FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a CSA?

Text Credit: Luna Bleu Farm, Vermont 

“CSA stands for Community-Supported Agriculture.  In a CSA, farmers and shareholders share in both the risks and the bounty of the season. By joining a CSA, members support local agriculture and invest in the local economy.

The price of food in the regular market place, often does not reflect the true costs of production or take into account the environmental, social and energy costs.  Yet, access to fresh, nutritious, safe food can also be limited by economic class or other social factors.   

CSA members typically pay for a share of the harvest before the start of the growing season and thus help cover early production costs. Members receive fresh, organic vegetables weekly from June to October. 

You and your neighbors can help transform local agriculture and your connection to food. CSA begins to redefine the economics of farming. With CSA the price of our food better reflects the actual cost of production and the true value of sustainable agriculture while keeping local farms healthy. Our members appreciate where their food comes from and even celebrate in the eating!  It is a quiet — but exciting — revolution!“

What size shares are offered?

We offer both a half share and a full size shares. Shares are priced on a sliding scale where members  choose the price best suited for themselves based on family size and income. Please visit the “become a member” page for more information and a price list.

What is the cost of a share?

There are three price points for both the half share and full shares. Each household determines the price point that works for them according to income and family size. There is no difference in the quantity (other than half & full). The sliding scale exists for accessible and equitable distribution of produce. It is part of the farm’s mission to make food available to all. To learn more about the sliding scale concept, please scroll down to the bottom of this page to learn more!

What type of payments do you accept?

Cash, checks, HIP/SNAP and Quickbook Payment online (does include a fee!)

What is include in a half or full share?

Each week you will be provided with an assortment of vegetables. The size of the share will fluctuate depending on the time of season and the success of individual crop planting. To see pictures of the weekly Full Share from 2020 please click here

Is there a work obligation for paying members?

Yes! All members are asked to fulfill work hours on the farm. The time spent at the farm not only allows the members to understand the workings of the farm but to get to know Amanda (the owner & Lead farmer) & other members. It creates the space for connection and understanding of where your food is coming from. 

Amanda easily works with members to find the right kind of task for each person. Physical limitations are always taken into account and if members are not able to do physically demanding work on the farm there are other opportunities such as driving, packing produce, digital design/marketing work, and more.

Half shares are asked to complete 5 hours and full shares are asked to complete 10 hours for the entire season. When people fill out the member form they are asked which month they would like to complete their work hours. We find this keeps people committed instead of pushing the work off for a later date. It is possible to opt-out of the work hours by paying a fee. Each work hour is valued at a living wage of $20 an hour. Therefore half shares pay $100 and full shares pay $200 to opt -out. 

There are a few items that we leave in the fields for you to Pick Your Own (PYO). These items will be posted on the board when they area available. Items that have been included in past shares for PYO include: husk cherries, peas, nasturtium flowers, grape leaves, cherry tomatoes, chrysanthemum greens and more.

Do you grow fruit on the farm?

The items we grow that are generally considered fruits are: tomatillos, husk cherries, and tomatoes. (Fun Fact: eggplants are a fruit and botanically considered a berry!) We occasionally have melons. If you are really into fruit, we recommend registering for the fruit share. Our CSA is a vegetable share.

What is included in the share?

Please click here to see our harvest chart for an idea of what kinds of vegetables we grow, as well as when they are roughly harvested. Availability and variety will vary from year to year. See the weekly 2020 photographs of a full share to get an idea here.

Is there an alternate pick up location?

Yes!  an additional $25 fee is required for this option. Located tpically in Main South, Worcester.

Are there any events?

Cotyledon Farm strives to bring community as well as fresh organic produce into your life. We host a few gatherings June through October. We post events on the whiteboard that on-farm members see each week to determine what is in their share.

Do you offer work-trades?

We do have a limited number of work shares. Please fill out an application found on the website and we will get back to you asap. Please note that the work shares fill up quickly and require committed, consistent work hours throughout the growing season.

More on…What ​ is​ ​ a​ ​ “sliding​ ​ scale”​ ?

from​ ​Underground​ ​Alchemy,​ ​Albany,​ ​NY

It is a tool for building economic justice, and it requires your active participation. If a sliding scale is implemented effectively, everyone pays a similar percentage of their income for the same products or services. A wide spectrum across the scale promotes broader accessibility, while ensuring fair compensation to the producer. Paying according to​ ​one’s​ ​available​ ​resources​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​more​ ​equitable,​ ​diverse​ ​and​ ​sustainable​ ​community​ ​we​ ​all​ ​benefit​ ​from.

Sliding scales are often based on individual income levels, with people of higher incomes paying more. However, many factors complicate and affect our financial status. Some groups of people have specific costs that the larger population does not. And others have access to resources that are not always reflected in their lifestyle choices and income levels. Please consider both your class background and earning power when choosing your share payment. Practice​ ​economic​ ​solidarity!

For a general baseline of what to pay please start with your annual income. If you don’t know your annual income, take your monthly income and multiply by 12. Many people’s budgets are linked to those of a household partner. If you​ ​share​ ​finances​ ​with​ ​another​ ​adult,​ ​determine​ ​your​ ​household​ ​income​ ​and​ ​divide​ ​by​ ​two.

Here​ ​is​ ​a​ ​short​ ​list​ ​of​ ​guidelines​ ​that​ ​we’re​ ​hoping​ ​will​ ​be​ ​helpful​ ​as​ ​you​ ​navigate​ ​the​ ​question​ ​of​ ​how​ ​much​ you​ ​ ​can afford.

Consider ​ paying​ ​ less​ ​ on​ ​ the​ ​  ​scale ​  if​ ​ you…​  

• are​ ​supporting​ ​children​ ​or​ ​have​ ​other​ ​dependents
• have​ significant​   ​ ​debt
• have​ ​medical​ ​expenses​ ​not​ ​covered​ ​by​ ​insurance
• have​ ​ ​ ​tuition/educational​ ​expenses
• receive​ ​public​ ​assistance
• have​ ​immigration​ ​related​ ​expenses
• are​ ​a​ ​senior​ ​citizen

Consider​ ​paying​ ​more​ ​on​ ​the​ ​scale​ ​if​ ​you…

• own ​ the​ ​ home​    ​ you​       ​ live​       ​ in​
• have​ ​investments,​ ​retirement​ ​accounts,​ ​inherited​ ​money
• travel​ ​recreationally
• have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​family​ ​money​ ​and ​resources​​ ​in​ ​times​ ​of ​​need
• work​ ​part​ time,​     ​ ​by​ ​choice
• have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education (or gender and racial privilege, class background, etc.) Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, we ask you to recognize​ ​this​ ​as​ ​a​ ​choice.

The scale is intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of our financial resources and look deeper at our levels of privilege. It is a way to challenge the classist and capitalist society we live in and work towards economic​ ​justice​ ​on​ ​a​ ​local​ ​level.​ ​While​ ​we​ ​ask​ ​you​ ​to​ ​look​ ​inward​ ​please​ ​don’t​ ​stress​ ​about​ ​it.​ ​Pay​ ​what​ ​feels​ ​right.   *thanks​​to​​Radherb,​​Third​​Root,​​and​​the​​Kula​​Center​​for​​their​​contribution​​and​​work​​on​​developing​​sliding​​scale models​.