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CSA for November 3rd

Hi!! This is the last pickup for the season!
We will be getting:

Sweet Potatoes
Peppers
Swiss Chard
Salad Mix
Celery or Chinese Cabbage
Turnips
Red Beets

Extras: Hot Peppers, parsley, tyme and maybe some second peppers

Levi has some ducks for sale at 2.50 a pound if anyone is interested. I will need to know by 2 pm today!
Also Apples, Winter squash, honey, eggs, Kale, Molasses, peppers

Thanks for a great season and hope to see you all next year!!

Blessings,
Mary

CSA for October 27th

Good day to everyone. I apologize this is so late.
This week:
Celery
Salad Mix
Radishes
Sweet Potatoes
Peppers
Tomatoes
Broccoli or Lettuce

Extras:
Cilantro
Dill
Hot peppers
Okra

For sale:
Eggs, Flowers, Honey,Molasses, Salad Mix, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes
If there is anything not on the list that you would like please put it in your order and I will see if we can get it.

I know this is late but if you can get your orders to my by 2 that would be very helpful.
Thank you,
Mary

A Call for Thoughts and Prayers from the CSA Family

Please extend your thoughts and prayers to the Levi Fisher family.

Mary confirmed today that the victims of yesterday's I-69 tragedy in which five were killed were relatives of the family. Those killed were not immediate family members, but extended. Melvin, the father, was the gentleman I worked with earlier this year when considering milk at the CSA.

The deceased are: Melvin Fisher (father & driver), 39; Savilla Fisher (mother), 38; Ruben Fisher, 16; Christian Fisher, 11 and Eli Fisher, 1. Seven others were injured.

Three crash victims are still in critical condition at Methodist Hospital, including Ida Lengacher, 32, of New Haven, her daughter Julia, 3, and son John, 1. Leon Fisher is also in critical condition.

Matthew Lengacher, 9, Mary Beth Lengacher, 7 and Nathan Lengacher, 5 are in fair condition.

I'm sure the family will appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

--Christopher

csa for october 20th

carrots
collard greens
tomatoes
sweet potatoes
chinese cabbage
red beets
peppers

extras:
okra
basil
mint
hot peppers

Please refer to last week for extras for sale.
Have orders in by 1 friday

thanks,
Mary

CSA for October 13th

This week!
Pumpkins
Some peppers
Some tomatoes(cant believe there are any)!
Salad mix
Sweet Potatoes
Winter Squash
Broccoli or Lettuce
Turnips

Extras: Basil,Okra, Hot Peppers,Chives,Mint

Extras for sale:
Honey
Eggs
Flowers
Potatoes
Winter Squash
Salad mix
Red Beets
Kale
Chard
Sweet potatoes
Lady finger popcorn

Have a great weekend
M

An Exciting CSA Change...

I'm pleased to announce that charter shareholders Amy and Jeremy Keating have accepted the responsibility for hosting the 2008 season at their Irvington home. Please join me in thanking them for their gift to our community.
From two-years' experience in a similar role, I can tell Amy and Jeremy that they'll enjoy meeting an incredible group of neighbors (and that they'll never forget to pick up their week's share.)
Truly, thanks, Amy and Jeremy.
Great time for the rest of us to share our continued support in the project: email us at irvingtonagriculture@gmail.com with your plans to help Amy, Jeremy, and the rest of the 2008 committee prepare a great season!

-Christopher

Irvington Green Initiative and Citizen's Action Coalition Fund

At pick-up this week, look for flyers from these initiatives. Myers-Nunn neighbor Laura Hildreth has posted some interesting information for you to take, including information on a "living green and mean" forum at the Irvington Branch Library. There's some exciting environmental stuff brewing in Irvington, and you may want to be involved.

-C

We're Wrapping Up 2007! 2008 News Below...

