Join Our CSA

 

WHAT IS A CSA?

CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture.” Originally pioneered by women in Japan in the 1960’s. They were looking for alternatives to pesticide heavy, industrial agriculture and to take it back to small, local farms and farming families (Hey, that’s us!) The first CSA didn’t come to the US until the mid-1980’s – so it’s fairly new here.

In short, a CSA creates a relationship between the farmer and the community. Members purchase shares of produce before the season begins and get to reap the benefits when harvest time comes. Members agree to be partners or shareholders in the farm, in turn sharing in both the successes and failures the farm may have. Members understand that their produce is grown with organic and sustainable farming practices. This partnership allows the farmer (Us!) to receive revenue before the season starts when we need it the most (seeds, soil, amendments!) and allows us to focus on being in the field during growing season and not stressing about selling our produce.

There are so many benefits to supporting a CSA and your local farms.
Here are a few:

  • You’re supporting your local community – now more than ever that is so very important!
  • It encourages you to eat more fruit & veggies! When you’re picking them up weekly and they’re in the house – no excuse not to eat them!
  • You get to try new foods you may not have otherwise. Get stuck in ruts eating the same things over and over? We all do. Belonging to a CSA introduces you to new items you may not have thought to purchase. Don’t know what to do with it – don’t stress, we’ll be offering recipes and ideas in our weekly newsletters.
  • You’re eating seasonal produce. We can only sell what we can successfully grow within the seasons. Strawberries in spring, pumpkins in the fall, tomatoes mid summer. You’ll receive the freshest seasonal items we can produce!
  • It saves you money and who doesn’t love that? Especially if you purchase organic at the store, you’ll save anywhere from $10 - $20 a week on produce. That’s $40 - $80 a month or about $500 - $700 per year – that’s a ton! You are able to cut out the middleman when purchasing direct from farms.

 WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO:

Each member will enjoy a weekly share of fresh, organically grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and microgreens (all availability dependent). We take the time to research and choose the varieties we love, use all organic growing practices, and do everything with love which results in the best tasting produce we can offer. We harvest produce the day before or the day you pick up, so it’s as fresh as possible. Our methods are not only organic, but often times above USDA organic protocols as I am SUPER picky about what we use and don’t use on the farm.

We will be sending out newsletters on a weekly basis to our members to let you know what is in the box, recipe ideas, and any news we’d like to share. A sample of a CSA share might include: a bag of lettuce, a bunch of beets, a bunch of kale or other greens, a bunch of carrots, pint or quart of tomatoes, mixture of squash.

Members will also have the option of adding on our pastured chicken eggs from our chickens! All farm partners are currently in the works for the 2022 season and we will share via email and update here as they are finalized!

Pending availability we will also be purchasing two weeks of fresh sweet corn  from our neighbors over at East View Farm, for our members shares because we do not want to grow corn, but we do want to eat it in the summer!

We will also be brining in potatoes and onions from Tangled Vines Farm again in the later summer/fall when they're ready!

 WHAT WE GROW:

Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Kale, Spinach, Head & Leaf Lettuce, Arugula, Asian Greens, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Celery, Kohlrabi, Asparagus, Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Peas, Beans, Okra, Sweet & Hot Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Tomatoes (many types), Summer Squash, Zucchini, Spaghetti Squash, Butternut Squash, Patty Pan Squash, Luffa, Melons, Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Strawberries, Figs, Pumpkins (all subjects to availability)

 FULL/HALF SHARE OPTIONS:

There are two different share options this season. Your share will have 5-8 different nutritious edibles each week with cooking ideas and other information emailed.

  • Half shares (feed 2-3 people) are generally about $30 worth of produce each week.
  • Full shares (feed 4-6 people) are generally about $50 worth of produce each week.
  • The season will run for 16 weeks.
  • You will be allowed to swap up to 2 items from your bag with items available at the farm stand that day.
  • Add on options will be available
  • Payment for shares is due in full at the time of purchase. You can purchase online and pay with a credit card or choose the COD option and pay cash or check directly to us to receive a 5% discount! MUST CHOOSE COD!
  • If you are interested in a payment plan, please contact Sheena directly at hookfamilyfarm@gmail.com or 410-507-1477.
  • Times a little tough and money tight? Apply for our Let Love Grow Program!

CSA FARM CARD OPTION:

This option allows you to purchase only the items that you want and allows you to spend your CSA credit at your convenience. This option will work great if you will be out of town for extended periods of time, vacation here intermittently, or are part time locals.

  • Purchase CSA Farm Card for $190 and receive $200 to spend at our farm store
  • Purchase CSA Farm Card for $380 and receive $400 to spend at our farm store
  • Purchase CSA Farm Card for $570 and receive $600 to spend at our farm store
  • **Note - CSA Farm Card's are for use on Hook Family Farm produced/sold items only. They are not for use on add on products from our Farm Partners**

PICK UP INFORMATION:

  • Option one: Hook Family Farm Thursdays 4pm–7pm 
  • Option two: Hook Family Farm Sunday’s 11am – 3pm
  • Berlin option: Love Your Mama Thursdays 2pm - 4pm
  • Location:
  • FARM: We are located at 35144 Lynch's Lane Frankford, DE 19945 - we're in Roxana off of Daisey Rd. 
  • Berlin location: Love Your Mama in downtown Berlin, MD 2 Stevenson Ln #1A, Berlin, MD 21811

Dates for 2022 Summer CSA: 

  • Thursday’s  June 2nd - September 29th (no pick up 7/7 or 9/8)
  • Sunday’s June 5th– October 2nd (no pick up 7/3 or 9/4) 

New members will be provided with a Hook Family Farm insulated bag to swap their items into. We pack all produce into reusable milk crates. Just remember to bring a reusable shopping bag of some sort to take your items home in!

Pick up times and days are firm. If you will not be able to make your pick up time or day, please let us know and we can donate your share for the week to a family in need. Alternatively, you can choose to have a friend or family member pick up for you or for themselves, please let us know ahead of time.

AGREEMENT:

In joining the Hook Family Farm CSA, I understand and agree to the following: Farming is a seasonal and unpredictable undertaking. The share will vary from week to week depending on what is ripe in the fields at that time. Fluctuation and variations are inherent in farming (due to seasons, weather, pests, and other unforeseen forces of nature). Hook Family Farm will, to the best of our ability, provide the freshest, highest quality fruits and vegetables possible. However, I understand I am assuming a mutual risk with my farmer, and that I share in the bounty as well as in the risks of agriculture. I agree to pick up my share at the agreed upon location and time each week or arrange for it to be picked up by someone else. I understand that if I do not pick up my share it will be donated. I can sell or transfer ownership of my share at any point during the season but there are no refunds. When you purchase a CSA share, you are agreeing to these terms.

 

Note - full agreement and information will be provided once payment is made!

HAVE A QUESTION?  SIGN ME UP!