CSA 2015
Click Here To Join The Ralston Farm 2015 CSA Online!
http://ralstonfarmllc.csasignup.com/
Here are the full details for the 2015 CSA:
This year’s CSA will run from the beginning of June to Thanksgiving.
We offer a range of share options, including both Full and Half Shares, as well as a Flower Share, Fall Season Share, Winter Share and even Work Shares! Our shares contain 8-10 different kinds of vegetables each pick up. We offer every member the same-sized share with a range of options for on-farm pick up. Full shares pick up every week and Half shares pick up every other week. If you are new to CSA or don’t think you’ll cook at home a lot, the Half Share is a great option, giving you more flexibility with how and when to use your produce. All CSA members have access to our U-Pick, where members can pick their own flowers, herbs and cherry tomatoes.
We grow a diverse, interesting range of vegetables and varieties, and after four seasons growing on our small plot, have learned a lot about which crops thrive in our local environment and have a sustainable market in our local community. The main focus of our farm is growing for our CSA members, and we also work with local restaurants, bringing a culinary aspect to our farming – we like to grow produce that is interesting, attractive and tastes good!
Many CSA members tell us how they look forward to pick up each week and are always interested to learn about new produce varieties and exchange recipe ideas at CSA pick up. Our shares also include a weekly e-mail with updates from the farm, recipes and cooking tips for new produce. In addition to your share of produce, our CSA includes access to the U-Pick section, which is a popular part of the farm for members to pick their own flowers, herbs, cherry tomatoes and other produce. This year we also hope to offer more value-added products like pesto, dried herbs and teas and possibly even our own baked goods!
Ralston Fam CSA 2015 (June-Nov)
Full Shares – $725 for 26 weeks of produce
Half Shares – $365 for 13 weeks of produce (picks up every other week)
On farm pick up in Hopewell or Mendham:
2-6 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays
10 AM – Noon on Saturdays
Click Here To Join The Ralston Farm 2015 CSA Online!
These days of the week help us tremendously with balancing the weekly harvest and distributing produce most evenly. We do our absolute best to have your shares prepared and arranged on-time for pick-up. Please make sure you come pick up during your scheduled pick up time and don’t hesitate to contact us if you are running late or won’t be able to make it. Or maybe send a family member or friend in your place. We are happy to set aside your share for a later pick up, and is much preferred to having a “no show” on pick up day. It is our responsibility to grow the produce in your share and do our best to present it in the freshest way possible, it’s your responsibility to come to the farm, pick it up and enjoy eating it! Please do not hesitate to contact me about working out a payment schedule. As always, we are happy to work out a schedule for those families that may need to pay for their share over time.
We will no longer be opening the weekend Farm Stand regularly on weekends this summer and hope that many of you are interested in joining the CSA. We believe that our CSA is the core of our farm business, so we hope that you will join us in being committed to the farm’s success. This is Ralston Farm’s fifth season! Your young farmer will strive to provide high quality produce grown using only organic techniques learned from over 8 years of working on farms. Under no circumstance will Ralston Farm ever buy-in produce from other farms or use any chemicals.
An example share from 2014 Spring/Early Summer:
2 lb Zucchini (Costata Romanesca and yellow summer squash)
1 lb Cucumbers (slicing, pickling and Thai heirloom)
1 lb Beet Greens/Chard mix
I bunch Carrots or Beets
1 bunch Tropea Onions (fresh red onions, use like shallots)
1 bunch Kale (Lacinato or Curly)
1 lb Lettuce
U-Pick – Sugar Snap Peas, Lemon Basil, Chives, Oregano
An example share from mid-Summer:
4-5 lbs Heirloom Tomatoes
3 Musk Melons (very similar to cantaloupe)
1 lb Cucumbers
1 bunch Chard or 1 lb mixed Kale
1 head Lettuce
3 Sweet Peppers
1 lb Onions
2 lb Carrots
U-Pick – Flower Bouquet, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley, Cherry Tomatoes, basil, beans, other herbs
2014 Thanksgiving share:
6-7 lbs Winter Squash
8 lbs Mixed Roots – Turnips, Beets, Radishes or Parsnips
4 lb Mixed Greens – Chard, Lettuce or Spinach
2 heads Baby Bok Choi
1 bunch Kale or Mustard Greens
3 Onions
2 heads Garlic
Dried Hot Peppers and other herbs