Community Supported Agriculture
Sign up now! Our Spring session is in full swing, but it is not too late to join. We are also now accepting applications for our Summer Session, which begins May 25th.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for us to become more than producers and consumers, but rather partners in growing safe and healthy food, creating and sustaining community food security, and taking care of the land on which we all depend.
A CSA derives some or all of its support from members who contribute financially to the farm in exchange for a weekly share of vegetables. The farm receives payment at the beginning of the season which allows it to finance the planting of crops. Becoming a member of Piedmont Biofarm’s CSA means you share in both the risk and the abundance of the farm.
Members get the benefit of seeing where and how their vegetables are grown and picking up their vegetables at their freshest on the day they are harvested.CSA connects the food from the land we work to your plate.
Piedmont Biofarm’s CSA
We have been operating this CSA since 2007 with great success and hope to continue its growth and development. Joining our CSA program entitles you to a weekly share of our abundant and diverse harvest, including beautiful heirloom varieties of your favorite vegetables.
Spanning 45 weeks from February to December, our 2010 CSA season is one of the longest in the area and helps you eat fresh and local throughout the year. Our CSA season is divided into three 15-week sessions. Each 15-week session will cost $330 for full shares and $195 for half shares. Late registrations will be accepted until we reach capacity and will be pro-rated.
Every Tuesday evening from 4:00pm to 6:00pm members come to our farm, connect with the community, and collect their shares. Shares are not pre-packaged for members each week, instead members are invited to select between choices of different items to take home. Each share contains around 7 to 10 varieties of vegetables.
One share is estimated to feed 2 to 4 people. A half share is suggested for single person households. The price per week is $22, which includes a $2 administrative fee (organization, accounting, weekly email newsletter, etc.) Half shares cost $13 per week.
CSA Application: http://www.biofuels.coop/food/biofarm/csa/application/
For more information, send an email to: piedmontbiofarms@yahoo.com
Other CSA membership benefits
There is more to our CSA than wonderful food. A weekly newsletter will be sent out on Monday evenings with a farm update, a list of the next day’s share contents, a recipe of the week and storage tips for prolonging the edible life of your share.
Work-trade opportunities are available and members are encouraged to take advantage of this option. Four hours of help on the farm earns a member a free CSA share (one week). The credit accrued can rollover to the next CSA session, be donated to Piedmont Biofarm, or be refunded at the end of the session. Work-trade opportunities allow you to develop the relationship between you and your farmers, get to know where the food you eat comes from, dig your hands in the earth, and offset your share expense. Work-trade days are Tuesdays, Friday mornings and Saturday mornings. Please make arrangements with us by email or by contacting Jennie Rasmussen at (574) 210-1882 or Doug Jones at (919) 444-9680 before you arrive to work. No previous experience is required, and all are welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times. Creative work-trade contributions other than tending the farm are also available by special arrangement.
Expected Harvests
Mid-February through Late June:
Salad Mix, Arugula, Rainbow Chard, Salad Turnips, Cilantro, Parsley, Braising Mix, and Beets
Mid-February through Late May:
Spinach, Pac Choi, Radishes, Asian Collards, Head Lettuce, Green Onions, Kale, and Dill
Mid-February through Mid-April:
Sweet Potatoes, Chickweed and Garlic Greens
Mid-April through Late May:
Snap Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, and Carrots
Mid-May through End of July:
Cucumbers, Zucchini, and Summer Squash
June through August:
Watermelon, Cantaloupes, Sweet Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Lambsquarters, Amaranth, and Basil
Mid-June through August:
Hot Peppers, Eggplant, and Okra
September – December
Peppers, Eggplant, Beans, Okra, Chard, Kale, Collards, Pac Choi, Potatoes, Lettuce, Arugula, Spinach, Leeks, Carrots, Beets, Jerusalem Artichokes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Dill, Basil, Cilantro and Parsley
