If you are ready to go, and don’t need more information:
Download an application
What is a CSA
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a subscription-style farming partnership between CSA members and the CSA farmer. Members sign up early in the season for weekly CSA shares. In return for this early commitment, CSA members receive the freshest food possible, build connections to the farm and farmers through weekly visits and special member events, learn about new recipes and unique crops, and find out how delicious locally produced foods taste. Farms, in return, spend less time in the growing season selling crops and more time growing crops, have more money early in the year to buy seeds with, and have an opportunity to learn more about their members (and grow the food members want!).
Is There Risk in a CSA?
The early spirit of Community Supported Agriculture is that eaters and farmers work together to contribute to a resilient and healthy local food system. This leads to an understanding that CSA members provide support to the farm, while the farm works hard to provide a plentiful, consistent, and varied supply of farm fresh produce. Hilltop Hanover Farm has two years CSA management, and many years farm stand, u-pick and farmer’s market experience. This being stated, there is an element of risk in a CSA membership. Due to weather or other events beyond our control, there may be complications with some crops (2010’s tomato blight and tomato shortage is one example). We will do our best to provide members with produce, but by buying a membership you are recognizing and committing to support a local farm through some of the challenges that it may face-and for this, we thank you and will be working extra hard to grow the best, freshest crops around!
What’s In A Share
A weekly share will consist of freshly harvested seasonal vegetables and herbs-chosen by the farmers to ensure a good mix. One share provides enough vegetables for a family of four for a week, or for one or two adults who eat lots of vegetables.
Distribution is “Farmstand style.” At CSA pick-up, you will fill your bags with the produce you pick out. You will choose an assigned amount of a particular crop (i.e. “take 8 to 10 carrots,” or “2 heads of lettuce”), but will have a choice between varieties of that crop (i.e. purple vs. orange carrots, or red vs. green lettuce). Other times, you will have a choice between a range of crops (i.e. “choose 1 bunch of leafy greens: either chard OR kale OR broccoli rabe,” or “choose 6 beets OR 6 turnips”). “Farmstand style” allows you to have a bit more choice, while at the same time allowing the farmer to plan for a steady supply of crops.
A typical July share may include a bunch of carrots, a bunch of leeks, fennel bulbs, your choice of leafy greens, cucumbers, summer squash, tomatoes, basil, and other seasonal herbs. A late September share may include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli rabe, eggplants, peppers, onions, radishes, and beets. Shares will include a mix of popular staple crops (lettuce, carrots, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, and herbs), as well as including more unique and delicious crops. CSA shares do reflect the seasonal availability of crops, so early in the season, shares will include more greens, while later in the season, shares become heavier with the summer and fall bounty.
Price & Benefits
2014 CSA share is $650, for 20 weeks of CSA vegetables, a weekly CSA newsletter full of recipes and farm happenings, first option to sign up for 2015 CSA shares, access to CSA member open farm days. A part of the concept of CSA membership is to support the farm financially at the beginning of the farming season (when the farm incurs most of the year’s expenses), full membership payment with your registration really helps the farm! However, we understand that budgeting a full summer’s produce costs into one payment can be a challenge, and we do offer a payment plan. A $200 deposit is due to reserve a CSA membership for your family, with the balance is due by March 1. Shares not paid in full by March 1, will be made available to members on our waiting list, and your balance will be returned less a $20 administrative fee. If these payment plans provide an obstacle to your participation in the CSA, please contact us for other arrangements.
Pick-up Day
Tuesday or Thursday 2:00pm – 7:00pm
(choice of pick-up day on a first come first served basis)
Half Shares?
Hilltop Hanover Farm CSA offers one share size for the 2014 season. While we cannot split a share for you, we will provide a table space for members to divide split shares. If you want to split a share with someone, please feel free to use our Facebook page as a site to find a share-sharing-buddy.
Please Note
CSA dates are dependent on the weather-we will contact all members to confirm the CSA start date in early May. Depending on the season, we could run an extra week longer in October as well!