Willowsford Farm CSA Memberships

OVERVIEW OF 2012 MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

Description: Become a CSA member and enjoy a weekly farm share of fresh, mixed vegetables and fruit. Each week you will receive about 8 items per share (6-10 depending upon the time of year). An item may be a pint of cherry tomatoes, a head of lettuce, a melon, 2-3 pounds of sweet potatoes, etc. See our Harvest Chart for seasonal availability.

Length of Season: 23 weeks, June through Thanksgiving

2012 Membership Price: $675

Two Pickup Options: Saturdays 10 am-2 pm or Wednesdays 3:30 pm-6:30 pm

Pickup Locations:
  •   Willowsford Farm, in The Grange at Willowsford
       (23510 Founders Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148 - Get Directions
  •   Boat House information center in The Greens at Willowsford
       (41095 Braddock Road, Aldie, VA 20105 - Get Directions

*Can't make it to one of these locations? Ask about our delivery options.

Extras: Willowsford Farm is proud to support the Virginia wine region and 2012 CSA memberships will include a bottle of wine and some other perks from Willowsford's vineyard partners in Loudoun County. Our CSA Members also receive weekly farm updates, cooking tips and recipes from Willowsford's culinary director, Bonnie Moore, as well as invitations to exclusive programs and events at the farm.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
Is CSA right for me?
How much are CSA memberships and when do I pay?
When does the growing season start and end?
Where and when do CSA members pick up their farm shares each week?
How much food is in a farm share?
Do you have half shares?
What if I can't make it on my pick-up day?
When picking up my share, will I have the option to purchase other items?
Is anything else included with my CSA membership?

What is community supported agriculture?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a concept that has gained remarkable popularity over the past 20 years as Americans have become more conscious about eating healthier, fresh foods that are also produced near where they live, allowing them to enjoy seasonal eating. CSA helps support farmers in a local area, and reduces the energy consumption and pollution required to transport fresh produce to consumers in far away markets.

Here's how CSA works:
Participating farms offer a subscription or a membership to residents of a community near their farm. This subscription entitles the residents to regular deliveries of produce from the farm throughout the growing season, based on that farm's specialties and overall availability. The consumers enjoy the health benefits of eating the freshest produce possible, and can learn more about the food they're eating from the farmers themselves. In addition, the farmers are able to get to know the people who consume their goods. This same arrangement will be offered at Willowsford Farm, which is overseen by the Willowsford Conservancy. Willowsford residents will be able to enjoy produce grown right in the community - it doesn't get much more local than that - while supporting Loudoun County's rich agricultural heritage.

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Is CSA right for me?
Do you like to try new things, enjoy cooking, and don't mind being surprised each week with what's in your farm share? CSA membership is for customers who want to ensure they get fresh, local food from the Farm, and who want to eat in season.  Joining our CSA membership is a seasonal cooking and eating adventure - you may find vegetables or fruit you haven't seen before. We'll help you discover new and delicious ways to enjoy them!

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How much are CSA memberships and when do I pay?
Memberships are $675 for the 2012 season. Payment is due at registration. You may also opt to split your payment by paying 50% at registration and the remaining 50% by April 30th.

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When does the growing season start and end?
Because every Spring is different, it's hard to say exactly when veggies will ripen. We expect to start the 2012 season the last week in May or the first week in June. We will let you know just when that is, as we get closer to the beginning of the season. The season will last 23 weeks, with the final farm share pickup just before Thanksgiving.

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Where and when do CSA members pick up their farm shares each week?
There are two pickup options for our 2012 memberships: Either Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. We have a limited number of each option this year, so sign up early to reserve the one you prefer.

Our pickup locations:

*Can't make it to one of these locations? Ask about our special delivery options.

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How much food is in a farm share?
We offer one share size, which consists of around 8 items, including fresh vegetables, herbs, and some fruit. We grow 75 varieties of vegetables and herbs, so you can expect to see many of your favorites and some that may be new to you. See our Harvest Chart for approximate months when each vegetable is available.

Each family or individual has different eating habits, so it is difficult to give an exact answer. A share is designed to be approximately 6-10 items, give or take a bit - in spring shares are smaller and lighter, and in summer and fall they will be heavier, and may have more items. An item is an average purchasable portion, such as a head of lettuce, a bag of salad mix, a bunch of beets, a portion of sweet potatoes, a melon, a bunch of basil or kale...

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Do you have half shares?
No - but we encourage you to split your membership with a friend or neighbor. A great way to do this is to alternate pick-up weeks, so that one family picks up every odd week, and the other picks up every even week.

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What if I can't make it on my pickup day?
It is your responsibility to make sure your farm share is picked up on your day. You can always have a friend or neighbor pick up for you. That said, we understand that there are emergencies and unusual circumstances. Please let us know as soon as you can. Farm shares that are not picked up will be donated to a local charity to help the needy.

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When picking up my farm share, will I have the option to purchase other items?
Yes, please do! During CSA pickup hours at our Willowsford Farm location, we will be offering some additional products from Willowsford Farm and periodically, through our relationships with other local farmers and producers, we will also have available some other unique products selected for their quality and flavor.

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Is anything else included with my CSA membership?
Willowsford Farm is proud to support the Virginia wine region and 2012 CSA memberships will include a bottle of wine and some other perks from Willowsford's vineyard partners in Loudoun County. Our CSA Members also receive weekly farm updates, cooking tips and recipes from Willowsford's culinary director, Bonnie Moore, as well as invitations to exclusive programs and events at the farm.