CSA for September 29th

Hello All and welcome to Fall!
This week:
Butternut Squash
Lettuce
Peppers
Popcorn(please know that it may not be quite ready when we get so let it dry a bit first)
Swiss Chard
Salad Mix
Sweet Potatoes

The Tomatoes are getting scarce so not sure if there will be any in shares...if you are interested in any to purchase we may be able to get a few

Extras:
Okra
Basil
Chives
Hot Peppers
Mint

Available to purchase:
Eggs
Honey
Potatoes
All kinds of hot peppers( cayenne,habenero,hot banana)
Kale
Chard
Carrots
Beets
Salad Mix
Spinach(this is coming from Levis sons farm-we will hopefully see some from Levi in our share soon-wasnt quite ready)
Salad mix

Please refer to last week for prices-and I need your orders by 11 am tomorrow as the Fisher family has a meeting in the eve.
Thank you so much!
Mary

Response: Irvington CSA Questions and Concerns

I appreciated Mary's post on the extras. As she opens most of the email due to special orders, she's the one who seems to get the slack. I, too, have been hearing some complaints. I started the following post last weekend but I hadn't yet finished it for posting. I'm throwing it out there, though incomplete, to add my two cents on the matter. Brevity is not my strength. But the following should add insight to these concerns. -- Christopher

Good day, All. I hope you are well.

The irvingtonagriculture@gmail.com inbox has had some recent member concerns that I thought I should attempt to address. I appreciate those sharing concerns, and I'm happy to respond. Please note some recent questions and related responses from me below. I'm including, too, responses to concerns I've heard or answered at pick-up.

Please note that the responses are mine and are based on my understanding/opinion on the issues raised, and the questions are presented by me in such a way to aggregate several statements and questions and to present them clearly. I do not in any way attempt to represent the understandings/opinions of the other coordinating committee members, our farmer, or our trucker. I'm happy to connect you with those folks if you have further concern or if you find my responses inadequate or otherwise frustrating.

We aren't getting enough in our share. How are quantities determined?

Quantities are determined and packed by the Levi Fisher family. When the truck arrives, we learn exactly what and at what quantity each share will include for the week. I understand that the vegetables included and the quantities of each are determined by many factors, including weather, crop success or failure, crop readiness, and value.

While most seem to understand other crop circumstances, I see a lot of concern when it comes to crop value. I know that Levi and his family work hard to provide a fair value for the money paid for each share. I assume there is some balance, though, to their work. In my conversations with Levi and his family, I've personally seen that they are very aware of the value of items provided and strive to make your experience in the CSA a good one, especially from a value standpoint.

My family has belonged to a Fisher CSA for three years, first as a half-share holder in the Avon group and for the past two years as full-share holders in Irvington. To be sure, we've seen ebbs and flows in crops and quantities, but we've yet to feel that we aren't getting proper value for our money. Quite the contrary, actually. We've felt quite blessed -- sometimes even burdened -- by the quantities.

I understand not all shareholders will have the same experience. Please know that we're doing our best to make the experience the best it can be for you. If you feel you aren't getting a good value, I respectfully submit the following:

• Every week this year we've had extras. The farmer often miscounts items in packing. Other shareholders will leave items they don't want. Shareholders will surrender their shares (we had 8 surrenders last week). I've mentioned several times, including in the registration materials and on this blog, that you are welcome to stop by at 3 p.m. to claim those extras. Just last week, shareholders who stopped in walked away with one or more extra shares! I got two. Extras are usually here. Stop by and help us get rid of them.
• Remember that your payment was for more than just the vegetables. The farm is quite a way from Irvington, and we pay a lot to get the food here. Further, some of your payment was for supplies and such used at the pick-up site. The farmer's portion of your share's payment was $520 or $20.80 per week. Organically grown produce sold at groceries would easily cost more for the same items included in your weekly share. Sure, there are lighter weeks. But remember those summer weeks when we left with 2 or 3 grocery bags? More on costs below because we've had a lot of questions on that.
• Shop comparatively. In considering your participation next year you might look at other CSA's and their set-ups. There are certainly others out there. I will note that some on our waiting list have experienced other local CSA's and are fighting to get into ours. But I'm sure there are some good ones out there.
• Talk to the farmer. One of the glories of CSA living is that you can know your growers, distributors, etc. Call the farmer. Visit the farm. Learn about his methods. Ask him how he makes choices on the quantities. I think you'll find Levi and his family delightful and more than willing to hear your concerns.
• Talk with us and other shareholders. Use the forum to start a discussion. See if others are feeling the same way. Maybe you're on to something that should be changed...
• Join next year's planning committee and influence the project. We could always use more help and new perspectives.
  

How is our fee used? Who's getting paid here?

I've seen a lot on this question. Your $614 fee is three-part as follows:

• $520 to the farmer. As mentioned earlier, that's $20.80 per week.
• $89 for transportation.
  
• $5 for supplies and misc. For bags, pens, markers, magnet paper, printer ink, you name it. Note that I am personally billed for extras ordered, and I have shareholders forget or refuse to claim (or pay for) items they ordered every week. I use this $5 fund to help cover some of those expenses, too.

