How to Join
Our regular priced CSA Shares and half-price subsidized shares for low-income households are now SOLD OUT for the 2012 season. If any shares become available leading up to the start of our share distributions in June, they will be offered to people on our wait list. Wait list members will also get first priority for 2013 shares that become available after our renewal process this fall. Our wait list is currently very small, as we were able to offer everyone on it in 2011 shares for 2012. To join the wait list, become a member! Or, if you already and organizational member - just let us know you’d like to be added to the wait list.
CSA veggies are grown by us using organic practices on 15 acres of leased land and in partnership with several growers we trust, including Picadilly Farm, who contributes a range of organically grown veggies toward our shares and Verrill Farm, who contributes IPM corn.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIP:
All shareholders (including any households splitting a share) are required to be current dues-paying members of our non-profit organization. If you are not already a current member of Waltham Fields Community Farm, we encourage you to purchase a 2012 membership when you register for the CSA. WFCF memberships are $25 donations that are fully tax-deductible and help support our our charitable programming. We will send you a confirmation of this donation for your taxes.
SPLITTING SHARES WITH OTHER HOUSEHOLDS:
While we design our summer share for one household, you can split a share if you like; each household splitting the share needs to be or become a dues-paying member of our organization. If you are considering sharing a share with a neighbor or friend, we ask that before you decide, you read the information on splitting a share on our website. If you are splitting a share, please decide which household you would like to be the “primary shareholder” (the name you check in under each week when you pick up the share); this household will “own” the share and have the opportunity to renew each season. Other households splitting the share are termed “secondary shareholders”.
2012 SHARE DESCRIPTIONS
Food For All Summer CSA Share: $700
Help us grow our food access programs! Purchase your summer CSA share with an extra donation to promote our food access efforts. Contributions made through Food For All Share purchases will support half-price summer shares for low-income families and subsidized produce at our Outreach Market. $75 of your Food For All Share is tax-deductible; each Food For All Share contributor will receive a donation acknowledgment.
Food For All shares make a difference! In 2011, ten families received CSA shares at half-price through this program. One of them wrote us: “In 2011, I was fortunate to get one of the subsidized shares that the farm offers each season. This community service truly opens doors and exposes low-income individuals and families to the joys of locally sourced food grown with organic methods. Having this share made a difference to my life and will help impact the food choices that I make for years to come. It’s amazing to think of all the people who enjoy food from the farm and it makes me smile to think about your positive impact in Waltham and in the greater community.” Click here to learn more about our Food Access Programs.
Summer CSA Share: $625
A range of seasonal vegetables, including some pick your own crops, distributed each week for 20 weeks from mid-June through late October (please see below for pick-up dates and times). Shares will include 8-9 crops per week, distributed in a Mix-and-Match format at the farm, in addition to pick-your-own crops that you harvest yourself from the field.
Half-Price Summer CSA Shares for Low-Income Households: $312.50
We have a limited number of CSA shares available at a reduced cost for low-income households. We ask that half-price shareholders be within the income guidelines for the federal school lunch program and WIC, although they need not be enrolled in these programs. You can find the income guidelines Here.
For more information about our half-price shares, please contact
Right now, we anticipate that Summer CSA pick-ups will begin on Tuesday, June 12 and end on Saturday, October 27. We will send out an email before the summer share begins in order to confirm the start date, but please put June 12 in your calendar and keep an eye on our website for updated information as well.
Summer Share Distribution Dates:
Please see our CSA Overview page for more complete information about summer pick-up days and hours, as well as our shareholder orientation schedule.
All shareholders are welcome to harvest pick-your-own crops any day of the week during daylight hours throughout the weeks the CSA is in operation.
Winter CSA Share: $200
Limited to 200, first-come, first-served. We sold out early last year, so we suggest registering early if you hope to have a winter share. Both primary shareholders and split share partners (secondary shareholders) can purchase their own winter shares, but please make a note of who is purchasing the share on the registration form. Winter shares consist of four distributions of a range of seasonal vegetables, including winter greens, cabbage, onions, leeks, carrots, turnips and other storage crops and include a selection of winter squash and potatoes from Picadilly Farm. These shares are a delicious way to celebrate the late-season harvest!
Note: winter shares are distributed on Saturday afternoons in November and December. Please make a note of the distribution days to make sure you will be available to pick up your winter share!
Winter CSA Share pick-ups will be as follows:
Saturday, November 3, 1-4 PM
Saturday, November 17, 1-4 PM
Saturday, December 1, 1-4 PM
Saturday, December 15, 1-4 PM
Payment:
The minimum first payment is $200 towards your total share purchases for the season.
If the minimum first payment is not possible for you, please contact to arrange an alternate payment plan.
If you can pay in one installment, we encourage you to do so to keep our administrative costs low. If you choose to pay in multiple installments, you will receive a follow-up invoice in March. Final payment for all shares is due by June 1. Please make sure that the name of the primary shareholder is on all payments for your share so that we can accurately credit your account.
Email:
Email is our primary means of communication with our shareholders. Each week during the season, you will receive a CSA e-newsletter, including a crop list for the week, seasonal recipes, and information and reflections on our farm operation. Please make sure that we have a working email address for you, and that you are able to receive emails from
