FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
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HOW CAN I GET YOUR HARVESTED VEGETABLES?
Our farm fresh food is available for those committed members who pay the seasonal
membership fee for a weekly supply of produce during the growing seasons. As a CSA
member, you will be able to pick up your box or bag of veggies at the farm, usually a
few short hours after they have been harvested from our fields.
membership fee for a weekly supply of produce during the growing seasons. As a CSA
member, you will be able to pick up your box or bag of veggies at the farm, usually a
few short hours after they have been harvested from our fields.
HOW CAN I BECOME A MEMBER
Our farm fresh food is available for those committed members who pay the seasonal
membership fee for a weekly supply of produce during the growing seasons. As a CSA
member, you will be able to pick up your box or bag of veggies at the farm, usually a
few short hours after they have been harvested from our fields.
membership fee for a weekly supply of produce during the growing seasons. As a CSA
member, you will be able to pick up your box or bag of veggies at the farm, usually a
few short hours after they have been harvested from our fields.
You can join as a new member, or renew your membership, by visiting our Join CSA Now
page. There you can fill out and submit the e-mail membership form. Then, to confirm
you membership and reserve your spot, you will choose one of two options to make your
membership payment. You can pay directly on our website by using the secure PayPal
button, or you can choose to send a personal check for the payment by regular mail.
Our address is on the membership page.
page. There you can fill out and submit the e-mail membership form. Then, to confirm
you membership and reserve your spot, you will choose one of two options to make your
membership payment. You can pay directly on our website by using the secure PayPal
button, or you can choose to send a personal check for the payment by regular mail.
Our address is on the membership page.
WILL YOU HAVE A WAITING LIST?
Each season is planned in advance from seed to harvest, and so there are a limited
number of member spots available. New membership is first-come, first-served based on
date of application and payment until we are full. If farm membership is full at the time
you send your application and membership fee, we can return your payment or hold it for
the next available space. For instance, if someone moves of drops out, then you can
move onto the list and only be charged a prorated fee for the remainder of the seasonal
harvest. Also, if crop production exceeds our expectations, we can open up additional
spaces for partial shares as the season progresses. So we do keep a waiting list.
number of member spots available. New membership is first-come, first-served based on
date of application and payment until we are full. If farm membership is full at the time
you send your application and membership fee, we can return your payment or hold it for
the next available space. For instance, if someone moves of drops out, then you can
move onto the list and only be charged a prorated fee for the remainder of the seasonal
harvest. Also, if crop production exceeds our expectations, we can open up additional
spaces for partial shares as the season progresses. So we do keep a waiting list.
Our goal is to provide a scheduled number of weeks of seasonal produce for you during
each major growing season. The seasons are:
each major growing season. The seasons are:
- Spring/Summer (12 Weeks)
- March, April, May, June, July
- Late Summer Break: The farm takes a 6-8 week break every year, depending
upon the weather. We take the time to prepare the fields and re-plant for the
Fall/Winter harvest. - Fall/Winter (8 Weeks)
- September (Late), October, November, December
- Late Winter Break: The farm takes a break to prepare the fields and re-plant for
the Spring/Summer harvest.
WHAT ARE THE GROWING SEASONS?
CAN I CHOOSE WHAT I RECEIVE EVERY WEEK?
We plan each season months in advance and provide an equal share for each of our
members every week. Due to seasonal availability, you cannot "pick and choose" what's
available. We strive to plant and harvest a wide variety of veggies. If there are some
items you care for more than others, you perhaps can trade some items with those
members that you see every week during pick-up at Garden Harvests Farm. To
understand better what will be seasonally available, please click to take a look at our
Harvest Chart.
members every week. Due to seasonal availability, you cannot "pick and choose" what's
available. We strive to plant and harvest a wide variety of veggies. If there are some
items you care for more than others, you perhaps can trade some items with those
members that you see every week during pick-up at Garden Harvests Farm. To
understand better what will be seasonally available, please click to take a look at our
Harvest Chart.
WHAT IF I'M OUT OF TOWN FOR ONE WEEK?
The crops still grow and we still need to harvest. So let us know if you'll be gone for a
week so that we can provide a larger share of the veggies for our other members.
Another possibility is that you can find someone, perhaps other family members or
neighbors, who can take and use your share. If you so choose, any share not picked up
will be donated in your name to a needy family in the area.
week so that we can provide a larger share of the veggies for our other members.
Another possibility is that you can find someone, perhaps other family members or
neighbors, who can take and use your share. If you so choose, any share not picked up
will be donated in your name to a needy family in the area.
IS YOUR FARM CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
No, we are not "certified organic," but we grow organically and naturally. We are
committed to using NO synthetic materials on our crops and our land, utilizing only 100%
natural fertilizers and pest controls, focusing on the health of our soils.
committed to using NO synthetic materials on our crops and our land, utilizing only 100%
natural fertilizers and pest controls, focusing on the health of our soils.
IS IT NECESSARY TO BE CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
We feel that the current "organic standards" are being watered down to allow big
business to get into this market while neglecting our local food economy and its original
intent. Besides using natural fertilizers and pest controls, our intensive management
programs include cover crops, beneficial insects, crop rotations, mulching, water
conservation, and producing the freshest veggies available within 50 miles and within 12
hours of harvest.
business to get into this market while neglecting our local food economy and its original
intent. Besides using natural fertilizers and pest controls, our intensive management
programs include cover crops, beneficial insects, crop rotations, mulching, water
conservation, and producing the freshest veggies available within 50 miles and within 12
hours of harvest.
WHAT ARE OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS?
Our farm can only supply so much. So we work with other local farms to supply our
members. We network with other family farms that are committed to the highest
standards in growing produce in an organic and sustainable way. We coordinate with
these farms in order to offer our members a larger selection of local food throughout the
year.
members. We network with other family farms that are committed to the highest
standards in growing produce in an organic and sustainable way. We coordinate with
these farms in order to offer our members a larger selection of local food throughout the
year.
WILL YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE?
Our Farmhouse Bakery & Store is your online resource for ordering natural raw milk
cheeses, free-range organic eggs, local raw honey, Texas olive oils, Fina's Finest salsa,
and more. You order by the deadline on any scheduled Monday, then pick up your order
at our farm on the following Friday or Monday when you pick up your CSA produce.
By early Spring, we will have finished building our physical storefront, with a certified
kitchen, bakery, customer area, and product display/coolers. So you can order ahead of
time, or pick up goodies on the way home.
cheeses, free-range organic eggs, local raw honey, Texas olive oils, Fina's Finest salsa,
and more. You order by the deadline on any scheduled Monday, then pick up your order
at our farm on the following Friday or Monday when you pick up your CSA produce.
By early Spring, we will have finished building our physical storefront, with a certified
kitchen, bakery, customer area, and product display/coolers. So you can order ahead of
time, or pick up goodies on the way home.
WHAT IS THE COST?
There are two different levels of membership:
- Our fee for a 12-Week Full Share membership for Spring/Summer of 2012 is $340
for 12 weeks of harvest. Harvest pick-up is every week. You will make an initial
down payment of $170 by January 31st, with the second payment of $170 due on
or before March 15th.
- The cost of a 6-Week Full Share membership for the Spring/Summer harvest is
$175. Harvest pick-up is every other week. The cost is divided into two
payments. The down payment of $100 will be due by January 31, 2012. The
balance payment of $75 will be due by March 15th, 2012.