Information
2012 Indian Ridge Farm Community Supported Agriculture Informational Sheet
What is a CSA? CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, a concept in farming that began in Europe and Japan in the 1960s. In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farm becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or “shareholders” of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season — distributed in a weekly “basket of goods” — as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. This is an important point: Quantities and items in baskets of goods cannot be guaranteed. The shareholder, like the farmer, is accepting some of the risks inherent in farming. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing.
What a CSA is not: Lately consumers have been offered an array of what the provider describes as a “CSA.” The term is being loosely applied to various enterprises. Specifically, some of these providers have web sites where you can order your food for delivery later that week. Food is then procured by the provider from various entities, individuals and farms from throughout the region. We want to be clear that while some of the products may originally be grown by that CSA and while other products in the “basket” might be locally grown, this is not in keeping with the original concept of a CSA. These enterprises are nothing short of grocery stores on wheels, or a distribution system for food.
Here at Indian Ridge Farm & Bakery we are proud to uphold the original intent of what a CSA was: “A CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.” By joining a CSA you are making a financial, supportive and spiritual commitment to a piece of land and its farmers. Being a CSA member allows you to develop a relationship with the farmers that grow your food, and with the soil, air and water with which it’s grown. You are also developing a more intimate relationship with the peculiarities of the farm’s unique growing conditions — which are affected by altitude, weather, climate, etc. We are not providing a grocery store on wheels or a food delivery service. Your commitment is much deeper than that.
What can I/we expect in a basket of goods? The CSA at Indian Ridge Farm & Bakery is unique in that members will receive not only FRESH organically grown vegetables and salad greens (assuming no blights, grasshopper infestations or major drought!), but also pastured poultry raised and processed on the farm, organic bread and granola from the bakery, and eggs laid by pastured, grass fed layer hens. Included in the membership are weekly pick-your-own-flowers. We also offer special “fruit shares,” with fresh organically grown fruits provided by New Leaf Orchard near Delta. By diversifying the items in the basket of goods, we can minimize some of the vagaries found in farming. Shareholders have some flexibility in deciding what goes into their baskets. Please be aware that quantities of veggies and fruits in baskets will vary depending on what’s “in-season.” Baskets are generally lighter in the spring and get larger by mid-season and throughout the fall. The core of every share will be the vegetable share, with meat, egg, bakery and fruit shares added on. Value-added products, meaning additional products offered by the farm for sale apart from the weekly basket, include, but are not limited to other baked goods, additional chickens and turkeys, and sides of pork, beef and lamb. Cuts of grass-fed beef will be available for sale at the farm.
When are baskets available? Baskets are available weekly from the week of Tuesday, June 5 through the week of October 9, a 19-week season.
What are share sizes? We offer two share sizes: a medium share and a small share. All baskets will have a commensurate amount of fresh, organically grown vegetables. Pastured eggs, bread, granola, and for meat lovers, varying amounts of chickens and an end-of-season turkey can be added to your share.
What if I/we don’t eat meat? Chicken- and turkey-less shares are available.
How much do the extra fruit shares cost? We partner with Eric and Rosemerry Trommer, who have transitioned their orchard into organic fruit production in Dominguez Canyon near Delta, to provide our shareholders with fresh fruits during the growing season. For an extra $160 you will receive 14 weeks of fresh fruit, beginning with cherries in June, followed by apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears and apples. You can plan on about 3 (three) pounds of fruit per week, to be included in your basket of goods.
How do I go about getting lamb, pork or other meats? Simply fill out the attached order form and send in your deposit. We also accept bulk chicken orders in the fall for winter storage. Cuts of grass-fed beef will also be available at the farm.
Do I have to volunteer for my share? Each adult member must work two hours on the farm at some point in the season (you can always volunteer more if you wish!). This assists the farm with labor and helps members to understand the process by which they receive their produce. We will need help on a weekly basis with distribution, harvesting, weeding, sorting and washing eggs, and other chores. There will also be scheduled workdays for other larger projects, such as infrastructure improvements, planting potatoes and preparing beds for planting. Members will be receiving more information and a signup sheet before the start of the season. Be aware that community workdays are scheduled for Saturday, May 19 and Saturday, Sept. 29.
Are work shares available? Yes. We offer a very limited number of “work shares.” At a minimum, members are required to work one day a week, four (4) hours per day for the 19-week season. Members have a choice of working in the garden and with livestock, or on Wednesday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help process chickens and turkeys. The work share includes a small vegetable share with chicken and turkey, eggs, bread and granola. Workers will also share in a communal lunch at the farmhouse on their workdays. Please note on the sign-up form if you are interested.
How will i be kept informed? We communicate through a weekly newsletter emailed to members. Part of your commitment to us as farmers is your responsibility to read the weekly newsletter. This is how you can stay informed (that makes our lives easier)! Communications include the newsletter, a weekly recipe idea and a poem from laureate Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. Also look for some updates on our web site, www.indianridgefarm.org, esp. “fresh” content provided by our interns.
When do I get my basket of goods? We strongly encourage pick-up of baskets of goods here at the farm. That way members participate more in their food production by watching the farm evolve throughout the summer; it’s also great for the children. By visiting the farm you can also take advantage of “pick-your-own” flowers and herbs. We will help members coordinate cooperative pickup schedules for neighborhoods so that households may only have to do the pickup every four or five weeks. Pickup is on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon). Please designate your preferred pickup on the CSA signup sheet. We will be emailing a list of other CSA members at the beginning of the season to help you be in contact with other members and facilitate the formation of pick-up groups. We strongly recommend that pickup groups be no larger than five (5) households. This season, baskets will be filled by the farmers and interns for all pickup members prior to their arrival.
What if I want delivery? For a seasonal fee of $150 we will deliver baskets of goods to the Farmer’s Market in Telluride on Fridays; Ridgway residents may be able to have delivery to Ridgway on Saturday mornings, at a time and place to be determined. Fees will cover our gas, mileage and extra labor costs, mainly having to do with extra harvests and assembly of baskets.
Is there an installment plan for share payment? Of course, we prefer full payment at time of registration. However, we do offer an installment plan. One-third of the balance is due at time of registration. The remaining balance will be split into two payments, due May 15 and June 15.
What happens if I’m away on vacation? You have several options: 1) Donate your basket to a friend; 2) Donate your basket to a needy family, through the WIC program (we will arrange that); 3) Let us know through email if you don’t want the basket for a given week. You are fully responsible for the distribution arrangements of your basket while you’re away!
What other activities are planned at the farm? Apart from the weekly pickup, visitors are always welcome here at the farm (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-noon, and 3 p.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-noon). We will have a spring workday on Saturday, May 21, and a fall harvest festival on Saturday, Oct. 1. We plan to hold workshops on canning and freezing.
Will Indian Ridge Farm & Bakery still attend regional farmer’s markets? Yes, we will still be at the Telluride Farmer’s Market on Fridays.
Donations to needy families: Over the years, because of generous contributions from members, we’ve been able to offer a weekly basket of goods to several needy families in the region, which is organized by the county’s WIC program. We plan to continue that again this season.
Our pledge to members: To grow and make available to members wholesome and healthful produce, meats and baked goods, free from chemicals and other harmful substances, at a fair cost; to care for the natural resources of the land — water, air and the soil —upon which members rely; to offer the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the farm and to share in the community of the members who help sustain it; to help preserve agriculture in San Miguel County’s West End; to help educate adults, children and young people about the importance of knowing where your food is grown, and how.
