To our members:
The purpose of this short guide to the CSA at Jubilee Farm is to acquaint new members and remind the rest of us of the policies that we have adopted over the years regarding our Summer CSA Session. We don't like to be rule oriented, but we've also found as we've grown that everyone feels better if we are clear about how the CSA works. These guidelines are certainly not "stamped in the bricks," and we welcome comments and suggestions.
We want to thank each of you for supporting our farm, and hope that you find here not only quality organic produce, but an opportunity to witness, appreciate, and be involved in the miracle of nurturing small handfuls of seeds into bountiful nourishment for our bodies and spirits.
Erick, Wendy, and Julie Haakenson
1. What is CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship between farmers and members of the community who want to support local agriculture and enjoy fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables.
At Jubilee Farm the program works like this: People become members by buying either a Family share or a Couples share depending on how large their family is and how many vegetables they usually eat. When produce is ready in the spring, members come to the farm once a week to pick up their "share". A part of each week's share is harvested by us and a part is u-pick.
2. When does the Summer Session of Jubilee Farm's CSA begin and end?
Our starting date is usually the second week in June, although it could be later or earlier depending on what the spring is like. The Summer Session lasts 20 weeks, and usually goes to the end of October.
3. Can I "share a share" with a neighbor or friend?
People mean different things by "sharing a share." Some people mean that they sometimes find at the end of a week they haven't eaten all their produce and they give some of it to a friend or relative. That is totally acceptable, as far as we are concerned. Once you take your share away from the farm, it is yours to do with what you wish.
We also are aware that to save time and cut down on driving, some members "co-op" their efforts and have one person from their neighborhood pick up shares for their neighbors who are members. This too is completely acceptable.
But often people mean by "sharing a share" that they want to go in with another family to buy just one share and then alternate weeks coming out to the farm. This is the kind of "sharing a share" that for the last several years we have asked members not to do, and continue to ask them not to do. There are a number of reasons.
Unlike many of the CSAs in our area, we do a lot of u-pick. Some of our planning is predicated on knowing that most families can only eat a certain amount of beans (for example), and that even though beans will be on the u-pick board week after week, most members will u-pick only a certain amount for their families. When we have two families sharing a share, that membership typically removes a disproportionately larger quantity of food from the farm than the shares taken by other members. This makes our planning harder, and is really not fair to everyone. We know that not all members take exactly the same amount of food. But having two families using the u-pick seems to us to present at least the appearance of taking advantage of the system in a way we don't want to promote.
Another problem we've experienced is that bookkeeping (which farmers often loathe) becomes much more complicated. Usually one of the "sharers" sends in an application in their name. But other "sharers" send in checks. In the past when members were sharing shares, we were forever getting "phantom" checks, having no idea what membership they were for. This issue was compounded by the fact that when we allowed members to share a share, shares were not only split two ways, but sometimes three and even four ways. The result was chaos in accounting and the feeling of many members that those who "shared a share" were getting more than their fair share.
The bottom line is that our CSA doesn't work for everyone. Members who purchase a Couples Share pay just a little over $20 a week for their membership. We assume that most members will miss three out of the 20 weeks, which brings their actual weekly cost to $25 a week. It seems to us that twenty-five dollars is a small investment in supporting local, organic agriculture. It also seems that relative to most families' food budgets, this is a small amount. We are an organic vegetable, fruit, and flower farm. It seems to us that people who aren't able or willing to support our farm, or who aren't able or willing to utilize a minimum of twenty-five dollars a week probably are in that group of people for whom our CSA does not work. We certainly don't mean to be exclusive in any way, but neither can we be all things to all people.
4. Are the boxes of equal volume (and value) each of the 20 weeks?
No. The season starts slowly, with a small volume of mostly green vegetables for the first couple of weeks. There is also very little (if any) u-pick for the first couple of weeks. Then things begin to change rapidly, and by July the boxes have increased in size. August, September and October find us in the peak of production, with larger quantities and greater varieties of produce, fruit and flowers.
