The 2010 20-week CSA share fee is $600 for a large share with a $80 deposit by May 1, 2010 and $400 for a small share with a $60 deposit by May 1, 2010.

Payment options for the balance of fee payments are as follows:

  For large shares:

  Option A - two payments of $260 each, payable June 1 and August 1

  Option B - three payments of $173.33 each payable June 1, July 1, August 1

  For small shares:

  Option A - two payments of $170 each, payable June 1 and August 1

  Option B - three payments of $113.33 each payable June 1, July 1, August 1

Full payment is also accepted at sign-up time.

Make check payable to FarmFreshCSA and mail to:

FarmFreshCSA, %John Greiwe, 52 Bridlewood Trace, Batesville, IN 47006

The weekly large share box contains about 3/4 bushel of fresh seasonal produce (8-10 different items) for a family of two adults and two-three children.  The small size share contains about 1/2 bushel (6-7 different items) for two adults and a small child.  The box fee includes a fair price for the growers and costs for labor and overhead to pack the weekly boxes.  The fee also includes a weekly newsletter emailed to all subscribers.

Fresh produce expected in the weekly boxes in 2010:

Early to mid-summer selection of fresh seasonal produce

Selected from: beans, beets (w/greens), broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, cucumber-slicers, corn, garlic curls, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, pac choy, peas, peppers (sweet), peaches, potatoes, scallions, spinach, rhubarb, Swiss chard, tomatoes, salad tomatoes, strawberries, mixed salad greens, summer squashes, turnips (w/greens).

Asparagus and rhubarb may still be available in early June for a time - these are very early items and may be finished by the end of May.

Late summer/Fall selection of fresh seasonal produce

Selected from: beans, beets (w/greens), broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant (Italian variety), garlic bulbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, potatoes, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes, salad greens mix, sweet peppers, apples & pears (from local orchards), pie pumpkin, melons (cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon), winter squashes (acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti)

Early registration is encouraged since there is a limited number of CSA shares available in 2010 for the local residents - 5 Large and 21 Small shares - because the coop is partnering with the Greater Cincinnati Health Council to provide many CSA shares for the hospital employees as part of the Wellness Program of participating Cincinnati hospitals.  The EllenBee Leggett Company that distributes food to many of these hospitals as well as to Southeastern Indiana schools and institutions approached our coop to become a partner in this endeavor.  The company truck that delivers food to the Convent in Oldenburg on Wednesdays will be picking-up the filled CSA boxes at Walhill Farm and delivering them to The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati the following day.

Weekly box pick-up time for local subscribers is on Wednesdays, 3:45-7:00 pm at Walhill Farm in Batesville beginning June 2, 2010 and continuing through October 13, 2010.  Walhill Farm is about two miles from the Hansen Center on 857 Six Pine Ranch.

Directions to Walhill Farm:

From SR229 turn onto Six Pine Ranch Road at the Hansen Center and drive about 2 miles to mailbox #857 - just past Shrine Road. 

From SR 46, take Lammers Pike to Merkel Road, turn left there (after you cross I-74).  Follow Merkel Road to its end at 1600N.  Turn left to continue to mailbox #857.

Enter the farm property at mailbox #857 and drive past the lodge and tennis courts to the small building attached to the garage, just at the exit driveway.

HISTORY OF THE COOP

In the fall of 2005, a group of farmers in the Laughery Valley* came together to discuss the feasibility of joining forces to develop local markets for their produce.  Several of these farmers were (and still are) actively involved in the Food and Growers Association. They agreed to begin their marketing efforts with the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model.  The initial meeting stirred the creativity of the group and soon FarmFreshCSA became a reality with six local growers.  They created a produce availability chart with each farmer committed to growing certain produce for 2006. Two other growers joined the group in 2006.  By early spring of 2006 they recognized the importance of becoming a farmer-owned trade cooperative and took the necessary steps in that direction with the assistance of Chad Martin of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center and Jason Bartell, a lawyer recommended by ICDC.  By the time they packed their first weekly boxes in June, 2006, they had their legal papers and were officially incorporated as an agriculture cooperative with the legal title of Laughery Valley Growers, Inc.