We met with the CSA CNY (www.csacny.org) planning board Wednesday this week. As they have; since 1998 contracted with Grindstone Farm to grow for their CSA, we met with them to discuss some of the changes we'd like to make from the existing CSA offerings, and the couple of folks from the planning group felt they were necessary changes, and were very supportive of moving forward supporting our CSA. Which is very exciting for us, as CSA CNY is a not for profit group of volunteers who are active in advertising and education for the benefit of organic agriculture, and other sustainable activities to build a brighter future.
While over the past few years, active involvement in the planning group has dwindled, there is still a core group of committed individuals who are motivated to table events, and put together advertising materials. It is my hope that we will see the involvement grow from it's present standing and bring the "community" back to the CSA model. So we are working together to come up with brochures to distribute at the upcoming (Dec 6&7)Plowshares Craft Fair, an annual event organized by the Syracuse Peace Council. (www.peacecouncil.net)
Since the group is volunteer based, we will be directing folks to our website for info and contacting to ensure an optimum level of customer service, and free the limited volunteer group up to work on other endeavors. We do encourage you to take part in planning meetings if you can, or volunteer in other ways in your communities, to raise awareness of sustainable agricultural practices, participation in community gardens, etc. If you cannot attend meetings, but would like to volunteer at the farm, distribute flyers, or just become active within your local community, and would like more tools or info, please contact me at [email protected] and I will do my best to help you. If you are interested in us giving a talk about CSA's, organic agriculture, or the local food movement, I would be happy to arrange such an event at your work, event, school, etc. Remember, CSA is a COMMUNITY effort!
Upon sign up there will be a member agreement form, as well as an option to go in and set preferences. This is so we can determine what folks really want to see in their shares based on what we grow, and help us in our field planning. Although we cannot guarantee that you will always get exactly what you want, we hope, by starting our first season CSA small; to personalize your share as much as possible. This in a way allows you to actively participate in the field plan, and your input will be utilized to determine what we will grow. Because we intend to be a CSA exclusive farm, your input is very important to us. While we want to provide you with foods you know your family likes, we also will encourage you to try new foods, by sharing recipes here on the Farm News Blog. I will do my best to add in descriptions of crops, but there are so many references for nutritional information, photos, recipes, and more, including Grindstonefarm.com; all over the web, I most likely will offer links to those sites and allow you to explore and learn more on your own, and free up time for us to farm. You will also have the opportunity to schedule vacations, make a payment plan, and enter preferred pickup days. As of now we have no confirmed pickup sites except on farm. We would like to have at least 10 shares to justify a pickup, and if you are interested in hosting a pick up site, please contact us. You will also have the opportunity to continue placing special orders from grindstone to be delivered with your share, as well as wholeshare orders. We will coordinate with Grindstone to make this work, as many present share members have expressed that they appreciate being able to have these options.
We are excited moving forward to have the support and encouragement from many of CSA CNY's shareholders over the past years, and thank those of you who have been supportive of Grindstone Farm in the past. It is our hope you will give us a springboard for our first season, while continuing to support Grindstone's growing efforts.
There is a 10% discount for paying in full by Jan 31, as well as a 5% discount for choosing on farm pickups. By choosing on farm pickups, you will have the chance to see where your food comes from, participate in u pick offerings, and save money. If you have any questions about our farm or our CSA, please contact us!
Also, please check out the links in this entry to see the many great things that CSA-CNY, Syracuse Peace Council, and Grindstone Farm have to offer. All three are incredible organisations and we look forward to continuing growing with them.
While over the past few years, active involvement in the planning group has dwindled, there is still a core group of committed individuals who are motivated to table events, and put together advertising materials. It is my hope that we will see the involvement grow from it's present standing and bring the "community" back to the CSA model. So we are working together to come up with brochures to distribute at the upcoming (Dec 6&7)Plowshares Craft Fair, an annual event organized by the Syracuse Peace Council. (www.peacecouncil.net)
Since the group is volunteer based, we will be directing folks to our website for info and contacting to ensure an optimum level of customer service, and free the limited volunteer group up to work on other endeavors. We do encourage you to take part in planning meetings if you can, or volunteer in other ways in your communities, to raise awareness of sustainable agricultural practices, participation in community gardens, etc. If you cannot attend meetings, but would like to volunteer at the farm, distribute flyers, or just become active within your local community, and would like more tools or info, please contact me at [email protected] and I will do my best to help you. If you are interested in us giving a talk about CSA's, organic agriculture, or the local food movement, I would be happy to arrange such an event at your work, event, school, etc. Remember, CSA is a COMMUNITY effort!
Upon sign up there will be a member agreement form, as well as an option to go in and set preferences. This is so we can determine what folks really want to see in their shares based on what we grow, and help us in our field planning. Although we cannot guarantee that you will always get exactly what you want, we hope, by starting our first season CSA small; to personalize your share as much as possible. This in a way allows you to actively participate in the field plan, and your input will be utilized to determine what we will grow. Because we intend to be a CSA exclusive farm, your input is very important to us. While we want to provide you with foods you know your family likes, we also will encourage you to try new foods, by sharing recipes here on the Farm News Blog. I will do my best to add in descriptions of crops, but there are so many references for nutritional information, photos, recipes, and more, including Grindstonefarm.com; all over the web, I most likely will offer links to those sites and allow you to explore and learn more on your own, and free up time for us to farm. You will also have the opportunity to schedule vacations, make a payment plan, and enter preferred pickup days. As of now we have no confirmed pickup sites except on farm. We would like to have at least 10 shares to justify a pickup, and if you are interested in hosting a pick up site, please contact us. You will also have the opportunity to continue placing special orders from grindstone to be delivered with your share, as well as wholeshare orders. We will coordinate with Grindstone to make this work, as many present share members have expressed that they appreciate being able to have these options.
We are excited moving forward to have the support and encouragement from many of CSA CNY's shareholders over the past years, and thank those of you who have been supportive of Grindstone Farm in the past. It is our hope you will give us a springboard for our first season, while continuing to support Grindstone's growing efforts.
There is a 10% discount for paying in full by Jan 31, as well as a 5% discount for choosing on farm pickups. By choosing on farm pickups, you will have the chance to see where your food comes from, participate in u pick offerings, and save money. If you have any questions about our farm or our CSA, please contact us!
Also, please check out the links in this entry to see the many great things that CSA-CNY, Syracuse Peace Council, and Grindstone Farm have to offer. All three are incredible organisations and we look forward to continuing growing with them.
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