CSA season is finally here! We are thrilled to have made it through the winter and are now finished moving farms. As many of you know, moving is a big undertaking. Moving farms was no different. Our new farm property is located behind the Sheetz in Walkersville. It was untouched for at least 4 years so when Ben took over, it was covered with overgrown weeds and the soil was void of important nutrients. He conquered the weeds, pruned the trees, and treated the soil with lime and fertilizer. Watching Ben's vision come to fruition and this farm come to life has really been amazing. The fields are full of food growing to feed our community! Ben has increased plantings of each crop by at least 25%. He is happy to have more space to grow more food for you - our very important CSA members. Prior to Ben, another local farmer farmed the property and prior to that, the property was a well-known nursery, Tammy's Garden.
This year, we will be packing our CSA orders in boxes with insulated liners. We WILL reuse boxes, ice packs, insulated liners, and egg cartons. Please unload your box into your own shopping bags and leave boxes, ice packs, and insulated liners upon pick up. Return egg cartons at your pick up location the following week or so.
Slow down. Read the label carefully. Every box has a label specific to each customer and their order. Only take the box or boxes that are labeled for you. Thank you in advance for your attention to this. It can be so frustrating when a CSA member shows up to find that another member took their food.
Harvie University can guide you through questions you may have about your account. Use your account to set your preferences, hold or reschedule a share, and customize your share each week. https://harvie.zendesk.com/hc/
It is your responsibility to pick up your order each week. If you cannot pick up your share, find a substitute picker upper or place a hold or reschedule your share ahead of time. Contact Ben, not our drop off locations, if you have a last minute emergency. Please do NOT contact places of business to arrange pick ups or holds outside of your pick up window. They are so kind to help us and you by providing space for this service. Thank you for respecting them by picking up during your pick up time.
If you are a home delivery member, leave a cooler with ice packs out on Thursday morning for your delivery. Please let us know where to find your cooler and put your share (front porch, garage, back porch, etc.). You can do this by logging into your account, selecting 'edit profile', and then filling in the 'delivery notes for driver' section. This is also where you can add any other special instructions for your delivery.
This week we have available for you: Radishes, spring onions, green garlic, kale, salad turnips, lettuce, Chard, collards, spinach, beet greens, fuji and pink lady apples from Catoctin mnt orchard, and arugula.
Cheese shares-classic chevre
Pork shares-bacon and sweet Italian sausage
Hummus shares-garlic
Kombucha shares-tropical strawberry
Mushroom shares-black pearl oysters
There are also many items available for a LA carte purchase. These include veggies, mushrooms, kombuncha, goat cheese, and more! Please swap and add items to your share so it is customized to your liking!
Please let us know if you have any questions - Ben is available at 301 471 2699. We look forward to providing you with fresh, local, high quality food this season.
Be Healthy, Be Happy,
Farmer Ben, Heather, Griffin and Maggie Sayler
