FAQ

CSA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION (FAQ)?

What is a CSA?

When is my membership payment due?

Why should farmers need my support?

How does the CSA benefit me?

Do I have to volunteer? Can I volunteer?

Can I purchase a half membership?

Can I split a membership?

When does the distribution of boxes begin?

Can I pay in installments?

What do I do if I am on vacation or am unable to pick-up my box?

Is there a deadline for signing up?

How do I pay for my membership?

What will I get each week?

Q: What is a CSA?

A: Community-supported agriculture or CSA is a partnership between consumers and farmers. CSA members participate in farming by purchasing advance "shares" of a farm's annual harvest, and picking up their weekly share of the harvest during the growing season. Paying for a season in advance supports independent, local farmers in two ways: it provides capital early in the season, when it's most needed for things like seeds and equipment; and it guarantees sales, freeing the farmer to concentrate on growing, instead of marketing and selling. Consumers benefit by ensuring that a supply of high-quality, fresh, local food is always available.

Q: When is my membership payment due?

A: Although we encourage full payment to be made prior to May 1, we will still be taking memberships until we are at full capacity for 2008. Advance payment allows us, the farmer, to concentrate more on growing, by spending less time on marketing and financing. Today, local farmers compete directly against mass-produced, chemically-grown "cheap food", and heavily advertised food products and outlets. CSA guarantees sales, and provides cash at the beginning of the season when it's most needed for purchasing seeds and maintaining equipment. Partnering with local farmers through CSA helps to level the playing field, and ensure your own supply of quality fresh food from year to year.

Q: Why should farmers need my support?

A: CSA is NOT a charity, it is a simple supply-and-demand business partnership to ensure food security for people who want food of a certain quality at an affordable price, and can't get it otherwise. The simple and sad truth is that it has become extremely difficult for a small farmer to survive by producing fresh, locally-grown food as a full-time occupation. Over the last few decades, farming has become Big Business. Most "fresh" food is mass-produced hundreds or thousands of miles away, in factory-like conditions, with huge machines or lots of low-cost labor, tons of toxic chemicals, heavy reliance on hybrid plant breeding (including genetically modified seed), and all sorts of other unnatural practices that produce cheap, durable, standardized food products. If you'd rather eat fresh, tasty, nutritious, locally-grown food, you can't just walk into your local supermarket, you have to do something about it, like work with your local small farmers, who are essentially competing directly with huge agribusiness players. CSA prices are usually below supermarket prices for organics.

Q: How does the CSA benefit me?

A: 

• You know where your food comes from and how it was produced.
• You get high quality fresh produce (often organic, depending on the farm), at an affordable price.
• You make a significant contribution to improving the environment, by buying into agriculture that makes a minimum use of outside resource (and by not buying into agriculture that relies on large amounts of energy and synthetic chemicals).
   
• You support your local economy, by buying your food from a business that in turn spends within the same region and community.
   

Q: Do I have to volunteer? Can I volunteer?

A:  Unlike many CSA's, we do not require a volunteer commitment. We do, however, welcome and encourage volunteers. We have a few special fun and productive member workdays. If you'd like to help out at other times or have a special skill or interest that you'd like to share with the farm, let us know.

Q: Can I purchase a half membership?

A: No. Chestnut Acres Limited only sells full shares. If you would like to split a share with a friend, you may arrange to do so (see below).

Q: Can I split a membership?

A: Yes. Many of our shares are split between two or more households. If you split a share, one shareholder must pick up the entire share at one time at the pick-up site each week. You can plan to meet your share partner at the farm (or carpool if you’d like) to pick your own vegetables, herbs and flowers; or you can alternate weeks with your share partner if that is more convenient for you. If you purchase a delivered share we will deliver it to only one location for the additional $3.00/week delivery charge.

Q: When does the distribution of boxes begin?

A: Our 20-week Summer CSA distributions will begin on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. The final distribution of the summer season will be on Saturday, November 1,2008.

Q: Can I pay in Installments?

A: Yes. Although we prefer to have payments in full as soon as possible (so we can cover our operating costs) we also understand that the CSA system doesn’t always work with life’s other money allocations. So if you want to become a member and are concerned with how to pay, give us a call and we can work something out.

Q: What do I do if I am on vacation or am unable to pick-up my box?

A: CSA members may have a guest pick up their food while away or if unable to pick up their share box.  We ask you to let the farm know in advance that a guest will retrieve your box.  This is often a great way to share some of the harvest with friends, family or neighbors. If no one picks up your share or no one is home during delivery the produce will be donated to a local food charity.

Q: Is there a deadline for signing up?

A: There is no deadline for signing up for the season.  All our shares are sold on a first come basis and are available until we are sold out.  It is best to consider signing up early in order to not miss out.

Q: How do I pay for my membership?

A: You may fill out our online form indicating that you would like a membership. Upon receipt we will confirm that a share is available and mail you an invoice for the share amount. When you receive the invoice send us a cheque for the amount of the membership and any delivery charges should they be applicable.

OR

You may call us at any time and we will mail you an application. You then need only fill out the application and return it with a cheque.

Q: What will I get each week?

A: A variety of veggies from these categories will be included each week as they mature with the season.

Early in the season boxes are typically lighter than in the fullness of summer when boxes bulge with bounty.