The financial "value" of the membership (setting aside the important issues of supporting local, organic agriculture) must be assessed in the over-all season, not any single week.
5. When can I pick up my share?
Pick up days are:
Tuesday: noon - 6:00
Wednesday: noon - 4:00
Friday: noon - 6:00
Saturday: 10:00am - 2:00pm.
When you apply for membership, you choose one of these days.
On your pick-up day, you are welcome to arrive before noon (or ten on Saturday morning). But because we harvest and clean produce right up to starting time, we don't open the barn doors until then.
6. Once I've chosen a day, can I switch to another day?
Once chosen, we ask that you stick to your scheduled pick-up day. We harvest in the morning and need to know how many shares to harvest.
If you find the initial choice inconvenient, we will happily allow a change for the remainder of the season. We cannot, however, support random changes week to week.
7. What if I can't make it by 6:00 PM on my pick-up day?
This happens from time to time. If you're rushing trying to get here, but think you won't make it, relax, give us a call (425-222-4558). We will pack a box for you, label it and put it on the porch. We'll also leave the "u-pick" board out so you'll know what and how much to harvest (more on u-pick in items 14-20 below).
8. What if, for unforeseen reasons, I find I just can't get to the farm on my pick-up day?
On the rare occasion that events outside your control prevent you from sticking to your well laid plans, please call to schedule a different pick up day for that week. Hopefully these changes are few and far between, but when needed we understand. This is an area we don't wish to police; you must monitor yourself. We harvest based on the number of members scheduled to pick up and need to keep this count close, so your call is important.
9. What if I know in advance I will be out of town on my pick-up day? Can I get the produce later or have my cost pro-rated?
We do not pro-rate or "store up" unused weeks during the Summer Session. The logistics of trying to keep track of missed pick-ups is more than we wish to take on. We have established the following policy that we believe to be in keeping with the spirit of CSA:
1. If you are going to miss a pick-up, you are free to have a friend, neighbor, or relative pick up your share for you. You'd be surprised how ingratiating this can be!
2. Just have whoever is picking up for you tell whoever is in the market—usually Julie—that they are picking up for you. We'll help them through the pick-up process.
3. You may also request, as many members do, that we donate your share to the local food bank. We work with the Carnation branch of Hope Link, and we have been donating unused shares as well as excess harvest to the food bank for years. They are very appreciative of the contributions!
10. Does the farm deliver produce?
Yes, we do deliver produce to depots as an option. If you want to have delivery,
you need to select that option when you sign up. There is a two-dollars/week
($50 for the whole season) charge for the delivery option, which we will
bill you for.
If you sign up for the delivery option, you can still come to the farm to pick up if you wish. But if you decide to do that, you need to contact us by phone or e-mail by noon on the Monday of the week you wish to come to the farm.
During the Fall, Winter and Spring six-week sessions we offer depot delivery on the Eastside and in Seattle. See our web page http://jubileefarm.org for locations of depots. Fall, Winter and Spring sessions are current on our web site and are generally as follows:
Fall – November to mid-December
Winter – early February to mid-March
Early Spring – mid-March to mid-April
Late Spring – late-April to first week of June
11. Can kids come to the farm?
Yes, children are welcome! In fact, we have "kids' activities" on Tuesdays and Fridays during July and August just for them (see specifics about "Farm School" in question # 14). We do ask that parents keep track of their kids while on the farm. It's tempting to just let them run, but unfortunately, there are no truly safe "sanctuaries" anymore; we all need to know where our kids are at all times. We have both an inviting, but dangerous river and a busy county road which run through the farm. Farm equipment also poses a danger. Parents need to be vigilant.
12. Can I go swimming at the farm?
No, you can't. The river is more visible now that we are in a riparian restoration project. That "visibility" will continue until the native trees and plants form a hedge. Everyone needs to know the river is deep, swift, and potentially dangerous. Our insurance does not allow us to have members swim in the river. Sorry.
King County maintains McDonald Park in King County that offers swimming access to the river. It is only minutes from the farm, and a beautiful place to visit and swim.