Your committee is entirely volunteer and is not paid. The farmer does provide two free shares to the host of the Irvington group (that's me). This year, those free shares are distributed as follows:

• One-half share goes to my family. We paid for the other half of our full share.
• One and one-half shares go to families who may not have been able to afford participation this year. Your committee chose those families.

I heard farmer Levi's produce is available in groceries, farmer's markets, and other places. Didn't I pay for that produce already?

Yes. Levi and his family supply other places. They have CSA projects in Irvington, Lafayette, Avon, Westfield, and Terre Haute. They supply Wild Oats with some items. They supply some (fantastic) local restaurants, including one owned by an Irvington shareholder. They even have a vegetable stand in their yard.

No. We as shareholders haven't paid for the items sent to those places. We paid for shares, not the whole crop. We should expect the farm to earn revenue in other ways outside of this CSA.

Why are there so many extras for sale? Didn't I pay for those already?

The extras can get a little complicated. There are many reasons for there being items on the extras that aren't in your share. The most significant one is that not all extra items come from Levi's farm. All of the items included in our shares come from his farm. Other circumstances include crops not producing enough for all shares and other things. The farmer can answer all questions on the extras, and he'll be open to dialogue with you if you choose.

Pick-Up

ARGH! I always hate to be the one to bring up the gripe, but we've had some reports of issues at pick-up recently, including:

• aggressive driving on Michigan Street
• walking through my neighbors' yards instead of using the sidewalks
  
• trash discarded in my yard and driveway
• mistreatment of volunteers at pick-up
  

Please remember that this project is hosted at a private home in a quiet neighborhood and keep these things in check.

--Christopher

Evaluation help, please...

Any members interested in helping me evaluate this year's project? I don't have a lot of extra time right now, but I think a year-end survey might be helpful and informative in our planning for next year. Email me and let me know: c@christophernunn.com.

Next year's CSA project will be with a new host family. (Still in Irvington. More on location and stuff in a later post.) I'd really like to give them and the coordinating committee a healthy kick start with feedback from this year.

--Christopher

2008 Committee Forming Now!

Yes, we're planning for next year already. Will you join us? Email us and let us know.

On a personal level, I've found participation to be quite rewarding. And since we have a good sized group this year, the work hasn't seemed to burden any of us as far as I can tell. We'd love to have you on board.

--Christopher

Have you linked in?

I did a quick and not so thorough search on Linked In, Think.MTV, and Facebook for Irvington CSA shareholders. Several of us are on these networking sites. With 96 fantastic families shareholding in this project, you have a great resource here to expand your own personal or professional network. Won't you join us?

Answers to extras

I have received a few emails from people upset about the extras for sale.
Some as far as anomymous emails.
Please understand that there is nothing that is not explained in the packet you received in the beginning.
The simple answer is that many of the extras come from other farms.
Sometimes there are extra of crop that wont distibute in the shares that are then sold.
I am sorry if this wasnt understood.
Please email me with any questions.
Mary

Extras for sale for 9-22

Extras for Sale:
Winter Squash-.70lb or 20.00 a bushel
Green Beens-1.50 lb
Carrots
Beets
Chard
Kale
Italian golden tomatoes
Hot Peppers
Potatoes
Okra
Thyme
Hot banana peppers
Cayenne peppers
Habanero peppers
Peppercinis
Fish peppers
Salad mix 4.50 lb
Spinach 3.00 lb

Eggs are coming back!!
No more maple syrup for the season!
Honey is still available- stock up for the winter!
Is anyone interested in milk for the winter? I need to see if we have enough to have it delivered.
Please email me with order by 3:00 on friday.
Thanks for everything this season,
Mary

CSA 9-22

Hello everyone!
This week:
Heirloom Tomatoes
Possibly Cherry Tomatoes
Red and Yellow Peppers
Kale
Potatoes
Parsley
Indian Corn

Extras
Okra
Chives
Hot Peppers
Basil

Thanks,
Mary

The Extras

We will be getting Basil, Okra, Chives and Mint

CSA for September 15th

Hello to all my CSA friends!

This week:
Tomatoes
Peppers red and yellow
Sweet Potatoes
Kale
Winter Squash
Salad Mix

Thanks and have a great weekend

Extras for sale for Sept 8th

Extras available for sale:Tomatoes-all kinds!! 28.00 for a box or 2.00 ppCherry tomatoes-1.50 ppItalian golden-2.00 ppCanning tomatoes-8.00 a box(these are seconds)Hot peppers,jalapenos,hot banana peppers,cayenne all 3.00 ppRed, white, yellow potatoes 15.00 for a half bushel or 1.00 pp Carrots-1.30 pp Red Beets-.60 pp HoneyMaple Syrup Flowers-3.50Eggs are still low ...first come first served. Please order if you are interested.
Levi has told me he thinks there will be red onions so please order if want some and we will try and get them.
Please notice that the tomato prices have increased as they are becoming scarce.
Please email me by 5 with orders!
Thanks and have a great weekend.

CSA for September 8th

Greetings friends!

This week:
Butternut Squash
Tomatoes
Red and Yellow Peppers
Hot Peppers
Swiss Chard
Okra
Salad Mix

Extras:
Basil, Parsley, 2nd peppers

Thanks,
Mary