OBERCREEK FARM WINTER SHARE DETAILS
What is A SHARE?
A farm share, often referred to as a “CSA share” stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it is a partnership between you — the consumer — and the farm; a “share” of community agriculture. For a traditional main (outdoor) growing season CSA share, you sign up for a share in advance of the growing season; this is crucial as your commitment helps us plan our growing and fund our early season purchases. In turn, we commit to deliver delicious organic vegetables to you, no matter what the season brings. Joining our CSA means you become a member of our farm community: we share in the risks and rewards each season has to offer, we support each other, our local food system, and the integrity of the land. For this winter CSA the concept is the same, just shifted up in the year a bit. By joining this winter share you help us plan for our winter growing season, help ensure our winter greens and storage crops go to good homes, and you get to try items from other local farms and producers through the Farm Stand!
What’s different about this new winter share?
Traditionally, we’ve offered a summer/main season CSA, spanning from June through November and featuring all the summer and fall bounty we have to offer. As you may know, we are able to grow year-round thanks to our five high tunnels, four caterpillar tunnels, and our ability to store root crops that we harvest before winter arrives. We’d love to be your local farm year round, and serve you not only our own delicious organic vegetables, but introduce you to other vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, cheeses, baked goods, pantry goods, and more from other farmers and producers that we’re so happy to feature in our store.
Do I Get to decide what’s in my share?
Absolutely! Just like our free choice summer CSA model, this system allows you to take what you love, try something new, and leave what’s not for you. In this winter model, you’ll actually get to take even more of what you love, as you’ll have access to the entirety of the store with your share balance.
tell me more…and what’s the difference in share sizes?
Just like our summer share model, you’ll pay for the share in advance and as a thanks for your commitment, you’ll receive a bonus added to your account; the larger share size you purchase, the bigger the bonus! Because we can all use some extra money for groceries these days, right?
The Small share costs $225 and will get you $250 loaded onto your account at the store, equating to about $21 to spend per week, if you choose to come every week. This share is great for an individual, a couple who plans on being away for a portion of the winter, or folks who only want to use their share to buy vegetables.
The Medium share costs $425 and gets you $475 loaded onto your account at the store. This equates to about $40 to spend per week (if you choose to come every week) and is great for a couple or individual who loves eating the seasonal produce and trying new items from our shelves
NEW this year, our Large share costs $600 and gets you $700 — that’s right, $100 bonus grocery money! — and is great for a couple or a family who loves eating locally, wants to stock up on veggies, or is ready to dive into everything the farm store has to offer; not just veggies, but all the meats, cheeses, spices, dry beans, and sweet treats you can handle! This is a great way to make your grocery shopping a little easier, save you a trip to multiple stores, and enjoy a nice bonus as a big thanks from us for your support. This share works out to about $58 per week, but of course you can always stock up one week and skip the next, or make it a weekly local shopping venture.
As a reminder, you do not have to come to shop every week; you can double up for a few weeks or when you know you’ve got a big cooking project in mind, and don’t forget; this share includes everything in the store, so it’s easier to spend those dollars than you might think!
In order to utilize your share, you’ll simply provide the name that your share is under when you come to shop, and the crew member staffing the register will charge your purchases to your account. You are always welcome to send a friend, family member, neighbor, personal assistant, etc — anyone! — to pick up your share in your stead, they need only provide your name at the register.
Please note that this as with our summer share, this share is only available for use at our on-farm store, and your share balance cannot be redeemed at our farmers market booths; this is in order to ensure that you are able to access your full share value with all products available at our farm store and that we bring the right amount to markets. Purchasing a share helps us plan our winter and spring growing, as well as purchasing of third party items for your enjoyment with this share!
what veggies can i expect to see available?
Here are some examples of what you can expect during the season, weather permitting:
from Obercreek Farm: spinach, arugula, lettuce mix, mustard mix (Hot Shot), kale, chard, onions, garlic, shallots, turnips, beets, storage radishes (Daikon, watermelon, black), cabbage, and more!
from other local farms: sweet potatoes, potatoes, broccoli, squash, carrots, celeriac, apples, pears, cabbage, kohlrabi, and more
and don’t forget that you’ll have access to all the other preserved, refrigerated, frozen, and shelf-stable items the farm stand has to offer, including our own value added products made in season with our fresh produce! Everything from local meats to savory pies to baked goods to local cheeses to a fun drink for the drive home; it’s all included in your share!
HOW WILL I KNOW OF ANY CHANGES OR UPDATES?
We send a weekly newsletter containing share contents; you will be automatically subscribed when you sign up for your share. Should there be any last minute store closings or other time-sensitive updates, we will send a direct email from marketing@obercreekfarm.com or farmstand@obercreekfarm.com — please add us to your contacts so you receive any direct emails from us.
DO I HAVE TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT UP FRONT?
Due to the fairly short turnaround between signups opening and the beginning of the share, we are asking for payment in full at the time of purchase. If you’re interested in a share and this payment presents difficulty, please email marketing@obercreekfarm.com and we’ll get back to you.
I still have questions
We’d be happy to answer them! Email marketing@obercreekfarm.com with any questions you may have about the Winter Share and we’ll get back to you within a day or two.