WELCOME to the
2009 season of the Seven Springs Farm CSA garden. Seven
Springs Farm has been in operation since 1991, and currently has about
4 1/2 acres in vegetables. We use organic and biodynamic
practices and are committed to producing high quality food for our
community and preserving our rural economy.
Sorry all CSA
vegetable shares are sold out for this year.
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PURCHASING A SHARE – You can become a member by purchasing a
share
in the farm’s harvest. The harvest begins Tuesday May 12, and ends
Saturday Dec. 19, a period of 32 weeks. Each week for 29 weeks within
that time period, you receive a variety of vegetables, the selection
changing as the season changes. Your 29 weeks of deliveries in a
32-week season provide you with the opportunity to skip any 3 weeks you
choose during the season for vacations, trips out-of-town, etc.
We offer two share sizes: a Full Share (8 to 16 lbs/week), and a
Half Share (4 to 8 lbs/week).
WORKING SHARE – Members who purchase a full working share commit
to 16 hours of farm work during the season while half share members
commit to 8 hours. The CSA work usually consists of harvesting
and bagging the produce and other garden chores. There are also
jobs available that do not involve physical labor, such as working on
the newsletter or organizing a field day event. Working gives you the
chance to connect with “your” farm, helps the farmers with some of the
more labor-intensive chores, and keeps your share price lower.
NON-WORKING SHARE – For an additional cost, full and half
non-working shares are available.
HERB SHARE – You may purchase an herb share in conjunction with
your vegetable share and receive 2 bunches of herbs each week. We
grow dill, cilantro, thyme, sage, mint, oregano, marjoram, rosemary,
and others. Parsley and basil are distributed to everyone as part
of the vegetable share.
PICKING UP YOUR VEGETABLES – You may pick up your food in
Roanoke, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Floyd, or at Seven Springs
Farm. Members share the responsibility of transporting the food
from the farm to their pick up location. This means you will be
scheduled to come to the farm 2 to 4 times during the season to pick up
the food for the members in your area. This is true for both
working and non-working members. Working members often schedule
their work hours on the day/s they pick up food at the farm. If you are
unable to take part in the pick up and delivery of food for any reason,
please contact us. (We can make exceptions.)
VEGETABLES GROWN ON THE FARM - Below
is a list of vegetables we grow, when they are in season, and the
approximate total number of pounds a half share member receives.
Remember that every season is different, so quantities and times vary
somewhat from year to year
CLICK HERE FOR CHART ON Crops, Approximate Quantities and
Harvest Schedule for a Typical Half Share for 2009
LOW INCOME SHARE FUND – Through the generosity of CSA members,
we have established a fund that allows us to give discounts to families
on limited incomes who want to participate, but cannot pay the full
price. If you are interested in making a donation to this fund,
please indicate this on your sign-up form. If you would like to
apply for a discount on your share, please check the ‘apply for a low
income share’ box.
SIGN UP – To become a member,
fill out the enclosed sign-up form. We advise joining quickly as
there is limited space available. Priority is given to returning
members. We accept new members on a first come, first served
basis using the date we receive the registration form and deposit.
PAYMENT INFORMATION – If you
can pay the full price of your share upon sign-up, please do so.
Pre-payment provides the working capital needed to purchase seed,
supplies, etc., and pay employee salaries for work that begins months
in advance of the first vegetable distribution.
If you cannot pay the entire amount at sign-up, you may use an
installment plan for which there is a $15.00 service charge, included
in the payment amount.
We offer a sliding scale of prices. You may
choose what you will pay within the range of prices given. The low end
of the scale is designed to cover the estimated budget for the year.
That budget allows for a yearly salary for the farmer of only
$18-$20,000. Since it is so difficult to make a living wage farming,
the sliding scale allows for those with the means to help subsidize the
farmer’s income modestly and also to make a contribution to the
low-income share fund. All money collected that is over the minimum
price is distributed 80% to Polly’s salary, 20% to the low-income share
fund.
Questions? Call Polly at 651-3226 or our bookkeeper Kim at
540-651-2046.
ADDITIONAL FOOD AVAILABLE FROM LOCAL
FARMERS– We are part of a network of small-scale farmers that
market locally, and we want to help provide opportunities for you to
purchase foods from other local farms. You will find forms
enclosed for fruit shares from Good Food for Good People (www.7springsfarm.com/fruitshare.html), egg
shares and a chance to purchase chicken, pork, turkey, and rabbit
directly from our neighbors, the Shannons at Weathertop Farm (www.weathertopfarm.com). We
all share a
common interest and reap tremendous rewards when we create and eat from
a local food supply. Quality food produced by our neighbors and
ourselves gives us greater security, better health, and builds a
stronger sense of community.
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Our budget is the basis for the
share prices, and is based on the farm’s current ability to produce the
equivalent of 50 full shares (or 100 half shares).
Depending
on the share option you select (full, half, working, non, etc.), your
weekly cost will range from $19.31 to $48.37.
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Estimated budget for 2009
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Capital Expenses
Head gardener labor
Other labor
Operating Costs
Supplies
TOTAL
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$2000.00
$20.000.00
$18,800.00
$ 5235.00
$12,900.00
$ 58,935.00
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Click
here for a chart of-
CROPS, APPROXIMATE QUANTITIES AND HARVEST SCHEDULE
We invite you to visit the farm. Directions
to the farm
Questions? call Polly @ 540-651-3226
Contact Polly via e-mail
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Home
Page / PRICES & SIGN UP
Locate a CSA farm in your state. http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/csalower.htm
Other CSA’s serving Roanoke
and the New River Valley
- Waterbear Organic Farm
Contact person:
Richard Ursomarso
Email: waterbearorganicfarm@yahoo.com
Website: www.waterbearfarm.com
- Good Food Good People
Contact people: Tenley
or Cole
Email: gfgpfruitshare@swva.net
Phone:540-745-4347
(mailbox#1)
- Blue Ridge Growers Cooperative
Contact person: Mike
Burton
Email: mikeburton7@hotmail.com
Phone: 540-651-2427
updated 4/23/09
by Ron
Juftes
