used during the 2012 growing season and can be used from May to October. With the initial purchase of these Garden Dollar memberships, we will increase your market credit by 10 %, like shown below:
Purchase Credit
$100 ------ $110
$150 ------ $165
$200 ------ $220
$250 ------ $275
$300 ------ $330
$350 ------ $385
$400 ------ $440
With these Garden Dollars, we will keep an account for you and keep you updated on your balance. Each week, we will send out an e-mail with the produce and greenhouse items we have available. You can pick up your produce/greenhouse items at the Farmers Market and shop ‘al la carte.’ With these Garden Dollars, you can purchase from a wide variety of produce and other items that we have available from May through October (see attached list). You can also add to your account at any time throughout the season, but no later than August 31st.
For 2012 full payment is due by February 15th. We may be looking to limit the memberships at a certain point or accept more memberships later than this date as well. Pick up locations will be at the Rensselaer Farmers Market on Saturdays from 7 to 10:30 AM or on the farm on Saturdays from 11 AM to Noon. If you let us know a week in advanced that you will not be able to pick up your basket, we will give you $15 in market credit. If we cannot be at the market on a Saturday, we will make arrangements with you to get your basket to you, maybe a few days early. If you simply do not show up to the market to pick up your basket, and after attempts to reach you, your basket will be donated.
These CSA programs provide a great opportunity to connect you, the consumer, to the family that produces your food. It’s also a great way to support your local farmers. We would like to thank you for your consideration of our new program and hope that you take part in this opportunity to connect with the local family farm that produces your food.
Scott and Stacy Walker
Walker Farms
Rensselaer, IN
219.863.0627
219.956.4781
The CSA Garden Dollars can be used on any of our produce, garden furniture, annuals and perennials, pumpkins, mums, and any other items that we sell.
The following are some of the produce offered. Will be in CSA market baskets and available at Farmer’s Markets when in season
Arugula, Snap Beans, Wax Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Salad Mix, Green Onion, Sugarsnap Peas, Snow Peas, Peppers (Green, Red, Hot, Sweet), Potatoes, Radishes, Spinach, Summer Squash, Winter Squash (Butternut, Acorn, Spaghetti), Chard, Strawberries, Turnips, Tomatoes (Red, Cherry, Roma, Early), Cilantro, Basil, Thyme, Oregano
We also will provide Apples, Peaches, Gooseberries, and Blueberries
We are at the Rensselaer Farmer’s Market Saturdays 7 to 11 AM. Scheduling on farm pick up is also available.
In the fall, visit us at Walker Farms Fall Harvest Days, on weekends, the end of September through end of October. We also have a wide variety of gourds, decorative and carving pumpkins, small and large Indian corn, corn shocks, and straw, in addition to our fall produce.
Information on our Fall CSA (7 weeks) and Winter online produce ordering will be available later in the growing season.
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Visit our blog: walkerfarms.blogspot.com
