an effort of citizens for citizens for our home, our town, our planet
CSA: Community Supported Agriculture
We want to tell you of a wonderful opportunity for families
interested in reasonably priced, farm-fresh, organic veggies and
fruit*. This year Deann & Elisa were part of a small cooperative,
purchasing farm shares from Stoneledge Farm, in Cairo, NY. In exchange
for our upfront contribution to the farm, we were awarded with a weekly
delivery of amazingly delicious, varied produce. We were with a group
of 6 others, one of whom works near the pick up location in White
Plains. This member would pick up the shares & bring them to
Hastings & the rest of us would pick up our shares from her.
We thought, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have Stoneledge
deliver to Hastings? We contacted our farmer, Deborah Kavakos and
she could do it if we could fulfill a minimum membership of 40 shares.
We put out a feeler and we feel we will be able to fulfill this minimum
so Deborah has created an online registration/payment portal for a
Stoneledge Farm/Hastings CSA. And Grace Episcopal Church in Hastings
has a space they will graciously donate for the vegetables to be
delivered to and for members to pick up from. Details on how to
register for a share are below.
A bit about CSA's:
Members of a CSA directly support regional small family farms while
receiving the freshest organic produce. CSA members also have the
opportunity to visit the farm and help in the harvest twice during the
season - a great way for your kids (and ourselves!) to experience where
food comes from. Stoneledge Farm is in Cairo, NY, about 120 miles north
of Hastings. It is certified organic by the North East Organic Farming
Association of NY. You can read more about the farm and the CSA at:
Here are the details for 2009 CSA shares at Stoneledge Farm:
1 share = 8-12 lbs of certified organic vegetables (sampling of what was in a share this season is copied below)
season is mid June thru late November = 24 weeks
the price is $485 for the season; ($20.21 per week)
share is paid in full prior to start of season.
*there are fruit shares available in addition to vegetable shares ie. you cannot get just a fruit share
1 fruit share = $225 for 20 weeks of fruit, berries are certified organic and are from Stoneledge Farm, but the majority of the fruit is from local, neighboring farms and is conventionally grown. the Fruit Share starts 4 weeks later than vegetables.
Distribution of Shares:
Pick up schedule in 2008 was on Wednesday from 3:30-6:30. If we get a Hastings delivery, pick up times would be determined over the next few months, and the location will be Grace Episcopal Church in Hastings.
Full Details on Registration and Payment Options2009 How to register for a share:
If you want to become a member for 2009 please register online at www.Stoneledgefarmny.org.
Click on ‘CSA PROGRAM, Registration' and then on ‘Hastings CSA'. Follow the registration prompts. If you want to share a share, as Deann & I did, one of the sharers will register as primary share holder - there is a space to include the name and email address of sharer.
When you log into the registration page you will have
a couple of different options available for registration and payment. First,
choose the share(s) that you would like to reserve. Then enter all of your
contact information.
To Register for 2009 Fruit Shares: If you are also
registering for a fruit share and plan to pay at the same time as your vegetable
share, check off the box for the optional fruit share. Otherwise, e-mail Sustainable Hastings
with your fruit share size and we'll put you on a list to contact in March. By
then we should have a mechanism in place to enable you to pay on line.
There are a couple of different payment options.
Option 1 - Complete
everything online with a one-time payment
Make a one-time payment using
an electronic check or your credit card (all major cards are accepted) for the
full amount of the share(s). Follow the prompts. The CCV2 is the security code
on the back of most credit cards. Once all information is entered, you are paid
and registered. [NOTE: You can only pay by credit card online; you can't mail
Stoneledge your credit card number. Your merchant name or transaction
description on your credit card bill may appear as "FOR THE
PRODUCT."]
Option 2 - Pay using a traditional check
Make a
one-time payment using a traditional check. The check must be received at the
farm before January 1, 2009. To reserve your share prior to mailing the check,
register you name and contact information online at
www.stoneledgefarmny.org.
Option 3 - Pay in installments
Make 3
payments using traditional checks. The total amount of your share will be
divided in three parts with payment mailed directly to the farm by January 1,
February 1 and March 1. You will receive an email reminding you one week before
payment is due. To reserve your share prior to mailing the first check,
register you name and contact information online at
www.stoneledgefarmny.org.
If you use either of the paper check options,
please make sure that your check is received at the farm by January 1 or you
will lose your reservation. The address is:
Stoneledge Farm
359 Ross
Ruland Road
South Cairo, NY 12482
Below are a few lists of the bounty we got each week in 2008. June
29th
Scallions-1 bunch
Ty Fon Mustard Greens-1 bunch
Romaine Lettuce-1
head
Red Tide Lettuce-1 head
Grand Rapids Lettuce-1 head
Perpetual
Spinach-1 bunch
Baby Red Ace Beets and Greens-1 bunch
Genovese Basil-1
bunch
Red Vein Sorrel-1 bunch
July 9th
Summer Squash- 3
pounds
Cucumbers-long green-1
Boothby Blonde Cucumbers-short, pale yellow,
heirloom variety-2
Summer Spinach-1 bunch (what we formerly called Perpetual
Spinach)
Scallions-1 bunch
Oregano-1 bunch
Red Leaf Lettuce-1
head
Buttercrunch Lettuce-1 head
Orient Express Eggplant-3
Aug
16th
Slicing Tomatoes-2 pounds
Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes-1 basket
Walla
Wall Onions-2
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage-1 head
Black Bell
Eggplant-1
Summer Squash-2 pounds
Cucumbers-not sure yet, will send
amounts after Monday picking
Edamame-1 bunch
Bright Lights Swiss Chard-1
bunch
Basil-1 bunch
Jalapeno Peppers-take them if you like, 2 or
3.
Sept 17th
Black Bell Eggplant-2
Orient Express
Eggplant-2
Sweet Peppers-4
Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes-1
basket
Tomatillos-1 pound
Basil-1 bunch
Leeks-1 bunch
Summer
Spinach-1 bunch
Borlero Carrots-1 bunch
Jalapeno Peppers
Oct
15th
Garlic-2 heads
Beets-2 pounds
Carrots-1 1/2 pounds
Butternut
Winter Squash-1
Lacinato Kale-1 bunch-some call it Dinosaur Kale. Long, thin
dark green leaves.
Broccoli- 1 head
Escarole-1 head
Sage-1
bunch
Mustard Greens-1 bunch
Cauliflower-1 head
Nov
5th
Carrots-1 1/2 pounds
Purple Top Turnips-2 pounds
Sweet Potatoes-1
1/2 pounds
Red Russian Kale-1 bunch
Shallots-4
Sage-1
Baby Bear Pie
Pumpkins-1
Romanesco-1
Butternut Winter Squash-2
Sample of fruit
shares: Aug 4
Fruit Share-1 basket of Apricots and 1 basket of Shiro
Plums, 1 bag of Peaches
Sept 3
Fruit Share-Peaches, Nectarines,
Fortune Plums