FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Cotyledon Farm
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 aCSA, 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 Cotyledon Vegetable Farm food comes from and even celebrate in the eating! It is a quiet — but exciting —revolution!”
What size share should I choose?
A half share is our most commonly selected share size and is great for a household of two, cooking vegetarian meals 3 to 4 times a week.
A full share is great for a larger household cooking 3 to 4 times a week, two smaller households splitting a share, and vegan/vegetarian households who rely heavily on fresh veggies for every meal. This is also great for a household of two who prefers to cook and freeze extra meals, or is also preparing homemade lunches daily for two.
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).
2026 FULL SHARE Cost:
Sustaining: $1067
Contributing: $892
Supporting: $714
2026 HALF SHARE Cost:
Sustaining: $589
Contributing: $491
Supporting: $396
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!
What type of payments do you accept?
We accept Cash, checks, and HIP/SNAP, as well as QuickBooks online payments (this is an ACH payment that charges the farm an extra fee).
What is included 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.
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.
Click here to see pictures of some of our weekly Full Shares from 2025.
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 todo 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 10hours 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.
Is the produce organic?
Yes, but we are not certified. We go above and beyond what is now considered organic. I use only Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certified soil amendments, fertilizers, and pest control products.
Is your CSA HIP/SNAP eligible?
Yes. You will sign a contract with the farm and state for a monthly, automatic payment made with your SNAP/hip benefits for your CSA. If you do not have enough benefits to cover using these benefits, you can pay partially with them.Find out all about SNAP/HIP here. Click here to read how to participate in the SNAP CSA pilot!
Can I split my share with a friend?
Yes, but please make these arrangements on your own! Some members split a share by having friends take turns every-other week to pick up. Others meet up together and sort out what they’d like to take home on their own. Though a Full Share is equivalent in value to two Half Shares, we cannot accommodate friends picking up as two “Half Shares” when they have registered as a “Full Share.”
Do Pick Ups change based on weather?
We have only postponed a pick-up once in the 13+ years of running a CSA due to extreme flooding on the roads. In the event of severe weather or other extenuating circumstances, I will notify the members by text and e-mail with details about the alternative pick-up plan.
What If I forget to pick up my share?
If you have forgotten to pick up your food will be donated or re-allocated. I recommend setting an alarm on your phone for pick up day so this does not happen. We do not have the storage and labor capacity to set your share aside for you. There are plenty of members that will willingly pack and deliver your share ifyou make those connections early in the season!
May I have a friend pick up a share if I’m on vacation?
You are encouraged to have a friend or relative pick up your share the week you are unavailable or you may have us donate your share by notifying us in advance. Please let us know before the pick up day if you cannot find someone to pick up for you so that we can donate your share in a timely manner. You do not need to notify us that a friend is picking up. If you don’t give them the run-down on how to pickup, we can help! But we only have pick up attendant from 5-6pm, so please make sure they are informed!
Is there “Pick Your Own” on the farm?
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.
Is there an alternate pick up location?
Yes! An additional $25 fee is required for this option. Located typically in Main South, Worcester.
Are there any events at the farm?
Cotyledon Farm strives to bring community as well as fresh organic produce into your life. We host a few gatherings June through October. We notify members through email and in-person at the farm during pick-up.
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 as soon as possible. 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”?
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 higherincomes paying more. However, many factors complicate and affect our financialstatus. Some groups of people have specific costs that the larger population doesnot. And others have access to resources that are not always reflected in theirlifestyle choices and income levels. Please consider both your class backgroundand 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.
Any questions or concerns, please contact CotyledonFarm@gmail.com.
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