13. Can pets come to the farm?
No. We strongly discourage bringing pets to the farm at all, but if they are brought they must remain in your vehicle for three reasons:
1. We have chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, cows, and various other animals here at the farm. Pets of any kind (especially dogs), leashed or not, can cause a lot of problems for domesticated livestock.
2 .We also know that although most pet owners are considerate and clean up after their pets, some do not. We have had the unpleasant task of doing the "clean-up," and more than a few members have had the downright disgusting task of cleaning shoes "after the fact."
3. Additionally, we grow food crops and animals entering the fields present sanitation and health problems. For these reasons, we ask members not to bring pets. If you must bring pets, please keep them in your vehicles. Thanks.
14. What and when is the "Farm School"?
Each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during July and August we invite the children to join us for some kind of farm activity. Sometimes we plant, sometimes we harvest, sometimes we learn about farm animals by doing chores and collecting eggs. Sometimes we "play."
Tuesday activities are at 12:30, Wednesday activities are at 2:00, Friday activities are at 3:30 and Saturday activities are at noon, in order to accommodate different nap schedules.
15. What do I need to bring when I come for my pick-up?
Please remember to bring a box or bags to bring your produce home. Many members bring ice chests or other kinds of coolers as it is often warm on summer afternoon pick-up days. If your produce is in a cooler, it will stay fresher and you'll be more relaxed and less likely to feel compelled to rush off.
You should also bring scissors for u-pick (especially for flowers) and gloves if you want to keep your hands clean. Many members bring vases to take their flowers home in.
16. Can I substitute something I don't like for something I do?
No, you cannot substitute. But you are not required to take anything you don't want or care for! The produce we provide is often more than most members can use. Many of our members tell us they feel they can choose what they want from what is offered and still get all they need. We take that into account in our planning.
We also have a "trade table" where you can exchange items if you wish. The trade table is operated on the honor system and we ask members to try trading equally. Clearly, trading a bunch of radishes for two pounds of heirloom tomatoes would be unequal. If you have questions about "equal value," ask Julie or whoever is tending the market.
17. What is "u-pick"?
In addition to the produce we harvest and have available for pick-up in the market, members may u-pick certain items almost every week. We have a list posted in the barn that tells what items are available for u-pick.
18. What items are available for u-pick during various parts of the season?
Flowers are available throughout almost the entire season. Peas in the spring. Strawberries are ripe early and again on and off throughout the season. Beans, edamame, cherry tomatoes, dill, cilantro, and basil can all be picked during the middle of the session. Later we have fall raspberries. Parsley, cutting celery, chives, sorrel, borage, and nasturtiums can be harvested in small quantities most weeks.
19. How do I find u-pick items?
You can always ask Julie or whoever is working in the market. We mark u-pick items in the field with blue barrels at the beginning of the u-pick rows. We also will provide a map of the location of all u-pick items.
20. How much can I take when u-picking?
Available produce and quantities are posted on the u-pick list located in the barn (on the porch after hours). Please remember that if something is not on the list, that means that it is unavailable to everyone, and you may not harvest it.
There will be one of the following three instructions for u-pick:
1. "Take a specific amount"
If we say a specific amount, well, that's what you should harvest for yourself. We will provide appropriate containers. Often we use our produce bags as a measurement for quantifying the u-pick. For example, if we say one bag, we mean one of the produce bags you find throughout our market. "One bag" does not mean a 50 gallon garbage bag you bring from home! We mean one of the produce bags from our market. If we say "half-a-bag," you just have to estimate when you're bag is half full. Remember that you don't "have" to take it all if you can't use it, but please never take more than your share.
If the u-pick board gives poundage, for example "one pound," or "half-a-pound," we'll have a scale on the blue barrel at the beginning of the u-pick row.
