|
How our CSA works
You agree to purchase a "share" of food produced
in our gardens. We have three levels to choose from and two seasons to
choose from.
Each week, your share of fresh organically grown
produce is delivered to your door. 2 coolers are assigned to you. When
we drop off your order we swap out the coolers. The one we picked up is
cleaned and stored for use again next week.
The location of your cooler is important. You
need a spot that is shaded in the summer, will be accessible to us when
you are not home, and is secure from dogs, if you have any.
Delivery time is on
Tuesdays between 2-5 pm. Your produce is waiting for you when you
get home from work or are just about to start making dinner.
We also ask that you take part in our composting
program. If you choose to participate, each week we will deliver along
with your produce a composting bag. During the week, you fill the bag
with any compostable kitchen scraps you have (the bag provides
instructions about what you can or cannot put in it. Put the composting
bag in your cooler (inside a plastic bag, please) on Tuesday morning
and we will pick it up when we make our delivery and then put the
contents in our compost pile. This is a voluntary program and is provide
at no additional charge. It helps us to be more sustainable.
You will also get a weekly newsletter with
recipes and updates on what is going on in the gardens.
Read
a more
in-depth article describing CSAs.
Where do you currently deliver?
We only deliver to the southwest part of Colorado
Springs: Ivywild, Cheyenne Canon, The Broadmoor and Skyway. Please
see a map of our delivery area
to see if we can deliver to you.
Will I know what I am going to receive each week?
We cannot give you an exact amount of each item.
Please see sample shares here. We post on our website a list of produce that will be
available
each week so you will know what to plan for when making your other food
purchases.
We also have an extensive
list of recipes on our
website that will help you use your share to the fullest.
How much does it cost?
The cost depends on the level and season you
select:
Sprout shares at ($34 a week) are for family of
4...2 adult vegetarians or 2 adults and 1-2 veggie loving children.
 |
$1300 |
SOLD OUT
Full-Season
38 weeks long; March through November |
|
$715 |
SOLD OUT Summer Season 21 weeks long; May through
September |
Half-Sprout shares ($23 a week) are for 2 adults
and 1-2 moderately veggie-oriented children or 1 vegetarian
|
$875 |
SOLD OUT
Full-Season
38 weeks long; March through November |
|
$485 |
SOLD OUT
Summer Season 21 weeks long; May through
September |
Seedling Shares ($16 a week)
are for 1
adult...or a couple who does not cook every day
|
$610 |
SOLD OUT
Full-Season
38 weeks long; March through November |
|
$335 |
SOLD OUT
Summer Season 21 weeks long; May through
September |
When is my enrollment due?
Enrollment forms are due by December 1. We need time to plan our gardens for the season and
determine how much to grow based our the number of shares sold. See
the application form for our CSA.
Enrollment forms are processed on a first-come basis. If all our shares
are sold out when we receive your form we will put you on a waiting
list.
What if I go on vacation, or have to be out of
town on the delivery date?
You can either make arrangements to have a friend
or neighbor pick up your delivery that week or arrange for Lettuce Patch
Gardens to donate your weekly share to a local food pantry. If you
prefer the donation option, please let us know at least a week in
advance.
How do I know the produce that is grown is really
organic?
We are not currently a certified organic grower.
But we can assure you that we are committed to organic growing methods
and would not expose you or your family (or ours) to any chemical
fertilizers or pesticides. If you are serious about becoming a member of our CSA, we invite you to
make an appointment to tour our gardens and see for yourself how we grow
our produce.
The Risks
Market Gardening is a risky business and there
are no guarantees regarding the quantity and quality of produce
harvested each season. As a small scale organic grower we are not covered
by government support programs that provide payments to large scale
farmers in the event of crop loss. Our CSA members make a pledge of
financial support to the garden for one growing season which allows us
to continue growing even when we suffer crop loss due to hail, drought,
frost, insects and other natural events. Refunds are not given for any
reason.
We are available to answer all of your questions
by e-mail or phone or in person at the gardens to ensure that you are
comfortable with your decision to become a CSA member.
The Rewards
People in the community "join" the garden as a
non-working member. Members make a commitment to treating yourself
and your family to a 21 or 38-week diet centered around fresh,
organically grown produce that nourishes the body and spirit. By
shifting a portion of your current weekly food purchases from the corporate food system to our local, family operated,
organic gardens you will be creating powerful change in our community
and our world. CSA is about more than just vegetables.
|
