Tips to Make Your Farm Pick-Up Go Smoothly

photo by Kendra Michaud

• Come to a CSA orientation. Our CSA orientations are held in May and include a tour of the farm, a run-through of the pick-up system, and a personal introduction to our farm manager and farm staff. Orientations are great opportunities for new shareholders to tour the farm, meet the farm staff, and ask questions before CSA distributions begin.
• Read your CSA newsletter. Our CSA newsletter, delivered by email each week during the CSA distribution season, will include a list of what crops are being harvested that week, recipes, and any important dates or information that you need to know. Our newsletter is the primary way we stay in touch with our shareholders during the growing season. It will also be posted on our website each week - CSA newsletters.
• When you arrive at the farm, make sure to check in with your distribution coordinator. He or she will give you any special information and be able to answer many of your questions about picking up your share.
• If you are splitting a share, remember to make arrangements with your share partner so that you can pick up the entire share at one time each week. You can meet your share partner at the farm (or carpool, which helps with the parking on the farm!) to pick your own vegetables, herbs and flowers; or you can alternate pick-up weeks with your share partner if that works better for you.
• Bring bags for your share. Bring a canvas bag or used grocery bags to hold your vegetables.
• Check the blackboard, pick-your-own stand and in-the-field signs for information about your share. Most of your vegetables will be harvested, rinsed (but not cleaned) and on the tables for you to select and weigh or count. Remember to take veggies only up to the limits listed on the blackboard. Vegetables and fruit should be washed before eating.
• Ask questions! There will always be a farm staff person at the CSA pick-up to answer your questions about the pick-up, pick-your-own crops, or our farming practices. We love to talk about farming, so please don’t hesitate to ask.
• Don’t forget your pick-your-own crops! (see below)

photo by Kendra Michaud

Pick Your Own Instructions

• Pick-your-own hours are during daylight hours every day except for Fridays and Saturdays. Please don’t come on Fridays and Saturdays!
• Check the PYO board on the red stand in the field for picking conditions, locations, and amounts available per share.
• The PYO stand also has scissors, rubber bands, bags, pint containers for your use.
• Please use caution while picking crops! Scissors are sharp! A first-aid kit is located in the PYO kiosk, and all farm staff are trained in first aid if you are hurt.
• Children are welcome in our fields. Please make sure that children are trained in the use of tools and that they harvest only pick-your-own crops or crops in the children’s garden. Eating in the fields is expected!
• Try to avoid rainy days, since water helps spread plant diseases.
• Please stay on pathways at all times and watch out for baby plants, especially in the herb and flower garden!