Evening, All. I hope you are well.
Our season is nearing its end. We've enjoyed 80% of our harvest, and there are just 5 weeks left. I do sincerely hope you've enjoyed your experience this year. I hope to see you next year.
Some quick items for wrap-up and next season planning:

• Soon we'll send a link to an evaluation tool so you may share information about your experience this year and improve our project for next year. Please look for it within the next couple weeks. We hope you'll take the time to share. With 96 families involved this year, we have a wealth of information from which we can learn and grow.
• Please start discussing your participation plans for next year. Will you have the same share partner? Will you family want to move up to a whole share? Down to a half share? We'll call for interest in next year's project in the last couple weeks of season. We'll be asking soon about your plans for the next season. While your commitment won't be binding, we'll certainly appreciate knowing where you stand for next year's season.
• If you have friends interested in Irvington CSA, get them to email irvingtonagriculture@gmail.com right away with their interest in next season's wait list. The list is getting long, and my hunch is we're close to full already for next year. Just a hunch, but they need to let us know of their interest.
• Join us! We've already a few new committee members for next year. Won't you join us, too? In just our third year (2008) we'll appreciate as much help as is out there. Take it from me, this committee's work need not be burdensome. It's been a great way to meet neighbors and enjoy the summer.

Get to thinkin'

We'll look forward to hearing from you soon.

C

CSA for October 6th

Hello!!!

For this week:
Peppers
Some tomatoes
Salad Mix
Green Beans
Okra
Broccoli or Lettuce
Radishes
Sweet Potatoes

Extras:
Basil
Mint
Dill
Chives
Hot peppers

Extras for sale:
Salad Mix
Swiss Chard
Spinach
Mustard Greens
Red Beets
Carrots
Popcorn

Please email me with any orders by 1 on friday!
Thanks and have a blessed weekend
Mary

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

Extras for sale for Sept 1

Extras available for sale:
Tomatoes-all kinds!! 28.00 for a box or 2.00 ppCherry tomatoes-1.50 ppItalian golden-1.50 ppCanning tomatoes-5.00 a box(these are seconds)Hot peppers,jalapenos,hot banana peppers,cayenne all 3.00 pp
Red, white, yellow potatoes 15.00 for a half bushel or 1.00 pp
carrots-1.30 ppRed Beets-.60 ppHoneyMaple SyrupFlowers-3.50
Eggs are still low ...first come first served. Please order if you are interested.
As far as onions go there may be red available
There are a few red or yellow watermelon still available

please email me by 2 on friday.
Any questions- email me!

Blessings,
Mary

CSA September 1st

Good day to everyone!

We will be getting:
Tomatoes-different kinds
Bullhorn peppers
Potatoes-red or yellow
Winter acorn squash
Salad mix
Soy beans or sweet corn

Thanks and have an incredible weekend!

Hi All,

This week:
Tomatoes all kinds
Red Beets
Soy Beans
Okra
Red and Yellow Peppers
Swiss Chard
Sweet Corn( a little)

Extras-Hot Peppers, Basil, Parsley

Please refer to last weeks blog for the extras for sale.
Still very low on eggs-same as before, first come first served
No sausage til next season

PLEASE EMAIL ME BY 6 on friday(today)

Thanks and have a great weekend,
Mary

Extras for sale for August 18th

Tomatoes-all kinds!! 28.00 for a box or 2.00 pp
Cherry tomatoes-1.50 pp
Italian golden-1.50 pp
Canning tomatoes-5.00 a box(these are seconds)
Hot peppers,jalapenos,hot banana peppers,cayenne all 3.00 pp
There are a few canteloupe 2.00 and watermelons 4.00 available
Red, white, yellow potatoes 15.00 for a half bushel or 1.00 pp
Corn-3.75 per dozen
onions-.75 pp
carrots-1.30 pp
Red Beets-.60 pp
Honey
Maple Syrup
Flowers-3.50

Eggs are low, first come first served!
No more broccoli or sausage!!!

please email me by 1:00 on friday!
Thanks,
Mary

Eggs are low and no more sausage

Just a note to let you all know that eggs are running low, the heat and the time of year. The chickens dont produce as much.
The orders will be filled as first come first served.
Also there is no more sausage(dont cry) There will be none until next year.
Sorry!!
Thank you,
Mary

CSA August 18th

Greetings!
I have returned from hot and humid florida!
Here is the list for this week:

Sweet Corn
Tomatoes
possible cherry tomatoes
Bell Peppers
Red Potatoes
maybe October Beans

Please pray, hope, wish for rain!! The crops for now are doing well but the fall crops will not be happy unless they get some rain!
Thanks and have a great week!

Mary