Wow! Only 10 more weeks of pickups left for our 2018 CSA shares....time to start thinking about the fall share.
Every year of running a farm is full of experiments and trials, often in unanticipated arenas. This year one of our biggest experiments was teaming up with Harvie to coordinate our CSA program. I had high hopes that it would streamline the process of creating shares and juggling the needs of nearly 200 member families. I know some of you appreciate some of the perks Harvie introduces to the CSA process. But based on the administrative experience on our end, and lots of feedback from CSA members, we are leaning towards parting ways with Harvie after the season ends.
One of the best parts of a farm like HOG is the community that develops between the farmers and our customers, and between all of you CSA members, farm stand shoppers, and farm event party people. Harvie feels to me like a filter that has been put up between us. E-mails have to go to their office and sent back, with delays that result in missed shares and poor communication. I think the folks at Harvie are doing the best they can, working their hardest, but I don't think it is a good fit for our farm.
I have been very lucky this year to welcome Michelle and Beth to the farm crew. The two of them have proven to be very quick learners and are committed to improving the CSA program. The three of us have been working with the features and quirks of Harvie all season and are confident that we can go back to administering our CSA program ourselves next year, better than ever! We are still working on ideas, and as always are open to feedback. Stay tuned for a survey from us later this season and thanks for your patience and understanding.
We hope you know how hard we work to grow the best produce for your families and keep our growing farm family strong and happy!
Thanks-
Farmer Sean and the whole HOG crew
