What is a CSA
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a unique relationship of mutual support and commitment between a farm and community members for an entire growing season. CSA members purchase a share for the growing season before the harvest begins. The price of the share enables the farm to cover yearly costs, almost all of which are incurred before the crops are ready for harvest. This entitles the member to a share of the harvest thought out the season, grown and delivered by a farm they know and trust.
As a CSA member you know where, when and how your food is being produced. A major factor missing in the supermarkets these days. As a CSA member you are actively participating in regional agriculture by directly supporting a small family farm, your community and eating seasonally, locally, sustainable & most important, healthy! There are so many great reasons to join and experience what others too are raving about.
On the economic side of things, a CSA is a great value for the dollar put in. Since you are paying up front we like say that the vegetables are the dividends of putting money upfront. The funds raised during the CSA share selling time of year help off set the costs of raising these crops. Labor, Rent - Mortgage, Equipment Repairs - Purchase, Crop supplies, Fuel Oil for tractors, Nutrient soil improvement, and so on.
These things mentioned didn't even touch the capital improvements required to be a 21st century farm. Being three young farmers, this CSA means a lot to us and our growing farm and families. We appreciate our CSA members and consider them extended family. As we say often, from our family to yours.
What can I expect in a Weekly Share?
As the season progresses so will the shares. Earlier weeks will contain more leafy green items. Mid-Season shares will contain longer day to ripen produce items, like various tomatoes, and eggplants. The late Season share will have more items of a long storage period. Garlic, onions, winter squashes.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a unique relationship of mutual support and commitment between a farm and community members for an entire growing season. CSA members purchase a share for the growing season before the harvest begins. The price of the share enables the farm to cover yearly costs, almost all of which are incurred before the crops are ready for harvest. This entitles the member to a share of the harvest thought out the season, grown and delivered by a farm they know and trust.
As a CSA member you know where, when and how your food is being produced. A major factor missing in the supermarkets these days. As a CSA member you are actively participating in regional agriculture by directly supporting a small family farm, your community and eating seasonally, locally, sustainable & most important, healthy! There are so many great reasons to join and experience what others too are raving about.
On the economic side of things, a CSA is a great value for the dollar put in. Since you are paying up front we like say that the vegetables are the dividends of putting money upfront. The funds raised during the CSA share selling time of year help off set the costs of raising these crops. Labor, Rent - Mortgage, Equipment Repairs - Purchase, Crop supplies, Fuel Oil for tractors, Nutrient soil improvement, and so on.
These things mentioned didn't even touch the capital improvements required to be a 21st century farm. Being three young farmers, this CSA means a lot to us and our growing farm and families. We appreciate our CSA members and consider them extended family. As we say often, from our family to yours.
What can I expect in a Weekly Share?
As the season progresses so will the shares. Earlier weeks will contain more leafy green items. Mid-Season shares will contain longer day to ripen produce items, like various tomatoes, and eggplants. The late Season share will have more items of a long storage period. Garlic, onions, winter squashes.
cost of farming
Farming isn’t cheap; we need your help to keep farming! Have you ever tried growing vegetables? Did your gardening experience leave you with a terrific feeling of raising your own food? Did you taste the difference from store bought produce? Was it a great experience but, a lot of work for what you got back? Did it rain too much? Or maybe it was dry and things shriveled? We listen to many of our customers talk about their growing experiences like these mentioned. At the end of the conversation we frequently mention; “that’s farming; now imagine doing that and trying to make a living doing it. We’re either crazy or love what we do, maybe both who knows!”
Farming has all the regular business expenses like, insurances, capital investments, labor, shipping fees, utilities, excreta. Unfortunately, farms in most cases, have even more operating costs than most “regular businesses”. Cost of Goods (COGS) are frequently much higher or simply not applicable for other industries such as, equipment repairs, tractor fuel & oils, seeds, fertilizers, Mother Nature’s fury impacting yields (yes, these are not Made in China inventory items by far!), extra long days working 7 days a week… it keeps going. HOWEVER! We love what we do, yet it isn’t as easy as “planting seeds and picking things” as the general public may think. We love to help educate on an agricultural basis to whomever is willing to listen to the plight of the American farm vs. what the public may think happens.
