FAIR SHARE FARM

Sustainably Grown Produce

Community Supported Agriculture

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FAQ's
 
 

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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