CSA Member AgreemenT
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership between the farmer and you with both of us sharing some of the risks, as well as the bounty, of the farm. This CSA member agreement outlines our shared commitments for our CSA season.
1. Milkweed Farm (MWF) CSA
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MWF is not certified organic; however, our farming practices meet or exceed the national organic standards. We do not use synthetic chemical herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers. In fact, we do not even use organically certified pesticides because of the danger to native pollinators.
We use minimal tillage, cover crops, mulch, and compost to preserve and enhance soil structure and health. We are committed to transparency in our growing practices. We welcome our members, and anyone else, to visit and take a tour of the farm to see what we are up to.
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The following is a list of some of the produce we expect during the year. This list is not all-inclusive, as we grow many different types of vegetables and it is based on our best estimate. Weather, pests, and other events will affect actual production and thus the variety and quantity of produce provided.
May/June: Asian greens, arugula, baby lettuce, beets, broccoli raab, cauliflower, chard, garlic scapes, kale, peas, radishes, scallions, spinach and turnips.
July/August: Beets, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, lettuce, peppers (hot & sweet), potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, and zucchini.
September/October: Beets, brussels sprouts, carrots, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, turnips, and winter squash.
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Members will receive a weekly allotment of vegetables at their designated pickup time and location. The CSA season runs for 21 weeks, from roughly mid-May to mid-October. We will email members in the early spring regarding our exact start date.
Members are responsible for picking up their shares each week at Milkweed Farm in Westminster or at the Root Social Justice Center in Brattleboro, or at Brewbakers Cafe in Keene. More detailed information about share pickups is described below.
2. Sharing the risk of crop failure
We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. We use irrigation, row cover, integrated pest management, and other sustainable practices to minimize the risk of crop loss.
Despite these efforts, the quantity of produce may vary from week to week and season to season due to extreme weather, insects, or other production factors.
We work hard to provide you with the full amount that you pay us for and the number of items you expect - however, due to circumstances out of our control - you may ocasionally see a week with 3 items instead of 4 (half share) or 6 items instead of 8 (whole share). We will keep close track of this and make sure to make up the difference in items in future pickups.
By joining our CSA, you are agreeing to share the risk of crop failure with us and other members.
3. Picking up your share
You are responsible for picking up your share at your designated time and place each week. Members pick up between 3:30-6:30pm on Tuesdays either at Milkweed Farm or at the Root Social Justice Center in Brattleboro or on Fridays at Milkweed Farm.
These times are firm—we will begin on time and pack up and clean up promptly on pickup days. CSA days are long and start at sunrise for us—we have kids to put to bed and evening farm chores to tend to, even on CSA days!
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We encourage you to bring your own bags, boxes, or cooler to carry your vegetables home. However, we do reluctantly supply recycled plastic shopping bags in case you forget your own.
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If you are unable to pick up your share, we encourage you to ask a friend or family member to pick up your share in your place. Please do your best to explain how CSA pickup works to that person (parking, how many items to take, etc).
If you can’t send anyone in your place, please give us as much advanced notice as possible so we can adjust our harvest list —ideally, at least 24 hours.
If you miss your pickup we will donate your food to the Putney Food Shelf.
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If your pickup is on the farm, you are welcome to come early and enjoy the farm—check out the pear orchard, walk the paths in the fields, or just relax in the shade. However, the distribution area will not be ready for you to get your vegetables until the appointed start time: 3:30 pm on Tuesday.
If you pickup at the Root, please do not arrive before 3:30.
If you pick up at Brewbakers, we encourage you to arrive early and give them your business. The coffee and food are excellent! However, CSA boxes are only available for pickup between 3-5pm on Thursdays.
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Pickup will happen rain or shine; it will not be canceled due to inclement weather, unless there is an extreme weather event.
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We are unable to hold onto vegetables for folks who miss their pickup. We generally donate “leftover” vegetables to the Putney Food Shelf so the food does not go to waste.
4. Safety AND Logistics
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The Root Social Justice Center and Brewbakers Cafe are generously opening their doors to us to use their spaces as CSA pickup locations.
