CSA Information

Member Comments

"Today the vegetables look like a symphony sounds--wonderful."

“Tuesday has become a really special day for us this summer... thanks to your farm! We really love all this good food....”

"I am eating so well these days."

“I love your farm updates."

"We really appreciate how clean the vegetables are!"

Become a Member!

We offer two share sizes: Basic and Abundant.

Weekly pick-ups

Belfast: Monday 4-6 p.m. at the UU Church, 37 Miller St.

Farm: Tuesday 4-6 p.m. in Freedom Village, Rte 137

Rockport/Camden Friday 4-6 p.m., location TBD.

Share numbers are limited, so early sign-up is recommended.

Click here to view and print the 2010 sign up form

See our Village Farm bumper sticker!

V I L L A G E F A R M
FREEDOM, MAINE

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CSA Information

Community Supported Agriculture is a philosophy and a marketing form that connects consumers with local farms in a mutually beneficial relationship.

We, the farmers, commit to grow a full range of vegetables, herbs and flowers for our members. We benefit by knowing that our produce has a ready market and we receive income early in the season, when most farm expenses are incurred.

In exchange, our members receive the highest-quality produce available at a great value. They also have the opportunity to be part of a dynamic farm. Through seasonal gatherings and periodic farm updates, we hope members will truly get a sense for this place and value their own connection to it.

There is a component of shared risk in CSA. 2009 brought record rainfall and though some crops underperformed due to the cold, wet season, other crops thrived. We delivered a good value to our CSA members despite the "disastrous" weather. Our experience tells us that planting a diversity of crops and tending them and the soil well will "weather the weather whatever the weather."

We share this quote from long-time CSA farmer, Sam Smith because it sums up the philisophy of CSA beautifully:

"In spirit, members are not 'purchasing' a fixed amount of food. Rather you are contributing to the well-being of the farm community of which soil, plants, animals (domestic and wild) and people are all an integral part. In other words, the membership contribution is not in exchange for food. Each adult's contribution is for keeping the land and restoring community. If we do that well then food, which is the gift of the land, will always be nourishing and adequate for all."

CSA is about fresh food, local food, seasonal food, grown on a farm nearby, by farmers you trust.

Our CSA pick-ups look a lot like a farmers' market stand, except no money is exchanged, because members have already committed their support. Members arrive to the site, whether it be the farm, Belfast or Camden and will be greeted by a farmer or farm intern. We have bags available or members are encouraged to bring your own. All the week's vegetables, cleaned, cooled and JUST PICKED, will be displayed on tables with signs as labels and guides as to how many/much each size share (Basic or Abundant) should take.

We have an EXTRAS box: If you do not want two heads of lettuce, for example, you may take one and put the other in the "EXTRAS" box. The "EXTRAS" box is for giving to or taking from. If you see something in there that you would use, you are welcome to take it! If we have a few extra eggplants or peppers or pounds of beans, we will put things in there, too!

Eggs are often available at CSA pick-ups for additional purchase.

What you might expect from a weekly vegetable share:

Early Summer:
Basic Share: 1 bunch of beet greens, 1 head of broccoli, 1 head of lettuce, 1 bunch of scallions, ½ # of mesclun, 1# of shell peas, garlic scapes, 1 bunch parsley.

Abundant Share: 2 bunches beet greens, 2 heads broccoli, 1 bok choi, 2 heads lettuce, 1 bunch scallions, 1 # mesclun, 2# shell peas, garlic scapes, 1 bunch parsley.

Late Summer:
Basic Share: ½ # beans, 2 cucumbers, 1 bunch carrots, 1 head lettuce, 1.5# onions, 2# potatoes, 2# summer squash/zucchini, 1# tomato, 1 bunch cilantro, basil or dill.

Abundant Share: 1#beans, 2 bunches carrots, 4 cucumbers, 2 heads lettuce, 3# onions, 4# potatoes, 3# summer squash/zucchini, 1.5# tomato, 1 bunch basil, 1 bunch cilantro or dill, 1 bunch rosemary.

Fall:
Basic Share: 1.5# beets, 2# cabbage, 1 head garlic, 1 bunch kale, 1 head lettuce, 2# onions, 2#potaotes, 5# winter squash, 1 bunch thyme.

Abundant Share: 2# beets, 4# cabbage, 2 heads garlic, 1 bunch kale, 1 kohlrabi, 2 lettuce, 3# onions, 4# potatoes, 10# winter squash, 1 bu. parsley, 1 bu. thyme.