Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for the public to buy locally grown food, create a relationship with a farm, and help to keep small farms in their community. Members make a financial commitment to the farm by buying shares, which provide the farm with the funds needed to grow and harvest the crops. The shareholders share the bounty with the farmer-when the harvest is plentiful the shares are large. However, just as when you buy stock in any company, CSA shareholders also take risks. If a natural disaster (such as hurricane or other weather-related condition or a major pest problem) destroys a crop, the shareholders bear the burden along with the farmer. Below you will find more information about how our program works. We also suggest that you read these tips given by Local Harvest about becoming a CSA member.

Sign up for the season   
When you sign up for our program (by signing up online during the registration period) you are subscribing for the entire season. This season will be 34 weeks long. During that time you will receive a mixed box of vegetables on a weekly or bi-weekly (every other week) basis. You may cancel your subscription at any time, but must notify the farm at least 48 hours in advance. EXCEPTION: If it is your first season and you cancel before the season ends, there will be a $20 service fee added to your balance due.

Two payment options
·         Seasonal pre-payment – pay for the entire season in advance by Sept. 1, 2011 and receive a discount (refer to Prices/Payments)
·         Monthly payments – pay monthly and receive, via email, a monthly statement showing all current invoices and payments to-date.
Payment for October boxes is due September 17, 2011. Subsequent monthly payments are due on the first day of each month for that month's boxes, in addition to any ‘extras’ you purchased the prior month. Basically, you are paying for boxes 1 month in advance and ‘extras’ the month after purchased.  Monthly Invoices are calculated by work weeks (work weeks are 5 days of the week even if 2 months are included in that work week)  so your monthly payment may include dates from 2 months.   
The first monthly payment of the season – for October boxes – is due by September 17, 2011.
Accounts not paid by the second week of each month will not receive a box until we receive payment. 

Two box sizes
We have two box sizes: large and small, which can be picked up at the farm or delivered to your home or office (within our limited delivery area).

Skipped boxes
If you have to skip a box, you must notify the farm at least 48 hours in advance in order to receive a credit on your account, donate it to the local food bank or have someone else to pick it up for you. If you do not notify us and a box is prepared for you, you will be charged for the box. If you know that you will be going away for a period of time, you may notify us even months in advance, and we will skip the applicable days and you can opt to either donate those skipped boxes to the local food bank or we will credit your account on the day of the skip. 

Vegetable preferences
The vegetables that you find in your box will vary from week to week depending on what we are harvesting at that time. We are not a supermarket so you will not be able to pick and choose the vegetables in your box. However, when you sign-up you may list up to 4 vegetables that you wish to exclude from your box and 4 items you like.  (If there are many things on our list that your family does not like or cannot eat, this is probably not a good way for you to buy your produce.) If available, we will substitute your 'excluded' vegetables with the vegetables you like when packing your box. You also have the option of ordering extra items (at an additional cost) to be added to your regular box - refer to below 'Ordering Extra' Items section.

Weekly Newsletter
Your subscription includes a weekly newsletter listing the contents of the box for that week and information about the farm, tips on how to use the vegetables, and other important announcements pertaining to your subscription. You can opt to read the newsletter online or have it emailed to you. The newsletter for the upcoming week is posted on the 'Subscriber' web page or emailed every Sunday evening to give you an idea of what will be included your box. However, sometimes weather changes or pest problems cause changes during the week.  Reading the newsletter will keep you informed about what is going on at the farm. All newsletters are posted and archived on our 'Subscriber' web page. When your application is accepted, you will receive a password to access the 'Subscriber' web page.