Are you interested in fresh, locally grown, chemical-free vegetables and can't make it to the Bloomington or Normal farmers markets?
If so, you should join the Blue Schoolhouse Farm 2008 CSA! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It’s a way to connect consumers directly to a farmer who will supply them with freshly picked, local produce for an entire harvest season. The way it works is that you pay for a share of our farms produce at the beginning of the growing season and then you get weekly deliveries of 5-7 different vegetables every week for 24 weeks. The types of vegetables vary with the season, but everything is picked the day it is delivered to the CSA pickup. A typical weekly share will fill a large paper grocery bag. One share will feed two vegetarians or four people on a mixed diet for a week.
If so, you should join the Blue Schoolhouse Farm 2008 CSA! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It’s a way to connect consumers directly to a farmer who will supply them with freshly picked, local produce for an entire harvest season. The way it works is that you pay for a share of our farms produce at the beginning of the growing season and then you get weekly deliveries of 5-7 different vegetables every week for 24 weeks. The types of vegetables vary with the season, but everything is picked the day it is delivered to the CSA pickup. A typical weekly share will fill a large paper grocery bag. One share will feed two vegetarians or four people on a mixed diet for a week.
How to become a member: The CSA runs from May 28 – November 5 with weekly pick-ups on Wednesday night from 5-6pm in Eureka (Location to be determined). One share in the CSA costs $382 (24 weeks @ $15.50/week + $10 cookbook). Full payment is due by May 28. Send a check made out to the Blue Schoolhouse Farm at 550 County Road 1625 E, Congerville, IL 61729. Throughout the season we will post a weekly blog to give you updates on the trials and tribulations of raising three acres of vegetables and two small, rambunctious boys.
More info on the CSA: At the Blue Schoolhouse Farm, we use absolutely no chemicals or GMOs, which makes the produce that much healthier for you and your family. What would your weekly box of produce look like?
Spring means the crisp, fresh veggies that you’ve been craving all winter: lettuces, spinach, arugula, green onions, broccoli, carrots, radishes, green garlic, turnips, and beets.
Summer brings the mouth watering classics like tomatoes (I could go on all day about Bill’s 24 varieties of heirloom tomatoes and their indescribably delicious flavors), summer squash, green beans , potatoes, green, yellow, orange, and red bell peppers, cucumbers, garlic, sweet corn, watermelons, muskmelons and basil.
Fall is like spring in reverse, but with a few additions: leeks, parsnips, brussel sprouts, celery root, sweet potatoes, and winter squash.
Spring means the crisp, fresh veggies that you’ve been craving all winter: lettuces, spinach, arugula, green onions, broccoli, carrots, radishes, green garlic, turnips, and beets.
Summer brings the mouth watering classics like tomatoes (I could go on all day about Bill’s 24 varieties of heirloom tomatoes and their indescribably delicious flavors), summer squash, green beans , potatoes, green, yellow, orange, and red bell peppers, cucumbers, garlic, sweet corn, watermelons, muskmelons and basil.
Fall is like spring in reverse, but with a few additions: leeks, parsnips, brussel sprouts, celery root, sweet potatoes, and winter squash.
Frequently asked questions:
1. Why do members have to pay up front for the season? There are a few reasons. First, as a farmer I need to know how many people I am growing food for. Second, as a member of a farm CSA, you are taking part in the risks and rewards of a full farming season. Third, your membership fee helps cover the seasonal start-up costs, which include seeds, mulch, drip tape, greenhouse supplies, and much more.
2. How does the price of a CSA compare with grocery store prices? Depending on what's in a weekly share, the cost is typically about the same as at the store or considerably less. This is particularly true if you're looking at organic produce (if you can find it!). On top of that, the quality of our produce can not even be compared with the industrial produce found in the stores.
3. Why can't members choose which vegetables they'll get every week? The record-keeping for that would be incredibly time-consuming. Instead, I choose the vegetables that are at their peak ripeness and flavor each week for your share. This strategy also helps me manage my crops at maximum efficiency. For example, if the forecast is calling for a drop in temperature, you will see heat-loving veggies in your share that week.
4. Can I visit the farm? Sure! We just need a little bit of notice since we're not always at the house. There are also times in the week and season where we are just too busy to stop working. We usually try to have members out to the farm at least once in a season.
About our farm: We are a small but diverse vegetable farm in Woodford County, about 4 miles southeast of Eureka. We are entering our 6th season of growing and selling vegetables. We sell our produce at the Bloomington and Normal Farmer’s Markets and to local restaurants and a grocery store. Our market stand is very well known among the local “foodies” because we have such a spectacular array of high quality, hard-to-find vegetable varieties. This year we will grow more than 120 varieties of 40 different vegetables.
Call us (Mercy or Bill Davison) at (309) 467-9228 or email us at blueschoolhouse@yahoo.com for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment