CSA FAQs
WHAT IS COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA)?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.
It's a commitment between individuals or families and farmers, where people buy into the farm as members at the start of the growing season, and in exchange receive a weekly share of the farm's harvest.
WHY JOIN THE RED FIRE FARM CSA?
- Enjoy fresh locally grown vegetables. Our careful variety selection
and organic growing practices bring out the very best in flavor!
- Help us compete with environmentally detrimental industrial food producers
from distant regions.
- By supporting Red Fire Farm, you also benefit the local economy. Red
Fire Farm both provides jobs and also recycles money by purchasing
supplies from other local businesses.
- We don’t use chemicals, synthetic pesticides or herbicides on our
vegetable fields.
- You become involved in a community of farmers and eaters committed to healthy food and a cleaner environment!
What is picking up a share like?
You will come each week to the same location to pick up your share. At most pick up locations, produce is displayed on tables farmers' market style so that you can select the items that you want within the weekly guidelines. It helps to bring your own reusable bags or containers to take home your produce. A coordinator will be there to check you in and answer any questions about the vegetables and how to cook them.
Pre-packed boxes are offered during November and December at some of the distributions when the weather is cold.
WHAT SIZE IS A VEGETABLE SHARE?
Vegetable shares generally consist of about 10 lbs of assorted produce per week, although the share size does fluctuate depending on the time of the season and success of individual crop plantings.
In general, shares are lighter early in the season because most of the crops are still growing and sizing up. By midsummer and fall, the shares are abundant and diverse with a wide spectrum of tasty produce.
The vegetables in the winter portion of the Full Season Share (the portion also called Winter Share) are mostly root crops, onions, squashes and others that store well, although there are still plenty of greens later on too. Each winter share consists of 14-20 pounds of mixed produce.
HOW MANY SHARES DOES MY FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD NEED?
Usually, a family or household of 2 - 4 people can eat a share without much trouble. Small households can freeze, dry or can extras. Large households should seriously consider purchasing two shares.
CAN I SPLIT A SHARE OR DO YOU HAVE HALF SHARES?
We do not sell half shares, but it is fine if you’d like to split a share with a friend or co-worker. Some people split the share after pick-up or you can go one week and your friend the next.
When you sign-up, please make sure to include the names and contact info of any one who will be coming to pick-up for the share, as well as all the e-mail addresses of folks who want to receive the newsletters and updates.
WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE IN THE CSA?
We offer the vegetable farm shares, Flower Shares, Fruit Shares, and Egg Shares.
Please visit the CSA Options page for an overview of what we have and to see the details on each option.
WHAT VEGETABLES DO YOU GROW?
We basically grow every kind of vegetable that grows well in this climate. You can visit our Recipes page to see the diversity of produce we grow and get ideas of how to cook it.
We also have a season chart that shows you the general availability of produce throughout the season.
How does pick your own (PYO) work?
Additional produce of certain crops (peas, beans, basil, cherry tomatoes, herbs, strawberries and cut flowers) are also available to all CSA members for Pick-Your-Own at the farm in Granby at no additional cost.
Current Pick Your Own information and amounts will be posted in the barn and specific details about how to pick will be sent out early in the season in the weekly newsletter emails. Each weekly e-mail will also list what crops are ready for PYO.
Boston area and Montague members can come and pick larger amounts at one time.
Pick Your Own is for CSA members and Farm Stand members only. Not open to the general public. Though it is great to bring your friends with you when you visit to pick.