Membership Guidelines
2008 Ledge Ends Produce CSA Program
We ask all subscribers to carefully read the following document. These are the guidelines that keep our CSA running smoothly.
Newsletter
The farmers email a weekly newsletter to members. This is our main form of communicating to our membership about changes in distribution, upcoming events, and special news. If you do not read the newsletter, we cannot take responsibility for problems you experience as a result. The newsletter is available online at www.LedgeEndsProduce.com if you have trouble opening it by email.
Sharing Shares
It is not an accident that we offer only one share size. The reason is that we want to spend our time growing vegetables and keep the distribution as simple and straightforward as possible. We also want to make sure that everyone receives their fair share each week. Our solution is to evenly divide the harvest amongst our members. You can always share your veggies if you like, but please do so once you have left the pick up area. Our pick-up sites can become very busy and we ask that members not hold up the line by splitting their shares or rebagging things at the table. To minimize administrative headaches, we ask that there be only one contact person/couple for each share. This person will receive mailings and their name will appear on the sign-up sheet at the pick-up.
Hours of Operation
Please do not come to the pick-up early expecting to grab your share and go. Pick-ups start at 3:00pm. Your farmer needs ample time to set up the CSA area and early arrivals make this difficult. Please also make every effort to arrive before we close at 7:00pm. If you call us before closing time, we can bag out your share and put it in the cooler for you to pick up within 2 days.* Please call our cell phone as we may not receive your message if it is left on the farm’s answering machine.
Sign in Sheets
Each week at the pick up please check off your name on the sign in sheet. There is a sign in sheet for veggies and another for fruit. If you have a friend pickup for you, be sure to ask them to check off your name on this sheet.
Bags
In an effort to stay true to our earth friendly farming values we are eliminating the use of plastic grocery bags. Please bring a reusable bag or container to the pickup. We will also have reusable bags available for purchase. Also, please return any reusable containers such as pint containers for berries.
Produce Quantity
Each produce item is marked with a sign stating the maximum amount you may take. If you know that the amount is too much, please just take what you feel you can use.
Exchange Bin
We try to offer our members a great deal of choice, while encouraging them to try new foods regularly. Each week our members will be able to take a little bit of everything that we grow. If there are items members don’t want, they may choose to just leave them or they may exchange them using the exchange bin. If you see an item in the exchange bin that you’d prefer, you may take that instead.
Missed Pick-Ups
If you know you won’t be able to make it one week, you may:
1 Send a friend/relative to pick up your share. There is no need to write or call ahead.
2 Call ahead to let us know you won’t be able to make it to a pick-up and we can bag out produce for you and put it in the cooler at the farm*. Any CSA shares not retrieved within 2 days may be composted
Buying in Bulk
The share size is intended to feed your family for a week. If you desire more of any crop, please visit us at one of our farmers markets. If you would like a large amount of produce for canning or freezing, you may pre-order bulk produce through us and pick it up at the CSA pick-up. Wholesale prices will be charged.
*Directions to the cooler: When you arrive at the farm, park in the public parking area. Walk across the field up to the barn. Enter through the sliding door that faces the greenhouse. Just inside you will find the walk-in cooler. Your produce will be in a marked bag/box with your name on it. If there are items that should not be refrigerated, they will be found just outside of the cooler. Retrieve everything with your name on it. Be sure to close the door to the cooler after you find your stuff!!!
Our Growing Practices
Erik Eacker, the farmer at Ledge Ends Produce, is committed to growing fresh produce that is healthy for people and for the land. The farm is Certified Organic, the crops are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. We rely on an earth-friendly system of farming that maintains the fertility of the soil and protects the biodiversity of the farm.
