What Is Community Supported Agriculture?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an alliance between farmers and
eaters to grow and distribute their food. Families and individuals
who join the CSA receive a share of produce every
week during the growing season. In exchange, members
sign a contract for the season, agree to pay in advance, and help with
some
of the work of harvest and distribution of the food. Both partners share
in the risks and rewards of small-scale organic farming: weather, insect
damage, and bumper crops.
Who Is Fair Share Farm CSA?
The Fair Share Farm Community Supported Agriculture began in 2004. Farmers
Rebecca Graff and Tom Ruggieri grow the food using organic practices on the
Graff family farm near Kearney, MO. The farmers are joined in the fields
by on full-time employee, two seasonal apprentices, and many
helping hands from the community. Members pick up their food weekly in Kansas
City, in Liberty, or at the farm. Fair
Share
Farm CSA
also
holds social events to celebrate community
and the harvest.
Where is Fair Share Farm?
18613 Downing Road, Kearney, MO 64060
(816) 320-3763
www.fairsharefarm.com
rebecca(a)fairsharefarm.com
tom(a)fairsharefarm.com
The farm is located off of MM Hwy. just north of Watkins Mill State
Park in Northeastern Clay County, MO. Highways 69 and 92 provide
easy access
from I-35. Directions are available on our website (please use these
directions, mapquest will get you lost).
Who Is Fair Share Farm CSA Core Group?
The FSF CSA Core Group facilitates the distribution of high quality, sustainably
grown local produce and companion products to a community of members. These
products are highly valued and the preservation of food is encouraged for
local eating year-round. The Core Group also builds awareness of the Community
Supported Agriculture model and enables the viability of local family farmers.
Each
Core Group member takes on a specific job for the year including; distribution
coordination, member in-reach, farm work scheduling, planning social events,
and coordinating the Core Group meetings. Participation in the Core Group
is open to any member. Work on the Core Group replaces the farm work requirements.
What Is My Share of the Food?
The weekly food share includes an average of 7 to 9 items for full
shares, and 4 to 6 for partial shares (less early and late in
the season, and more
at peak season). Items are typically what you would purchase at the store
or farmer market in order to make a dish. A full share should be ample
for a family of four or two adult who cook
at
home
regularly.
A
partial
share is a good
size for a single person or two adults who don’t cook at home every
night. A third option is to split a full share with another family. Bulk
quantities can be purchased for canning, freezing, and storage, as available.
Every week the share of produce will be
different depending on the season. Here are examples of what might
be in a share each season:
Spring: green peas (sugarsnap or snow),
baby beets w/greens, green onions, carrots w/tops, lettuce, kohlrabi,
radishes, chives, strawberries
Summer: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
or okra, melons, cucumbers, onions, green beans, summer squash/zucchini,
basil
Fall: lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower,
cabbage, swiss chard, carrots, sweet potatoes, garlic, dill
Who Can Join?
Membership is open to anyone in the Greater Kansas City area or the local
Kearney/Liberty area. Families with children are especially welcome,
and we will arrange the farm work schedule to include children to the
greatest extent possible.
What Does It Cost?
An initial $75 deposit is required
to join (click here for the form). The deposit will hold your
place until Spring Sign-up and will then
be applied
to the cost of your share.
Membership costs are on a sliding scale.
Members who cannot afford the share cost may pay at a lower rate.
Likewise, those who want to pay more than the share cost will enable
the farm to stay on budget while allowing the CSA to reach a wider
diversity of community members. We also offer Veggie Vouchers that
cover an additional $100 of the share cost for those in need. To
request a Veggie Voucher, make a note on your deposit slip.
The
share price may be paid in full at sign-up or in increments,
with the entire
balance due by the end of July. Bulk and special orders are paid
for separately when ordered.
2014 SHARE SIZES & COST
A) Full: Approx. 7-9 items depending on time of
season.
Share cost: $670 plus tax for 24 weeks
Annual Membership Fee: $25
Total: $695 (sliding scale: $535 - $855)
B) Shared: Same size as a full share. Cost, work and produce divided
between 2 or more households by members themselves.
Share cost: Same as full share.
C) Partial: Approx 4-6 items depending on time of season
Share cost: $493 plus tax for 24 weeks
Total: $518 (sliding scale: $358 - $678)
31-week Extended Season:
THE 2014 EXTENDED SEASON IS FULL :-(
In 2014 there will be 50 extended season shares
offered at a cost of $234 for 7 weeks. Extended season shares will contain 7-9
items (no partial shares
available). The farm plans to begin distributing extended season shares April
23rd and continue for 3 weeks until the start of the regular 24-week season
on May 14th. The fall extended season will begin the week after the end of
the
regular season on October 29th and continue for 4 weeks until November 21st.
Extended
season shareholders will be required to perform one additional 4-hour farm
shift.
How Does It Work?
Each member household contributes by assisting with the harvest of
the shares a few times each year. This farm work takes place either
Wednesday or Saturday mornings (8am to 12 noon) and includes harvesting,
washing, and packing that day’s CSA shares with the farmers.
Several shifts can be satisfied in one
morning depending on the number of participants a household brings.
In addition, members
who work on the farm on Saturdays are asked to assist in bringing
the produce to the Liberty distribution site after their mornings
at the farm. Members will schedule
these shifts at the Spring Sign-up.
FARM SHIFTS
Full or Shared Share:
3 Farm Shifts of 4 hours each (8 AM - Noon)
Total of 12 hours
Partial Share:
2 Farm Shifts of 4 hours each (8 AM - Noon)
Total of 8 hours
Extended Season
Share:
1 additional Farm Shift of 4 hours each (8 AM - Noon)
Total of 4 hours
SEASON:
Regular: 24 Weeks – mid-May through October.
Extended: 31 Weeks - mid-April to late-November
FOOD PICKUP
There are four locations to pick up your share of the harvest.
Members need to choose one location & time for the season.
Farm: 18613 Downing Rd.
t Wednesdays: after 1:30 pm
t Saturdays: after 1:30 pm
Liberty: 418 E. Mississippi St. in Liberty, MO.
t Saturdays: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Midtown Kansas City: at the Bad Seed Market
1909 McGee, KCMO 64108
(between 19th and 20th St. in the Crossroads District)
t Wednesdays: 5:00 –7:00 pm
Brookside Kansas City: at The Legacy Center at St. Peter's Catholic
Church, 815 E. Meyer Blvd., KCMO 64131
t Saturdays: 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Other Products:
Fair Share Farm members will again have the opportunity to purchase shares
of other local food products to supplement our vegetables:
t Meat and egg shares: contact Parker
Farms, parkerfarms(a)peoplepc.com
How Do I Join?
An initial $75 deposit is required to join. The
deposit will hold your place until sign-up in March and will then be applied
to the
cost
of
your
share.
We are limited to 50 Extended Season and 140 Regular Season shares in 2014.
If you have any questions, comments,
etc. please feel free to contact us at the farm. Our phone number
is (816) 320-3763, or contact us
through the website.
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