2. "Pick and Eat"
If the u-pick board says "pick and eat," that means there is not enough for everyone to take a pound, bag, or carton, but there is something. In these situations we ask you and your kids to pick what you want to eat while in the field. This does not mean you can pick into a container to eat somewhere else at some other time. We need to be consistent on this. Strawberries are often on the "pick and eat" list. They are fun to pick and yummy to eat, but if you take berries with you, then you're not doing the "pick and eat."
3. "Take what you can use up to"
If the board says "take what you can use up to . . . ," that means we have an abundance of that particular item, and we want you to take what you and your immediate family (not extended family, neighbors, or friends) can use within the limit set. For example, we will say "take what you can use up to two full bags," or "take what you can use up to two pounds."
21. Can children u-pick?
Yes, children can u-pick. This is one of the important and valuable activities of the farm. We do ask, however, that children u-pick only under an adult's supervision. One day I saw a child "picking" beans by pulling the entire plant out of the ground and then plucking off the individual beans. This young person had been told by a parent to "go pick beans."
We are very aware that with children "helping" in the fields, there will be some damage. We can live with this, as long as it is a learning experience. A parent harvesting and teaching his or her child to harvest is an experience well worth the risk of damaged plants, and if under your supervision your child injures a plant you ought not feel bad about it—that's part of the learning. We only ask that children harvesting have that parent with them!
22. What should I do if I witness "u-pick abuse"?
If you feel strongly that you are witnessing someone abusing our u-pick policies, the best thing to do is to politely ask if they have read this guideline about u-pick. There is probably some kind of misunderstanding or they are one of several members who do pick-ups for neighborhood groups. If the misunderstanding can't be resolved, please contact one of the farm workers and we'll take it from there. We don't want to be "veggie police," or make anyone else to feel that they have to enforce rules. But we are a community and we can't be blind to abuse. If it is occurring, please let us know immediately so we can maintain fairness between our members.
There has certainly been some abuse of "u-pick" in the past. But much of that has been because we have not been clear on explaining the guidelines. We believe now with clearer guidelines the "abuse" issue will not arise.
23. Can I u-pick on the weekend or some other day?
Yes, you can u-pick on weekends. We understand that some members like to come as a family for their u-pick, and that in some situations that can't happen on pick-up days. We now have a pick-up day on Saturday, which would be a great weekend day to come if you can't u-pick on your day. On Sunday you will be on your own, but we will have the u-pick board posted so you'll know what is available. Other days (except Monday) we are here.
24. Can I bring a lunch or dinner to eat at the farm?
Yes, we welcome people to come and have meals at the farm. We ask that you clean up after yourselves and keep track of your kids. Many members enjoy picnics at the farm and we've never had any problems.
25. Can I bring guests to the farm?
Yes, of course. We're always happy to see members bring friends and visiting family members. Please feel free to do that!
26. Could I use the farm for a work/school/church function?
The answer to this question is "yes." Our farm is always open for members to visit and bringing groups is almost never a problem for us. If the groups are large, and if your function would require special use of our facilities, there will be a charge. It is best to let us know in advance about the group function you have in mind.
If you have guests who can't come with you on your pick-up day, you are certainly welcome to come by to show them the farm at any time.
27. Can I purchase extra produce?
Yes. We haven't done this in the past, but many members have requested it. Please email or call us prior to your pick-up day to find out if the produce you'd like is available. If we have your order ahead of time, we can harvest it when we harvest the shares. We will charge farmer's market prices, and let you know in advance what the price will be.
28. Are other items available in the market?
There are other items that are available in the market. Fresh eggs, ice cream/popsicles, and water are available. We also have items from our farm such as honey, pickled beans, salsa, jam, etc. We accept cash or checks for these items.
29. Can I volunteer at the farm from time to time?
You may certainly volunteer--and many members do--but you need to volunteer during our working hours. Mornings are best but afternoons from 2:00-6:00 work well too. It is best if you e-mail or call a day or two before you plan to come in.
30. What if my questions haven't been addressed in this handbook?
We're sure there are issues we haven't addressed. Please e-mail us (jubileefarm@hotmail.com) with any other questions. We will be constantly revising this handbook so your questions will help us to cover other important topics!