Farming has all the regular business expenses like, insurances, capital investments, labor, shipping fees, utilities, excreta. Unfortunately, farms in most cases, have even more operating costs than most “regular businesses”. Cost of Goods (COGS) are frequently much higher or simply not applicable for other industries such as, equipment repairs, tractor fuel & oils, seeds, fertilizers, Mother Nature’s fury impacting yields (yes, these are not Made in China inventory items by far!), extra long days working 7 days a week… it keeps going. HOWEVER! We love what we do, yet it isn’t as easy as “planting seeds and picking things” as the general public may think. We love to help educate on an agricultural basis to whomever is willing to listen to the plight of the American farm vs. what the public may think happens.
where do i pick-up?
Which day should I chose to pick-up?
The Weekly Details...
- The pick up day for your basket can be either a Wednesday, or Saturday the choice is totally up to you. Cooking during the week?; perhaps Wednesday will work better. Saturday is a great pick-up day for weekend cooks; picnics & cook outs too! Either way, the produce is picked fresh and is totally tasty!
- Please let us know your desired day of the week to pickup; this will remain your day throughout
The Weekly Details...
- Pickup location will be 2813 Youngstown Lockport Road, Ransomville, NY 14131
- Pickup time will begin at 1pm -6pm Wednesday or Saturday (11am-3pm). June 11th-September 23rd.
- If the need arises, where you cannot pickup your basket (vacation, work schedule, sickness), let us know that someone else will be picking up your share, please provide the name of who will be picking up your share that week so we can save it for you, otherwise your basket/ CSA share will go to the Care and Share food pantry, in Ransomville, by 9am Friday morning.
- Any baskets left by Wednesday 9pm will be forfeited by shareholders, and turned over to the Care and Share (food pantry in Ransomville).
- If for any reason you cannot return the basket provided from the previous week, please plan on bringing something else to take your share home in, as we only have a limited amount of boxes each week to use.
- Recipes are available on a weekly basis
- We encourage agricultural awareness, as part as our CSA Shareholder Outreach.
thinking about Signing up for a CSA? |
Thinking about signing up for a CSA but want to learn more about the idea before you commit? Read on.
For over 25 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief:
Advantages for farmers:
Advantages for consumers:
It's a simple enough idea, but its impact has been profound. Tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it. The government does not track CSAs, so there is no official count of how many CSAs there are in the U.S.
For over 25 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief:
Advantages for farmers:
- Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
- Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
- Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
- Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
- Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
- Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
- Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm - even veggies they've never been known to eat
- Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown
It's a simple enough idea, but its impact has been profound. Tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it. The government does not track CSAs, so there is no official count of how many CSAs there are in the U.S.
our csa
Our CSA provides you with a means of purchasing fresh food from your friendly farm family at Fleckenstein Farm & Nursery. Unfortunately, the economics of today's modern food system have evolved into quality-last models involving large "factory" style farms employing many poor practices such as forced ripening and shipping produce large distances to your family's table.
When purchasing produce locally, you can rest assured that your produce is being grown using acceptable techniques you are accustomed to, and being harvested at the optimum time of taste and nutritional value, by people you know and trust.
By making an effort to purchase food locally, you support local agriculture which preserves open space in your community, keeps local family farms viable, and keeps spending power in our local economy.
When purchasing produce locally, you can rest assured that your produce is being grown using acceptable techniques you are accustomed to, and being harvested at the optimum time of taste and nutritional value, by people you know and trust.
By making an effort to purchase food locally, you support local agriculture which preserves open space in your community, keeps local family farms viable, and keeps spending power in our local economy.
