Join our CSA

Blue Heron Farm 2012 CSA Shares
18 weeks of Fresh, Local, Organic Food at an Affordable Price!!

How does a CSA work?

In a CSA, community members pay for their season’s produce (a share) upfront in the spring, and receive fresh, seasonal, certified organic produce throughout the harvest. In farming, most of our costs of production are incurred in the spring, with seed purchases, seedling production, and soil preparation. In a CSA, members of the farm help out by helping the farm pay for some of these upfront costs.

This is a mutually beneficial relationship between you, the member, and us, the farmers. In return for your help, we provide you with great organic produce at a lower than market price, as well as the opportunity to know where your food comes from, to know the people who are raising your food, and the opportunity to be able to ask questions about your food and see where it is grown. While a share entitles you to the bounty of the harvest, it also means a share of the risk. On occasion a crop may fail due to weather, pests, disease, or other conditions beyond our control. As a CSA member, you share the risks of farming with us, your farmers, the way it should be in a local food economy.

When does it happen?

The CSA will run for 18 weeks, from early June until October. Members pick up their weekly share on Monday nights from 4-6:30 PM at BHF in Grand Isle. There will also be a dropoff/pickup site on Thursdays in Ft Ethan Allen in Colchester, Pinewood Manor in Essex off of Rte 15, CCV in Winooski, School St in Burlington. There is a nominal fee for delivery to help cover our costs of packing, time, & fuel.

What can you expect?

Here is a sample list:
  • June: The first fruits of the season, such as carrots, beets, beet greens, spinach, sugar snap peas, chard, kale, salad greens, pac choi, bunching onions, and garlic scapes.
  • July: As the summer heat comes on favorites will arrive, such as squash, zucchini, tomatoes, sungold cherry tomatoes, eggplant, onions, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, kale, chard, green beans, herbs, red cabbage, broccoli, and limited pick your own flowers & veggies.
  • August: All tomato varieties, sweet and hot peppers, more potatoes, beans, salad goodies, sweet corn, cukes, zucchini, summer squash, and onions, cantaloupe and watermelon; garlic, PYO veggies & more!
  • Sept. and Oct.: Onions, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, green beans, pumpkins, salad greens, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, winter squash, and hopefully a second harvest of peas and spinach. And plenty of other veggies, herbs and flowers throughout the season.

This is just a sampling of the veggies we grow - many of the veggies are heirloom varieties.

During the growing season there are times of adequate and then over the top production - that is just the way the season goes - so there maybe times you maybe going over the average - it is not unheard of to have the option of filling your basket with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, etc or go pick cherry tomatoes, ground cherries and green beans to your heart's content. That's the beauty of being part of our farm -you get to share in the bounty just as much as we do.

How much is a share?

Our membership prices are based on a sliding scale honor system. We believe people of modest means should have access to wholesome organic food. We also have to make a living ourselves. So, we have three prices for the Full & Individual Share offerings. If you can pay the highest price, please do. If you cannot, then choose a lower option. You also receive a newsletter each week full of recipes and BHF happenings.

  • Full Share. This share provides an average of $40 worth of produce per week at market prices (That’s more than $700 worth over 18 weeks.) : $575/$625/$650
  • Individual Share. This share provides an average of $25 worth of produce per week at market prices. (That’s more about $450 worth over 18 weeks: $375/$425/$450
  • Salad Share. **New this year** This share provides an average of $12 of produce per week at market prices. This share is perfect for those who want some salad greens, some quick snacking veggies or simple veggies/fruit that have little fuss: $200
  • Working Shares: There are working shares available for a reduction of $50 per share (work 5 hours a month June, July, August, September). Limited payment plans are also available.
  • Supported Shares available for folks who financially need help in obtaining a share. Supported share members pay half the cost and BHF fundraises the other half from the community and NOFA-VT. If you can, please think about contributing to the supported share program.

Download the brochure and application form by selecting:

 

This Link


For further information please contact us:
Christine Bourque and Adam Farris,
34 Quaker Road
Grand Isle, VT 05458
802.372.3420, email: harmonyvt@yahoo.com

Send Mail