Red Shirt Farm CSA

There are numerous benefits to being a CSA member at Red Shirt Farm:

-You have the privilege of eating vibrant, just harvested nutrient-dense produce. Say 'goodbye' to wilted greens and tasteless tomatoes.

-You will be exposed to new varieties of vegetables including heirlooms and enjoy learning to cook with them.

-You will be feeding yourself and your family chemical-free produce.

You will get to know your farmers and make new friends with other CSA members who share your interest in eating healthy.

-Your choice to buy local reduces the environmental impact of "food miles" when produce is shipped thousands of miles to grocery stores.

-You will experience substantial savings over buying organic produce in the supermarket, from farmers' markets or from high-end boutique markets.

-You will be supporting local farmers and ensuring that the farm will be economically sustainable to keep providing you food year after year.

On the day and time frame you have chosen (either Tuesday from 4:30-7:00pm or Saturday from 9:00-noon), you come to the farm and park up by the house. The distribution area is under a shed roof off the side of the barn. Sarah or Jim or another member of our team will be there to greet you. On a chalkboard you will find a list of the vegetables that are available for the week with a column showing the quantities for a full and partial share. You may take up to that quantity but do not need to take more vegetables than you think you can use. The vegetables are attractively displayed in bins beneath the chalkboard. You select the vegetables you like and place them in your bag. Feel free to cut flowers and herbs as they come in season. Enjoy the animals and the beautiful surroundings. That's it!

If you have ever searched for farm shares near me to experience a unique way of accessing fresh, organic produce directly from the farm, you have come to the right place.

By becoming a CSA member you are doing more than purchasing a weekly share of fresh produce; you are contributing to the sustainability of Red Shirt Farm. You are committing to support the farm through good times and bad to ensure that we will be here to grow food for you for years to come. We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. We use irrigation, row cover, integrated pest management and other sustainable practices to minimize the risk of crop loss. Despite these efforts, the quantity of produce may vary from week to week and season to season due to extreme weather, insects or other production factors. As a Red Shirt Farm CSA member you agree to share the risk of crop failure with us and your fellow members.

No. We do not refund your money if there is a crop failure. Please read the answer to the previous question if you have not already done so.

Yes. We offer a "market style" CSA distribution of all the vegetables that are ready for harvest that week which means that you get to select the vegetables that you prefer. All of the vegetables are displayed in bins and on a chalkboard above the vegetable bins is a list of the maximum quantities that you may take for the week. If cauliflower is offered and you don't like cauliflower, you don't need to take it. If you can take 2 lbs of beans, but you only need 1 lb, then leave the rest behind. Vegetables you don't take may be left in the "share" bin for other CSA members. Anything not taken at the end of the distribution will be donated to a food pantry or fed to the chickens or pigs if it's just a small quantity.

Yes, for the most part. We strive to provide equivalent shares to everyone whether you come to the pickup on Tuesday or Saturday and whether you have a Full Share or a Partial Share. Occasionally, certain vegetables may be in short supply and we reserve the right to allocate them as we see fit, but everything balances out in the end.

Please notify us at least 48 hours in advance if you will be unable to come to the CSA pickup on your chosen day. There are a several options:

1. You may have someone else pick up your share. Again, let us know at least 48 hours in advance who will be coming in your place.

2. If you can come the following day, we will put your share in a bin in the walk-in cooler and you may pick it up then. We can do this on occasion but prefer not to make it a habit.

3. With at least 48 hours notice, you may switch your pick-up day to the alternate day (either Tuesday or Saturday). We prefer that you pick one day and stick with it, but we can accommodate occasional changes.

4. You may pick up a "double share" the preceding or following week; however, members often find that they cannot use all of the vegetables.

No. Pickup happens rain or shine. The vegetables are under a large shed roof attached to the barn, so you'll be dry during your pickup. If it's raining hard, bring an umbrella for your walk from the parking area to distribution area.

Pickups are on Tuesdays from 4:30-7:30pm and Saturdays from 9:00am-noon. We ask that you pick a day and try to stay with that day throughout the season. If you need to change your day one week, we ask that you give us as much notice as possible, but at least one day in advance. If you realize that the day you chose is not working out and need to change your pickup day permanently, just let us know and we'll make the switch. What we want to avoid is frequent changes back and forth between days.

Yes, you may with some stipulations. First, CSA shares represent a substantial portion of our farm income and we encourage you to purchase the share size that meet your household's needs. A Full Share is perfect for a small family who eats a normal amount of vegetables or a couple who enjoys a vegetable-centric diet. A Partial Share will meet the produce needs of 1-2 adults. We ask that two separate households each buy a Partial Share rather than splitting a Full Share. However, if you are a single person who can't eat all the vegetables in a Partial Share, by all means, split the share with another person. If you do split a share, we need to know who you are sharing with. You are responsible for how the share will be divided and we prefer one payment for both parties.

Yes, you may combine shares in any permutation you choose—multiple Full shares, multiple Partial shares, or a combination of Full and Partial shares.

One of the nice things about a CSA is that you are exposed to vegetables you may not have had before. Alternatively, you may find that you actually enjoy the just-picked, perfectly ripe version of a vegetable you don't like when you buy the wilted, frozen or canned version of that same vegetable from the store. That said, you're never expected to take something you don't like—just leave that vegetable in the bin or put it in the "Share Bin" and another member will be thrilled to get "extras."

No. Unlike some CSA's, we do not require that you work as part of your membership. However, some members love to get their hands in the dirt and volunteer occasionally to assist with weeding or other tasks. We welcome volunteers but ask that you call ahead and schedule so we are available to work with you or get you started.

Yes. We encourage you to bring your own bags, boxes or cooler to carry your vegetables home. However, we do supply recycled plastic shopping bags in case you forget your own.

Yes. We request a payment to reserve your membership. If you cannot pay in full at the time of registration, you may make a $50 deposit and pay the balance by March 1. We don't want to turn anyone away because of financial need. We can work with you on a payment plan. We are also working with Berkshire Grown's Share the Bounty program to provide subsidized shares. In addition, we accept SNAP and HIP benefits. Please contact us with any questions.

Yes. We make our own compost and would welcome your vegetable scraps. Complete the cycle by turning Red Shirt Farm vegetables into Red Shirt Farm compost.

We love dogs and have two of our own. However, there are many animals on the farm as well as other CSA members and their children who may not be as comfortable around your dogs. We ask you to assess your own dog—if s/he is very well-behaved around animals, adults and children, you may bring him/her to the farm. Your dog must be on a leash and restrained by you at all times. If s/he he gets overly excited by all the farm stimulation, we ask that you return your dog to your car.

You are welcome to come early and enjoy the farm—visit the animals and pick flowers and herbs or just relax in the shade. However, the distribution area will not be ready for you to get your vegetables until the appointed start time: 4:30pm on Tuesday and 9:00am on Saturday. We are usually rushing around getting vegetables out of the cooler or arranging the distribution area, so, we don't mean to be rude, but we probably won't be able to chat until distribution gets under way.