What is CSA?
CSA stands for community supported agriculture and has been in existence for over 25 years. There are several ways to support community agriculture, including shopping at farmer’s markets, local markets, or directly through nearby farmers. Because of our busy lives, most people have become accustomed to food being delivered or shopped for them. So, it is becoming more popular for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer by paying in advance through the CSA model, which offers a healthier and more convenient option for the modern American. Through CSA, a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public, which consists of a share of vegetables (although other farm products may be included like eggs or honey). Interested consumers purchase a share and in return receive a basket of seasonal produce once a week throughout the farming season. There is also an option to choose the size of basket depending on the number of members in your household. For more info on the CSA options we offer, check out the CSA Options page.
Still not convinced? Visit our Reasons to Join page to learn why CSA is great!
What types of produce do members receive in their share?
Members receive a weekly share of fresh seasonal vegetables that are grown and harvested on the farm. The produce varies according to the season, but you can expect to receive an assortment of different things every week, including lettuce, chard, kale, turnips, peppers, garlic, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, squash, spinach, radish, assorted herbs, Asian veggies, micro-greens, mushrooms, and more. Every now and then, we also partner up with other local farms in Texas to offer seasonal fruits, meats, and more. To checkout what produce we hope to offer this season, visit the Produce page.
Is your produce organic?
Sapling Farms’ produce is grown organically using organic principles but is not certified organic. So what does this mean?
Certified organic produce means that a farm has applied, paid for, and received a special certification from the US government, indicating that their produce has been grown without the use of pesticides, synthetics and chemical fertilizers and do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMO) that are not on the US governments approved list. Because certification is very expensive and we do not want to pass on the costs to our customers, we have opted out of being “certified organic” for the time being. Although we do not have the government certification to label our produce “certified organic”, our customers can be assured that we are committed to using organic methods of growing and harvesting. Organically grown means that we make a commitment to grow and harvest produce using organic methods, such as using compost that does not contain chemicals or synthetic fertilizers, using seeds and seedlings that have not been genetically modified (GMO) and by using companion planting techniques and natural sprays instead of pesticides.
What do I owe for my share, and how do I make a payment?
Check the Join CSA page for more info on pricing and availability. You can make a credit card payment online or pay by cash/check (which we prefer).
When and where do we get produce?
Shares are distributed weekly at various pick-up locations. Visit the Locations page for more details.
How do I know what we’ll be getting in the weekly share?
Shareholders will be able to choose from an assortment of items harvested that week to customize their share. Items may change seasonally and differ from previous years due to circumstances, such as the weather or lack of yield.
What if I can’t make it to the pickup location?
We can accommodate you if you let the CSA Coordinator know in advance that you’d like to pick up your share later. Please do so by emailing saplingfarms@gmail.com 24 hours before your pick-up time regarding your request. We’ll pack up your share and store it in the farm cooler ready for you to pick up at a later time.
If you have a question that is not answered here, contact us by email at saplingfarms@gmail.com or get in touch using the Contact Us page.