CSA

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What is a CSA?

We would like to invite you to join our CSA program for the summer of 2019!

CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture.” In the spring, members purchase a share for the 22 -week main season. Each week, members receive a selection of seasonal produce harvested at the peak of flavor and quality. A CSA is a mutually beneficial partnership between Members and Farmers. At its heart, the program relies on members and farmers coming together as a community to share the risks and rewards of local food systems.

• Potential Risks– Natural risks are inherent in food production, and it is possible that some crops may fail or be damaged due to poor weather, drought, disease, or unexpected frost. We grow a diverse array of crops in order to mitigate this risk; if one crop fails, we have more!

• Rewards– varied seasonal produce of the highest quality and nutritional value, community building with farmers and other CSA members, sharing in the bounty of bumper crops, and assurance that your food is being produced ethically

Thank you for your interest in our CSA. Together we will eat well and continue to strengthen our community!

Your farmers,

Allison, Kerry and Ryan

Dirt Rich Farm will act in good faith to:

• Provide fresh produce for the duration of the season
• Support the health of our members, soil, and watershed by not using synthetic fertilizers or herbicides.
• Promote diversity on the farm to naturally limit our exposure to pest and disease.
• Utilize appropriate season-extending techniques to mitigate weather (e.g. covering fragile plants with row fabric in case of frosts)

Member Responsibilities:

Stay Informed

We encourage all members to educate themselves about the working of our CSA program by thoroughly reading this page as well as the weekly CSA email that will be sent out during the season on the day you pick up each share. The email may contain important information about the week’s share, news from the farm, and inspiration for meals using the week’s produce.

Pick Up Your Share

To ensure the freshest produce, we time our harvests according to our pickup schedule. As a CSA member, it is important that you pick up your share at the designated time and location. We do understand that life happens, so further below you will see options you can choose if, for example, you know you will be out of town for a week or two. If you do miss a pickup and do not notify us at least 24 hours before, your share will be donated and we cannot refund you for that week.

Our Shares

Dirt Rich Farm’s CSA Program is a 22-week season  – Season runs from May-October. Shares are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis. As an added bonus, we are collaborating with nutritionist (and CSA member) Jenna Bee. Jenna will be sharing great recipe ideas with members throughout the season inspired by Dirt Rich Farm produce. To see Jenna’s recipes from 2018, check out our Farm-Fresh Recipes section of the website.

We also have an optional Bread Add-on for those who would like to also receive a weekly freshly-baked loaf of bread when they pick up their CSA. You can lean more about the bread add-on by clicking here.

Vegetable Share Contains 5 to 10 fresh items each week. Produce includes roots, vegetables, greens, salad mixes, culinary herbs and a very limited amount of fruit. Items are selected by seasonal availability, quality and freshness.

• Full Share – $700 – Produce for 1-4 people. (Weekly pickup)
• Half Share – $375 – Produce for 1-4 people. (Weekly pickup)
• Quarter Share – $200 – Produce for 1-2 people. (Every other week pickup)

What does a CSA share look like?

For 2019 we are planning to grow over 90 different varieties of crops. Here is a sample list of produce that may be available at different parts of the season. Remember that this is a tentative list and weekly shares contain 5 to 10 items based on seasonality and availability.

Example Shares

Dirt Rich Farm CSA Pickup Locations, Days, and Times

Our 2019 season will begin the week of May 13th and wrap up during the week of October 7th. CSA pickup locations are:

• SE Portland – Thursdays, 5pm-7pm
• NE Portland – Wednesdays, after 4pm
• Canby – Tuesdays, 4pm-7pm
• Silverton – Tuesdays, 5:15pm-8pm
• TBD

If you are an employer and are interested in hosting a CSA drop-off for your employees, please contact us at csa@dirtrichoregon.com.  We would love to be a part of your organization’s commitment to health and sustainability!  Our goal is for all members to enjoy their share each week.  We understand that life happens and we are happy to work with you.  Otherwise unclaimed shares will be donated and there is no refund for unclaimed shares. If you cannot pick up your share:

• Arrange to have a friend or neighbor pick-up your produce!  Please notify us with a text, call, or email in advance so we can welcome your friend.
• If you know you will be out of town and you notify us with at least a week’s notice (the earlier the better), we may be able to not harvest your share for that week and harvest a double share the following week when you return.

If you are not planning on having a “share sitter” pick up your produce, please notify us at least 24hrs before pickup so we can adjust our harvest accordingly. Please remember that there are no refunds for missed shares.

Dirt Rich Farm CSA Payment

After signing up for the CSA by filling out the membership form, you will receive a welcome email that will also include specifics on how to pay. Members can pay with a check, credit card, Paypal or using SNAP benefits.

SNAP Benefits

In collaboration with the Portland Area CSA Coalition, Dirt Rich Farm can accept SNAP benefits as payment for the 2019 CSA.  SNAP benefits are only available for vegetable shares and not for add-on items and at this time. SNAP payments are structured as follows and occur on the day benefits are received (between the 1^st and the 10^th):

If a participant loses their benefits during the season they must arrange an alternative form of payment in order to successfully complete the season.
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