Join the 2010 Agua Linda Farm Vegetable C.S.A!
Scroll down for details and a submission form at bottom of page
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!
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. 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.
Information About This Year's CSA
Returning members, be sure to continue reading as we have made changes to our program for 2010!
Why should I join? CSA programs are for people who want to eat fresh, locally grown foods. Many, like ours, also grow organically (though, we are not certified). Our members are folks who want to support local, small farms. They are also people who are willing to try new foods and to eat seasonally.
When can I sign up? We will resume our usual CSA schedule offering shares beginning in March. Use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up now or call 520-891-5532. *Filling out the form does not mean you are a member. Certain locations may already be booked or we may have already reached or target number for that period. You will hear from us shortly after submitting the application.
When will I start getting my share? Once you have signed up, we will email you the specific dates for your month's session. Dates/times depend on location, see below.
How long will I receive shares? This year we are signing folks up month by month. You will receive a total of 4 shares for each period on the first 4 pick up days of that month. So, for example, if your pick-up day is Sunday and there are 5 Sundays in that month, you will receive shares on the first 4 Sundays of that month only, (a schedule will be emailed to you).
How much does it cost? This year we are offering smaller shares than years past. If you are a large family or eat a lot of vegetables, you may want to consider two shares. Shares cost $50/month (4 distributions). March shares consist of leafy greens and are $50 per share.
How much will I get in my share? This is a tough one to answer, as it varies week to week. In spring/summer/fall shares, we try to include 4-6 kinds of veggies per week at a quantity for one meal - for example, a bag of lettuce would be large enough for a family of 4 to enjoy a decent size salad at one meal, or a couple to have salad for a couple of meals.
Sample March Share for one week ($50/month)
- 1 bag mixed greens
- 1 bag spinach
- arugula
Sample June Share for one week ($50)
- 3 cucumbers
- 3- 4 yellow summer squash
- 2 - 3 zucchini
- 1 bag okra
Where can I get my share? This year we are hoping that more people pick up at the farm. (We were voted one of the top places to visit in the Tucson area by Tucson Lifestyle magazine this year, after all!) We encourage people to net-work and share in the transportation responsibility. We also use the St. Philips Farmers market in Tucson on Sundays and Parcel Plus in Green Valley on Tuesdays.
Do I need to harvest my own? No. However we encourage you to come out to the farm and get dirty once and a while!
What will I get in my share? Spring CSA members should be "green lovers"! Shares will consist of a variety of lettuces, Asian greens, spinach and kale. We estimate having turnips, radishes and green onions late March or April. Summer crops include tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, arugula, onions, okra, basil, mint, garlic, chard.
Do I need to work on the farm? This is optional and encouraged. It is the best way to fully participate in this experience. Members are welcome to camp out and bring the kids for an early start!
What if there is a problem with a crop? We are a real farm. We do not buy from other growers to fill shares - everything in your share comes from Agua Linda Farm. This means that this is the real CSA experience - food that is grown on a family farm that you can visit and know all about. This also means that if we have a problem - insect infestation, hail, flood, etc., we take a hit and so do our members. We cannot guarantee the success of any crop.
