WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Organic farming is a form of agriculture which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. As far as possible, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and tilth to supply plant nutrients, and to control weeds, insects and other pests. According to the international organic farming organization IFOAM: "The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings." Approximately 31 million hectares (75 million acres) worldwide are now grown organically.
With the advent of the National Organic Standards program in 2002, there are detailed rules and regulations we need to abide by; if you wish to know how Live Earth Farm 'farms', please read our general growing practices. (Growing The Crops)
WHAT DOES 'CSA' STAND FOR?
CSA stands for "Community Supported Agriculture." According to Wikipedia, "CSAs generally focus on the production of high quality foods for a local community, often using organic or biodynamic farming methods, and a shared risk membership structure." In return, "the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production... By CSA theory, the more a farm embraces whole-farm, whole-budget support, the more it can focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste or financial loss... Thus individuals, families or groups do not pay for x pounds or kilograms of produce, but rather support the budget of the whole farm and receive weekly what is seasonally ripe."
Live Earth Farm doesn't have members participate in growing or harvesting food, as some CSAs do. You can learn more about how our CSA works.
IS LIVE EARTH FARM CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
Yes. Our organic certifier is 'Global Culture' and is USDA accredited.
The Global Culture website is www.globalculture.us, their phone number is 707.464.6913 and email is globalculture@earthlink.net. Either Chris or Linda Van Hook would be happy to talk to you.
HOW LONG IS YOUR SEASON?
Our regular season is typically 33 or 34 weeks long, depending on the year. It starts in early April, and the final delivery is the middle of November (the week before Thanksgiving). You can get a snapshot of the flow of a typical season by looking at our Harvest Schedule. We do have a winter season also (see next question).
I HEARD YOU HAVE A WINTER SEASON TOO?
IS THIS TRUE?
Yes it's true! Because crops grow much slower in winter, we don't offer as many shares as during the regular season, so winter shares are typically reserved for existing members only. If you're interested in a winter share, become a member during our regular season! And stay alert for our email announcing the sign-up for our winter share. (Winter Season)
HOW MUCH FOOD DOES A MEMBER GET EACH WEEK?
The amount of food you receive each week fluctuates over the course of the season (with proportionally more during the productive summer and fall), but generally speaking the Family Share will receive 11 to 13 items, and the Small Share will receive 9 to 12 items. Both shares have mostly the same contents, however each week there are typically a few items in one share which the other does not get (and visa versa), but we try to balance this out so that everyone gets some of everything we grow over the course of the season. Also, each week the Family Share has more in quantity of a couple items than the Small Share. Every week we list 'What's in the box' in the newsletter.
As a matter of fact, the best way to get a feel for how much food you might get in any given week is to look at a couple of our past newsletters. Click on 'What's in the box this week' to see what your share might look like. (You can select ones from different times during the year also, April as opposed to July as opposed to October, for example.)
HOW MUCH FRUIT COMES WITH THE FAMILY AND SMALL SHARES?
Some fruit is always included in every Family Share throughout the season. The Small Share will not always have fruit, but we try to see that does as much as possible. Strawberries are our 'staple' fruit crop, and the Family Share will typically receive one or two baskets every week for most of the season (the Small Share typically will get one basket). In late summer we start to have apples (4-5 different varieties) and pears (Warrens, a French butter pear) which will accompany our strawberries (if the weather holds) until the end of the season in November. Once in a while if we have enough of one of our other fruit crops, we will include it in your share. The quantity of fruit that comes with your share may not be sufficient to carry you through the week, however, so if you are a fruit lover, we recommend you sign-up for the Extra Fruit Option (or our 'Fruit Bounty' Option if the Extra Fruit is sold out).
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'PASTURED EGGS'?
When we say 'pastured' we do not mean 'pasteurized' (i.e. the process of heating foods to a certain temperature for the purpose of destroying certain viruses, bacteria, etc.) – 'pastured eggs' is just our shorthand for describing eggs that have come from hens that roam freely on pasture and are able to eat bugs and green things in addition to their organic feed.
