Join the Agua Linda Farm C.S.A!
We are currently recruiting Fall members!
How would you like to enjoy the freshness and flavor of food grown in your backyard without all the labor involved in maintaining a garden? Well, this is what many small farms across the country are offering their communities through Community Supported Agriculture or, C.S.A. memberships. In Southern Arizona, Agua Linda Farm is the garden in your backyard!
(Scroll to bottom of page for downloadable files on our 2008 CSA and how to be a CSA volunteer in exchange for a share!)
What Is a C.S.A.?
C.S.A. programs are designed to build a relationship between the farmer and the community. Members buy a share that assists the farmer in production costs and in return members receive a weekly portion of the harvest. This is much like the idea of buying a share in a company - just as shareholder's dividends vary with the companies' productivity, C.S.A portions vary according to the season and the success of each crop. Members enjoy the taste and freshness of food grown locally picked just for them! (click here for USA Today CSA article)
There are other benefits to supporting your local farm. Consumers have become accustomed to buying fruits and vegetables shipped from all over the world - regardless of the season. In a time when fuel prices are soaring, this is an obvious waste of energy. This also means food is harvested before it has ripened in order to make the journey - sacrificing flavor. Eating locally grown foods often means eating thousands of miles fresher. Local Food Movement.
Supporting local farms also helps to keep open spaces open. Many in our community are constantly fighting to keep Southern Arizona from being over-developed. Farmers and ranchers are being pushed out. One way to preserve the rural parts of our area is to help farms stay in business.
What will my membership get me?
· Spring $171 (closed for 2008)
2 months/ 9 weeks
April and May harvests may include lettuce, spinach, arugula, Asian greens, cabbages, cilantro, chives, snow peas, sugar snap peas and fava beans.
· Summer $247 (closed for 2008)
3 months/13 weeks
June, July and August harvests may include arugula, onions, garlic, basil, green beans, zucchini, crook-neck squash, patty pan squash and cucumbers and tomatoes.
· Fall $247 (Now recruiting!)
3 months/13 weeks
September, October and November harvests may include green beans, okra, summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, chili peppers, watermelon, winter squash, pumpkins and lettuce.
Where sign up/pick up shares
Tucson members can either make arrangements with the Tucson C.S.A. to become members of the Agua Linda Farm CSA. Be sure to join the Thursday group to get Agua Linda Farm (The other days are not Agua Linda)
Pick-ups will be on Thursdays at the Historic Y building on University Blvd. Contact Tucsoncsa@tucsoncsa.org or call 520-203-6500.
OR: Sign up directly through us to pick up at the St. Phillips Farmers Market on Sundays from 9 AM - 1 PM. Please contact us directly, Stewart@AguaLindaFarm.net or call 891-5532
Tubac/Amado members will pick up their shares on Saturdays or Tuesdays at the farm and should contact us directly to join. Tubac village, Palo Parado, Barrio and Chavez Siding can request door to door drop offs as a special service to our most local customers. Contact us at Stewart@AguaLindaFarm.net or call 891-5532
Green Valley Members: Pick up is at Parcels Plus just south of Continental on La Canada. Pick up will be on Tuesdays from 3 PM to 5 PM. (Doors will be locked at 5 PM) Contact Stewart@AguaLindaFarm.net or call 891-5532.
Sahuarita members: We are using the Rancho Sahuarita Clubhouse as our drop of. We will be set up with our market tent south of the parking lot from 4 PM - 6 PM on Tuesdays. ContactStewart@AguaLindaFarm.net or call 891-5532.
* Half shares are not available and we encourage those who do not want a full share to buddy up with a friend or neighbor and "share a share". A monthly newsletter will keep you posted on what is happening on the farm. Members are not charged admission for harvest festivals at the farm.
