Summer CSA: What Members Need To Know!
Summer CSA week 14, 2021
With our first summer CSA box coming up, you want to know how to get the most out of your CSA experience. Read on to find out where, when, and how to make sure you get the correct box, learn about features that maybe you didn’t know we offer, and procedures for when something comes up.
If you have any remaining questions, feel free to reach out to our lead farmer, Caleb, at caleb@winterspringcsa.com or 262-689-9938. That’s one of the great perks of being our CSA member; you have direct access to the folks growing your food.
By working together, we can easily accomplish the goal of getting you the best and freshest local food available throughout the season with as little food waste as possible. To accomplish this, we cover many bases on our end. This includes all things pertaining to the production of the vegetables and herbs, collecting the eggs and mushroom orders from partner farmers, sending out a special e-newsletter each week, and delivering your order to your selected drop-off location.
The role that you play as a CSA member includes the initial sign-on for the season and costs paid for the CSA, retrieving your order from your drop-off location on CSA day according to your subscription, and getting ready to make some magic happen in the kitchen! With a variety of nutritious foods to keep you and your household well-fed, you will be enjoying many favorites and trying some new things!
To prepare for your first CSA day, here’s a foolproof checklist to avoid any confusion while we get into the swing of things.
The first CSA pick-up day for every-week and group A every-other-week members is Thursday, June 8th, 2023. If you are group B, your first pick-up will be June 15th, 2023. Our Summer CSA box subscriptions are always delivered on Thursdays.
Before pick-up, you need to know a few things: what size share you ordered (small or full size), any add-ons like eggs, flowers, or mushrooms you ordered, what pick-up location you chose, and if you chose the every-other-week delivery option you’ll need to know if you are A week or B week. You can find all of this information in your confirmation email.
Check the hours of operation at your pick-up location. Be aware that you may not be able to pick up your share after hours, and our pick-up locations are not required to hold your share after the pick-up day.
Set a reminder in your phone, or planner, with information on when and where you will be picking up each week.
If you chose the option to pick up on the farm, please pick up your share between the hours of 11 AM-8 PM. We have limited cooler space, and cannot commit to holding your order past 24 hours. Please see Guidelines for Visiting the Farm for more info.
When you show up to pick up your share, correctly identify the size you ordered. “Full Shares” and “Every-Other-Week Shares” will be in a box marked as a ¾ bushel box in the corner, while “Small Shares” will be in a box marked as a ½ bushel box. Click here to see an example of the box sizes.
Regardless of where you pick up, there will be a Pick-Up Sheet with your name (or the name associated with the account) next to a list of what you ordered. This includes the size of the box and any add-ons that you have for that week. Please, this is extra important: check off your name on the Pick-Up Sheet when you pick up. We live by the pick-up sheet!
Collect the items listed by your name on the pick-up sheet into a bag or box that you bring with you, and fold the wax CSA box neatly and stack it nearby. Please avoid tearing the box as we need it to last for the duration of the season. We pick up those boxes weekly, and we need them back to get orders out every week. Please do not take the box with you, as they are costly to replace and we can’t afford to run out during the growing season!
Check your email and make sure you have received the CSA newsletter for that week. We recommend adding caleb@winterspringcsa.com to your contacts so that it doesn’t get delivered to your spam or promotions folder. In it, you will find information about how to identify, store, process, and make food with the contents of the box, farm news, special offerings, and more. We get the newsletter out by 2 PM on CSA day. If you don’t see it, please check that the email you are using is the one associated with your account, check the spam folder, and if that doesn’t work, you can call Caleb for further assistance. Special note for every-other-week shares: you will get a newsletter every week, even on your off weeks.
We enjoy your feedback! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned CSAer, we love to hear how we’re doing, what you got cookin’, and what you’d like to see in the future. We will send out a survey around week 10 and after week 20, so there are multiple opportunities to share. Communication is welcome and encouraged!
We are thrilled to be your farm for the season. It means everything to have your trust and support for the work we do. We all do better when we all do better, and after over half a decade of working for and managing CSA, it is in this spirit that we joyfully continue the process of clearing the path back to traditional, sustainable foodways. CSA is the backbone of our farm, and we are so grateful and inspired by all of the people that we get to share the amazing abundance of this land with through food. Thank you!!!