Please read more about pastured eggs from TLC Ranch!
HOW DOES THE 'EGG OPTION' WORK?
The Egg Option can be added to your share the same as our other 'options.' You sign up for eggs just like you do your share. You cannot get eggs on demand (i.e. you can't contact us on occasion and request a dozen eggs), or a la carte (i.e. get eggs only, but no box of veggies). It is a commitment for the season, and an item you receive every week like your CSA share.
Our Egg Options come in half-dozen increments only, so if you want a dozen eggs per week (for example), you need to remember to specify a quantity of "2" egg options when you sign up!
I HEARD I COULD GET RAW GOAT MILK (AND YOGURT, KEFIR CHEESES ETC) WITH MY CSA SHARE?
A qualified yes. You can get fresh, raw, delicious goat milk and handcrafted yogurt and cheeses delivered through our CSA. You do not purchase your goat milk share through Live Earth Farm, however (like you do the eggs). In fact, you don't purchase 'milk' at all – you purchase a share in a goat for the season, and Lynn Selness of Summer Meadow's Farm milks your goat for you. Your milk is then delivered to you in an ice chest that comes along with your CSA share to your pick-up location.
You order goat milk shares and pay Lynn directly – not Live Earth Farm – so don't contact the farm about the goat milk. Please call Lynn at 831.786.8966 and she will give you all the details. (Summer Meadow's Farm)
WHERE DO I GET THE NEWSLETTER?
Every member automatically receives our newsletter via email.
We also send it to "friends of Live Earth Farm," so if you'd like to receive it, just add yourself to the emailing list! We use Constant Contact to send you our newsletters, which has some nice security features that prevent you from getting inadvertently spammed. (We don't want to be anyone's spam!!)
Our newsletters are also uploaded to our archive (later in the week), so if you missed a newsletter somehow, you can always view them online.
DO I GET TO CHOOSE WHAT I GET IN MY BOX EACH WEEK?
No. Farmer Tom makes every effort to grow a wide variety of crops so that there is always a good seasonal selection in your box each week. In a lot of ways, this is part of the fun – every week, it's like getting a 'surprise' box!
IS THERE A WAY TO PREVIEW WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE BOX?
A guarded yes -- if you get our e-newsletter. Typically our newsletter is emailed out on Monday nights (sometimes not until Tuesday night) for that week's deliveries. Look for a section called "What's in the box this week" which spells out all the fruit and vegetables that will be in that week's share. Please remember that farmer Tom makes his best estimate of what will be ripe and ready for picking by harvest day, however occasionally we will make last minute substitutions that will not be reflected in the newsletter. The newsletter is uploaded to our archive later in the week, so you will only see the current veggie list there after the fact.
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE SOMETHING THAT COMES IN MY BOX?
At every pickup location, there should be an 'Exchange Box' or 'Trades Box' where members can put produce they don't want, and swap it for something else in the box which some other member didn't want. This works remarkably well, especially at our bigger pickup locations, as different members have different tastes, and you'd be surprised what you find there sometimes. The Exchange Box (okay, the pickup location in general) is often a place to meet and chat with other members, so next thing you know you may find yourself keeping those beet greens after all, because someone just told you of a wonderful way to prepare them and you can't wait to try it! If there is no obvious 'Exchange Box' set up, feel free to use one of the empty produce boxes to start one.
HOW AND WHERE DO I PICK UP MY PRODUCE?
Every week we deliver your boxes of goodies to convenient locations in your area. Read all about it (Become A Member). Once you become a member, we email you with the address, directions and instructions for your particular location.
CAN I ESTABLISH A NEW PICK-UP LOCATION?
In general, no, but on occasion yes. We added many new pick-up sites in 2005 but since we are now selling out before the season begins, we don't necessarily need more pick-up locations. We occasionally consider new ones if the proposed site is within our delivery range and meets certain criteria. Please contact us for more information if you think you may want to do this.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM OUT OF TOWN? OR I CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE PICKUP SITE IN TIME? OR I JUST FORGET TO PICK UP?
