Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an innovative marketing tool for farmers, which
allows the consumer to pre-purchase a "share" of the harvest for the
season-thus creating a mutually supportive relationship between local farmer
and community members.
If you purchase one share you become a member of Batten Bay Farm. You can
expect to receive a portion of our harvest once a week for 22 weeks with the Full Growing Season Share, 13 weeks with the Spring/Summer Share, and 9 weeks with the Fall Share.
Below we hope to answer any questions you may have about our CSA, and don't miss the slide show at the bottom!
What is in a share?
When
you purchase a share you are provided with food from our harvest each week.
A share varies depending on the season and the vegetables available at that
time. Below is a sampling of what could be in a share:
Spring/Summer
spinach, onions, beets, greens (kale,
mustard & turnip), peas, radishes, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, summer squash, green beans, eggplant, tomatoes, sweet corn, okra, cantaloupes, potatoes, peppers, zucchini, watermelons, carrots
Fall
winter squash, summer squash, beets,
leeks, greens (collards, kale, mustard & turnip), cabbage, sweet
potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, pumpkins, lettuce, okra, radishes, pak choi, brussel sprouts, broccoli,
mizuna
What is the size of a share?
A full
share is roughly a paper grocery bag 3/4 full depending on the type and
availability of vegetables at that time. You can expect to get 6-8
different items. It should be
enough for 2 adults and 2 children, or 2 adults who eat a large quantity of
vegetables. We have 75 full shares
available for 2012.
A partial share is enough for a single adult or 2 adults eating vegetables once
or twice a week. You can expect to
get 4-6 different items. We have
25 partial shares available for 2012.
An extra-large share is a combined full and partial share.
Shares can vary each week due to weather, disease, pests, and other such natural occurrences. It can start out smaller in quantity at the beginning of the season and then increase in abundance during peak harvest time.
How
will I get my share?
Shares
will be picked up on Wednesday's at Batten Bay Farm between 4-7:30 pm.
Each
Wednesday shareholders will bring their own bag to the farm. Produce will be available in a
market-style setting. Rather than picking up a prepackaged bag of produce,
shareholders will load their own bags with the designated quantity of what’s
available.
Due to the
high time demands of the farm, we are unable to deliver to other locations.
We encourage alternating pickups with other shareholders and hope this will
make our CSA's convenient for people throughout Hampton Roads. If you
would like to volunteer to make pickups please contact us and we will try to
coordinate with other customers.
What is
the cost?
Prices for
all natural, locally grown produce are not comparable to standard grocery store
prices. Although not certified
organic, Batten Bay Farm follows all organic growing practices which are much more labor intensive and produce higher
value products.
Batten Bay Farm is offering a variety of CSA options to meet the needs of all our customers.
You can choose to do a summer share, a fall share, or both and there will be 3 available size options. Below is a brief overview of each option, all prices include tax.
Full Growing Season Share:
Extra Large Share: $925, discounted to $900 if paid in full by March 1.
Full Share: $625, discounted to $600 if paid in full by March 1.
Partial Share: $400, discounted to $380 if paid in full by March 1.
Spring/Summer Share (May 23 - August 15)
Extra Large Share: $585
Full Share: $390
Partial: $260
Fall Share (September 19 - November 14)
Extra Large Share: $405
Full Share: $270
Partial: $180
How do I pay
A $100
non-refundable deposit is required by March 1, 2012 with the balance due on
May 1, 2012. For the convenience of those who wish to, payments can be
made in installments on the 15th of each month from Feb. to May with the full
amount to be paid by May 1, 2012. Payments can be made in cash or by
check, made payable to "Batten Bay Farm."
You also have the option of paying with PayPal. PayPal charges a fee per transaction. The cost has been added to the prices in the drop down menu below. If you choose this option, please remember to complete the corresponding CSA Agreement below.
| Share Type |
| |
Does
Batten Bay Farm have other items available?
Batten Bay
Farm raises laying hens and eggs will be available on a first come first serve
bases to CSA members.
We should
have seasonal fruits and vegetables available that are grown or produced at
Batten Bay Farm or by other local Virginia farmers. Produce from other farms is grown using minimal IPM
(integrated pest management); however, it may not be grown using the same
strict practices Batten Bay Farm follows.
We will have artisan breads available from West Pierhead Bakery. Bread must be ordered in advance.
We also
have naturally grown beef and pork products available from Windhaven Farm in
Windsor, Virginia. These products
must be ordered in advance.
Are there risks?
The
shareholder does share in the potential risk of unlikely weather or pest damage
that could impact the harvest. We will make every effort to supply each
customer with their weekly share, as our goal is to have satisfied customers
that want to return year after year!
What happens if I am unable to pick up my share?
If you
are unable to pick up your share you have a couple of options: you are
welcome to have someone else pick up your share, just let us know in advance OR
your share will be donated to local area food banks and shelters.
Each season we plant according to the number of shares we have and we are
unable to provide additional shares to accommodate missed weeks.
How do I become a shareholder?
If you are ready to
commit to a share download and complete the appropriate agreement below. Return it to Batten Bay Farm with your $100 nonrefundable deposit. Checks can be made out to "Batten Bay Farm." The balance for your share must be received by May 1, 2012.
If you are interested in learning about farming, volunteers are always needed and welcomed!
If you have any further questions please feel free to email or call us directly. If you would like more general information about CSA's Local Harvest is a wonderful resource, http://www.localharvest.org/csa.