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FAQ'S or Frequently Asked Questions
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What kinds of vegetables do you grow?
We grow over eighty different varieties of vegetables each season. In the spring we have lighter and leafier crops such as lettuce, kale, spinach, swiss chard, peas and radish. Your classic summer favories such as carrots, cucumbers, beans, peppers, tomatoes and onions join us in mid-season. Heavier and warming crops like potatoes, winter squash, garlic, celeriac root, rutabega and celery round out the season in the fall. We grow all of the vegetables that you’re familiar with and then some. You you will find your favorite veggies in your CSA box at the appropriate season that they can be grown in in Southwestern Wisconsin. Keep in mind that the success of each crop varies from season to season dependant largely on the weather, disease and insect pressure.
What will I receive if I buy a share?
Each week you will receive a share of the farm harvest in a ¾ bushel wax produce box delivered to your designated drop site location. The CSA aspect of the farm is about 90% of the farm business, so we distribute the majority of our harvest to the CSA members who we value most among our markets. Some crops may do better or worse, depending on the natural elements, so your share size could vary. As a CSA participant, you share the risks and blessings with us the fate of the unpredictable farm season. Generally, one summer share will provide approximately two servings of 5-10 different vegetables per week. The average number of pounds per share week is 16. You will also receive our weekly newsletter via e-mail full of recipe ideas, news from the farm and information about storage for your veggies.
If I want to split a share with a friend, will you split our box for us?
No, we do not split your share for you. This would simply be too much extra handling for your dear farmers to have to coordinate. We have around 160 CSA members, and we cannot customize every box. You may want to bring a cutting board and a knife to your dropsite with you and cut your cabbages, melons and large roots in half. Some weeks you might only get one red pepper, and if you both love red peppers, gonna have to cut it in half!
What if one share is too big/expensive for me?
If you think that a Summer share will be simply too much food for you or your small family but you still want to find a way to join a CSA farm and support your local farmers, consider splitting a share with a friend. You can split each box every week or alternate weeks picking up the share. Check the community forum to see if there is anyone else looking to split a share in your same town or at your same dropsite. You can always use this opportunity to preserve the summer bounty by canning, freezing and drying your excess produce depending on how much time and energy you reserve for projects such as this. Take local eating to the next level and preserve!
How and when do I get my share?
You will pick up your share at the dropsite that you sign up for when you purchase your share. We have several different drop locations in La Crosse, WI., Onalaska, WI., West Salem, WI., Sparta, WI., Viroqua, WI., Lancaster, WI., Madison, WI., and Dubuque, Ia. The boxes are delivered on Wednesday afternoons between 1-and 5 pm, depending on which drop site you have chosen. The shares are delivered in wax produce boxes that we re-use from week to week. We prefer that you take your veggies home in a paper, plastic or cloth bag or box of your choice and leave the produce box at the drop site so the farm can pick it up the following week. If you MUST take the box home, you may, but please be sure to return the box to the dropsite the following week undamaged.
What if I can't get my share during a particular week?
We do not offer replacement boxes for weeks that you miss. We do not double-up your produce the following week and we cannot keep track of each members personal pick-up schedules. If you think that you will not be able to pick up your box you can send a friend, family member or fellow CSA-er to pick up your box for you without needing to let us know. If you cannot find anyone to pick up your box for you and you know in advance that you will not be able to make it, send the farm and e-mail at least 48 hours in advance and we will cancel your delivery for that week only.
Should I get a Full Share or a Half Share?
Starting in the spring of 2010, we decided to simplify our lives and only offer one size CSA share-a Summer Share. The summer share can feed 1-3 adults who incoperate a healthly serving of vegetables in their diet on a daily basis. The Summer Shares are delivered weekly in a 3/4 bushel box. Our shares are designed to be something in between a "half share" and a "full share".
Are there any other kinds of shares?
We do offer a Fall Share that is an additional cost to our summer share where you can sign up to receive storage quantities of your favorite fall veggies such as carrots, potatoes, onions and squash. |
Can I work for all or part of a share?
Absolutely! See our Worker Share Page.
Are you a Certified Organic Farm?
We are now! We have not been a certified organic farm in the past, but we have been raising our vegetables following all of the organic standards since the birth our CSA. This is part of our philosophy as farmers to mimic as sustainable of a farm ecosystem as possible in today's age when farming is so dependant on the petroleum industry. We know that we go above and beyond the requirement for organic standard in many ways! We love to be quized by people who just want to know more about their food! We belive that you deserve to know everything about where your food comes from.
Can I come visit the Farm?
Any ol' time, sure! But we ask that you contact the farm and let us know you're coming at least 48 hours in advance. We have daily schedules and routines that we strive very hard to stick to, it some times throws us off to have visitors come un-announced. If we know you're coming and you would like to pitch in for a couple hours, bring your work boots along and we'll try to have something planned where you can be part of the farm for a few hours!
We do have an end-of-the-season Potluck where all members and friends of the farm are welcome to come and tour the farm, socialize and eat as community members. This is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your favorite farmers!
Do you accept Interns?
We have not accepted interns in the past and are not completely opposed to the idea. We may be interested in accepting a live-in intern. We ourselves were interns for 6 years before we decided to make the leap to purchase our own farm and start our own CSA. We have only hired neighbors on occasion to help us out of too heavy of work loads and had family members work on the farm in the past. We are not at a stage where we are hiring hourly workers or actively seeking out apprenticeships. |
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