1) If you know you are going to be out of town, you are welcome to have a friend or neighbor pick up your share during your absence (please read IMPORTANT, below) OR, we can make arrangements so that the share is donated (if you choose the donation option, please contact us at least a couple days in advance, preferably by Friday of the prior week, so that we can arrange for this).
2) If you know you can't make it in time to pick up your share, you are welcome to send someone else to retrieve it for you, however please also read IMPORTANT, below.
3) If you simply forget, we cannot refund or replace your missed share. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to remember to pick up your share on the correct day and during the appointed time. Forgotten shares are not wasted though, as whoever is in charge of your pickup location will see it is donated or otherwise put to good use.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PICK UP YOUR SHARE AFTER THE STATED PICK-UP TIME OR THE NEXT DAY unless you have made specific arrangements ahead of time to do so. Many of our pick-up sites are at private homes, and we ask you not to disturb them at later hours or very early in the morning.
IMPORTANT
Whenever you have someone else pick up your share for you, make sure whoever it is knows the pickup protocol. If they accidentally take what is not theirs, they will short-change another CSA member. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! If you have ever been the last one to pick up and stuff was missing, you will understand why we stress this rule!
CAN I TRY IT OUT FOR A SHORT TIME TO SEE IF I LIKE IT?
No – we've discontinued our '4-Week Trial' option. That being said, we would never force someone to pay for a full season if they found they were unhappy with it. If you sign up with us, you must sign up for the full season; however you may cancel after a minimum commitment of 4 weeks (and advance notice of at least 2 weeks, so that we have time to find someone else to take your share). Please read our Cancellation Policy and Refund Policy for more details.
CAN I SPLIT MY SHARE WITH SOMEONE? HOW DOES THAT WORK?
Thanks for asking about this! Please read our policy on share-splitting.
HOW DO I BEST STORE MY PRODUCE SO IT DOESN'T SPOIL?
GREAT QUESTION! As a CSA member you become part of a community, and thus connected to people who have been doing this for a few years and have learned through experience what works best. Here are some past examples:
The community is constantly trading tips such as these in the weekly newsletter. Which leads to the next question... recipes!
WHERE DO I GET GOOD RECIPES FOR USING WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
Every week we put recipes in our newsletter, which we tailor according to the content in your box. The recipes are also all posted online, and searchable by key ingredient. Recipes go back as far as our 1998 season (so the selection of ideas is now quite vast!), and are updated every week with the current newsletter's recipe(s) during the season.
CAN MEMBERS HARVEST THEIR OWN FOOD?
Typically all the harvesting is done by us.
IS THE FARM OPEN TO VISITORS?
Yes. Members are always welcome to visit, in addition to the already scheduled farm events organized throughout the season (Calendar of Events).
ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AT THE FARM?
Live Earth Farm offers farm apprenticeships and farm education internships to interested, motivated and qualified individuals. Keep in mind that this is limited to one or two individuals for a season. If you are serious about an apprenticeship or internship, contact the farm in winter or early spring for the coming year. Or if you just want to volunteer to experience life on the farm there are possibilities as well.
CAN I PAY BY CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL?
Yes! We are using a slick new CSA management system for signup and payment called Farmigo which accepts and processes payments from Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express, and PayPal.
We can also take payment by credit card over the phone.
Live Earth Farm also has a PayPal account, so if you need to pay us for something and have your own PayPal account, you can email your payment to farmers@cruzio.com.
I SIGNED UP TO PAY MONTHLY BY CHECK, AND SENT IN MY POST-DATED CHECKS FOR THE SEASON, BUT I HAVE NO GOOD SYSTEM FOR REMEMBERING TO DEDUCT THEM FROM MY BALANCE IN MY CHECKBOOK EVERY MONTH. ANY IDEAS?
You bet! A simple, reliable way to do this is to list the checks on a post-it type note and stick this right in your check ledger. You can easily move it forward as you go, entering the appropriate check amounts from the note into your ledger each month.
