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CSA Membership Information
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| MEMBER NEWSLETTERS |
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Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA,
is one of the most healthy, economical and environmentally friendly ways to eat! This is a wonderful option for both farmer
and consumer. As a consumer, you purchase a membership - or share - for the farm each year prior to the start of the season.
The farmer can then plan his field more efficiently, knowing that he has a market for everything that is grown! This allows
the farmer to be adventurous, usually planting over one hundred varieties of fruits and vegetables, to provide a well balanced,
diverse diet for everyone. Likewise, the consumer is encouraged to be adventurous, by learning to eat with the seasons and
trying whatever is available on any given week. Usually the farmer and consumer agree ahead of time on a general guide to
what will be provided (for Old Plank Farm's 2010 plans, see our Estimated Assortment of Produce). At Old Plank Farm, non-certified organic and sustainable methods are used to grow our produce. Because we encourage members
to have a personal relationship with the farm, we feel that mutual trust is sufficient for guaranteeing good farming practices,
which eliminates the need to be certified and keeps costs lower than organic food at a retail store. While the specific model
of CSAs originated fairly recently (1985), the idea of getting food from your neighbors is as old as agriculture, and is well
worth preserving.
Becoming an Old Plank Member
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You are invited to be a part of the farm
this season! In exchange for a yearly subscription fee (see below for details), CSA members will receive a weekly selection
of produce that is fresh-picked and delivered to a pick-up site nearby. Each week members receive approximately 6-12 different
crops that are ripe at the time, accompanied by a newsletter with recipes, storage tips, and other seasonal information. Our regular harvest season (Full, Half and Single
Shares) runs from mid-June through November, bringing you a total of about 23 deliveries. The Peak Season Share is available
for 9-10 weeks, from the end of July through the end of September. Peak Share members will receive a box similar in size to
our Half Shares, or enough to feed about 3-4 people each week. The Peak Share box will include farm stand favorites like corn
and melons, and other popular vegetables that are ripe in late summer. Regular season (Full, Half and Single) shares will
receive about 35 different crops throughout the entire growing season. For a complete list of produce that we grow, as well
as estimates of quantities that members receive, please see the table below. Weekly amounts for all shares will vary as the
season progresses. Weather and other seasonal factors will determine exactly what you receive, making the variability of each
year an adventure that we will all share. Additional items that you can order are eggs from pastured chickens, and a bread share from a local artisan baker (click
here for details). Sign up for any or all of these special shares.
FULL SHARE ... $590.00 -SOLD OUT-
Our largest
share option, this choice will likely feed a family of 4-6 people that cooks regularly. Or great for a smaller family if you
have time to freeze extras for the winter! Tips for canning, freezing and/or preserving your produce will be available in
each newsletter. HALF SHARE ... $375.00 -SOLD
OUT-
The half share is generally between
half and two-thirds of the quantities that full shares receive. It will likely feed 3-4 people. SINGLE SHARE (on-farm pick-up only)... $230.00 -SOLD OUT-
This smaller share is great for 1-3
people, or for a small family that does not cook regularly. Approximately 1/3 of the full share size. PEAK SEASON SHARE (on-farm pick-up only)... $170.00 -SOLD OUT-
Receive farm stand favorites during the peak harvest season in late summer.
This 9-10 week box is a similar size to the half share box, or enough to feed about 3-4 people for a week. To see what vegetables
are included in this share, see the table below. BREAD SHARE Receive local artisan bread, weekly.
Please download and print the separate sign-up form for bread shares here:
click here to download Bread Share sign-up form
EGG SHARE OPTIONS: DOZEN EGG SHARE ... $44.00 -SOLD OUT-
Receive eggs with your share. Eggs come from pastured,
organic-fed chickens. These birds have a healthier and happier life than factory-farmed birds, and it shows in the color and
quality of their egg yolks. This share provides one dozen eggs, every other week during the delivery season. HALF DOZEN EGG SHARE ... $24.00 -SOLD OUT-
This share provides a half-dozen eggs, every other week during the delivery
season.
There are two ways to join. 1. Sign-up online or 2. Print and mail our brochure. 1. If you choose to sign-up online, please
mail your payment within one week of sign-up:
Mail one check, made payable to Old Plank Farm, for the total amount of your share(s).
or Mail three checks, made payable to Old Plank
Farm. Date one for today, one for 6/15/2010, and one for 9/15/2010, each for approximately one-third of the total amount due.
(You will be notified in June and September prior to your checks being cashed). 2. If you choose to sign-up using the form in our brochure, please enclose your payment
with your sign-up form:
Enclose
one check with sign-up form, made payable to Old Plank Farm, for the total amount of your share(s). or Enclose three checks with sign-up form, made payable to Old Plank
Farm. Date one for today, one for 6/15/2010, and one for 9/15/2010, each for approximately one-third of the total amount due.
(You will be notified in June and September prior to your checks being cashed). We will confirm receipt of all online and mailed sign-up forms and payments.
Your weekly produce pick-up day is determined
by the share size you select. Before signing up, please be sure that you will regularly be able to pick up your share on the
correct day, shown below (Half and Full shares also have a choice of Plymouth or Sheboygan pick-up locations, shown below).
Plymouth pick-up is located at our farm, W6020 County Road C. We are about a mile outside of downtown Plymouth – for a map and directions click here. SINGLE SHARES MONDAY (on-farm pick-up only):4:00– 7:00pm. PEAK
SEASON SHARES
TUESDAY (on-farm pick-up only):4:00– 7:00pm.
HALF and FULL SHARES
THURSDAY (on-farm
pick-up): 4:00– 7:00pm. or (1403 N. 6th St., Sheboygan): 4:30– 6:30pm.
When you arrive each week
on your pick-up day, you will see a selection of the produce available. Depending on your chosen share size, you will be instructed
to pick a specific quantity of each item. Packing products (boxes and bags) will be provided. This “Box-Your-Own” option is designed to optimize the natural variances in plant life and in your life! While everyone
will receive generally the same product, one member may want to select the largest head of cabbage, but will prefer the smallest
eggplant, etc. Sheboygan pick-up will receive pre-boxed shares. Pre-boxed shares also available upon request for on-farm pick-up.
Eggs and bread accompany shares, for those who order them.
Estimated Assortment of Produce
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Below
is a guide to what vegetables each member will receive, along with estimates for how many times and how much of each crop
will be available. Quantities shown represent a regular season FULL share (half and single shares will receive all of the
same vegetables, in lesser quantities). The last column shows what vegetables are included in the 10 week PEAK season share.
For more details about all share sizes, please read Share Options & Pricing. Note that each season’s harvest will vary depending on weather and other seasonal factors. In general, you can expect
at least the quantities shown here, along with extras as the season permits, both of crops listed here, and of the occasional
specialty item!
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None needed at this time.
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If you think you may be interested in
hosting a pick-up site in future seasons, please tell us a little about the space you have available. Pick-up site hosts are
responsible for keeping the space accessible to customers to come each week and pick up their produce. A small garage that
does not get much sunlight is ideal, especially if it has a side door for coming and going, so that it stays as cool as possible
during the summer. Hosts receive a discount on their share.
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