Please respect their space and do not leave behind refuse or belongings. If ever you have a CSA related question direct it our way, do not contact the Root or the Cafe with Milkweed Farm questions or concerns.
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On the farm, we have a single-lane driveway. Please drive slowly.
If there is a car coming in the opposite direction you may need to reverse so another car can pass.
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On the farm there are several parking options (lookout for the signs!), up the driveway to the right across from the greenhouse or in front of our three bay barn.
Please make sure that you are not blocking anyone’s exit. Exercise caution when backing out.
At The Root, please park in the adjacent parking lot.
At Brewbakers you can park in the spaces in front of the cafe or in the Emerald Street lot next door (anywhere it says Brewbakers/Nova Arts Parking).
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We do our best to minimize risks to you and your family when you are visiting the farm; however, we are a working farm and it is impossible to eliminate all hazards.
Uneven ground: Please exercise caution when walking around the farm—especially in the fields where there may be potholes, slippery grass, or other tripping hazards.
Electric fence: We use electric fences to contain animals and protect them from predators. We try to turn off all sections before CSA pickup; however, to avoid an unpleasant jolt you should assume that all fence is “hot” and don’t touch it without asking first.
Farm animals: We raise occasional animals - chickens, pigs, turkeys. They are fascinating to watch and we encourage you to do so. However, we ask that you do not feed them, pet them or enter their enclosures unless one of the farm staff is present.
Farm equipment: Please do not climb on, operate or move any farm equipment or tools.
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Visiting Milkweed Farm (MWF) is a wonderful experience for the entire family and we feel that every child should be able to see how their food is grown and how farm animals are raised.
We try to make MWF as family-friendly as possible; however, as outlined above, there are potential hazards for children.
Please supervise your children at all times. If you have older children, please discuss these guidelines with them.
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We love dogs and have one of our own. However, there are many animals on the farm as well as other CSA members and their children who may not be as comfortable around dogs.
We ask you to assess your own dog—if they are very well-behaved around animals, adults, and children, you may bring them to the farm.
Your dog must be on a leash and restrained by you at all times.
5. Payment
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By selling membership in advance of the growing season, CSA reduces the burden of up-front costs for the farmer. Your membership fees provide us with capital to purchase seeds and equipment before the season starts, and we appreciate your commitment.
All shares require a non-refundable $100 deposit due at sign-up. We encourage members to pay off their remaining balance by March 1st if they are able. You are welcome to pay for your CSA share in full when you sign up.
We feel strongly that everyone should have access to the nutritious food that we grow at MWF and we will work with those in financial need to make this possible. We offer payment plans for those on limited budgets. We provide subsidized shares through the NOFA Farm Share program. If you select the “will pay in weekly installments” we will invoice you weekly throughout the season. We will ask you to pay promptly each week and will require that you pay in full by the last pick-up in October.
Please contact us to discuss the options if you (or someone you know) would like to join our CSA.
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A 2-week trial period is offered to confirm suitability, as we understand a CSA Membership is not for everyone and every situation.
If in the first two weeks you decide to cancel your MWF CSA membership, we will give a prorated refund minus the $100 non-refundable deposit.
Please allow two to four weeks for your refund.
6. Communication
The best way to communicate with us is via email. Our general email inbox is milkweedfarmvt@gmail.com. If you prefer to call, our phone is (510) 314-9644. We will do our best to respond within 24 hours.
Please contact us with any news of the following: changes to your postal or email address, any week(s) you are unable to pick up your share, dissatisfaction with your share, or anything else you would like us to know.
For questions or concerns on pickup days (or any other day) please always reach out to us, never to the Root.
We will communicate with you by email. When you sign up, you will be added to our distribution list, which we will use to communicate important information about our CSA and farm events. Every week, we will email a newsletter giving you information about the crops available, recipe ideas, photos (when available), and other farm-related news.
Though unlikely, MWF reserves the right to change any part of this Membership Agreement & Guidelines document. I understand that MWF will contact me via email in advance of any changes to this agreement.