What is CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is the direct relationship between consumers and producers of agricultural products. In the Community Supported Agriculture model friends and families support local farms financially and through volunteer work while the farm produces a healthy and diverse supply of local foods! Families purchase their farm share at the beginning of the season. This helps the farmer buy seed, compost, and other farming needs to grow abundant harvest. A CSA partnership also spreads the natural risk of weather related phenomena, crop failure, and pest devastations between the producer and consumer. Growing a diverse set of crops and varieties is one way farmers can help to insure an abundant harvest of farm fresh seasonal produce! At Bliss Gardens we are growing one hundred and fifty plus varieties of thirty types of fruits and vegetables. And the list of varieties and types of crops we are growing is always expanding.
Bliss Gardens and Community Kitchen is a developing biodynamic and organic farm in Cross Village, MI. Our CSA is at its infancy in 2010. With our first year in production we will start slow as good things usually do. During the 2010 growing season our capacity for CSA memberships is set at 15 families or 60 persons. A family is considered to be four persons. A Bliss Gardens CSA share is designed to be a week’s supply of farm fresh seasonal produce for four adults each week. The CSA season will start in June and end in October averaging twenty weekly pick-up/deliveries. Depending on weather and the lands fertility the CSA season may start as early as the last week of May or as late as the second week of June. There will be multiple opportunities in May for CSA members to meet each other, come to the farm, and meet the farmers! CSA Members will pick up their share at the farm, a local farm market, or another designated central location each week. When a member is out of town or cannot pick up their share it may be held for later pick up or picked up by a friend. Having a direct relationship with the farmer the CSA member may arrange an alternative pick-up day on the farm if they are unable to make their scheduled pick-up. This is not always possible with highly perishable fruits and vegetables, but rather for the crops that have a longer shelf life.
No two CSA’s are the same as they are often as diverse as the food they produce. There are some established CSA’s in our area. A great local model for CSA is our neighbor Pond Hill Farm just down the road in Harbor Springs, MI! There website is http://pondhill.com. Another diverse and abundant local CSA is Blackbird Gardens in Petoskey, MI! Their website is athttp://blackbirdgardens.net/csa.html.
Bliss Gardens Community Supported Agriculture Program will run twenty weeks from late spring (June) to mid fall (Oct). CSA shares will be offered as full shares and half shares. A full share will cost $450 and a half share will cost $225. A full share will include 8-12 different farm fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables.
What we are growing! Snap beans, Dry Beans, Snap Peas, Shell Peas, Radishs, Turnips, Carrots, Kohlrabi, Beets, Spinach, Amaranth, Arugula, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Mustard Greens, Lettuce, Mixed Greens, Onions, Shallots, Garlic, Chives, Scallions, Leeks, Potatoes, Sunchokes, Celery, Sage, Basil, Cilantro, Oregano, Thyme, Fennel, Parsley, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Husk Cherries, Broccoli, Pumpkins, and more!
Unfortunately we will not be having a CSA for the 2012 season. Contact us at “cmrapin@gmail.com” for info.
on current & future plans.
CSA Details
CSA Membership will include a weekly distribution of fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Included in your membership is a weekly farm newsletter, an online farm blog with weekly updates, and CSA farm activities gatherings and events.
Full CSA Share cost $450 per 20 week season
Half CSA Share cost $225 per season
The CSA Season will begin the first week of June and will conclude the second week of October.
CSA Potluck Gatherings
In May Bliss Gardens will hold a CSA Potluck at the farm. At the gathering you will have the chance to meet the farmers and other CSA members, tour the farm and kitchen, ask questions, and learn about community supported agriculture. We will also be asking you questions about what you expect and want from our CSA.
Potluck Gatherings
Where: Bliss Gardens 5233 Hill Rd. Harbor Springs, MI 4977o
TBA
2011 Weekly Produce Distribution
Distribution will begin in late May or early June depending on weather conditions, so keep your eye on the blog for the announcement of when the first pick-up will be. Weekly produce pick-up will take place on the farm or at Crooked Tree Bread Works on M-119 between Harbor Springs and Petoskey. Pick-up dates will be decided at our CSA Potluck Gathering in May. If you are unable to pick up your weekly produce share please give us a call and let us know. We may be able to hold your share for a later pick-up. You may also choose to have a friend or relative pick-up the share for you, such as if you are out of town. If you do not pick up your share or call we will consider your share as a donation to the farm. If you would like to organize an alternative date for picking up your share that works better for you we will be happy to accommodate you the best we are able.
Farm Newsletter and Blog
The farm newsletter will include short articles on our farming practices, stories and information about the fruits and vegetables you are receiving, and recipes and suggestions on how to use the produce you are receiving.
The Bliss Gardens blog can be accessed online at: http://blissgardens.wordpress.com/
Bliss Gardens Contact Information
Address: 5322 Hill Rd. Cross Village, MI 49732
Email: bliss.gardens.kitchen@gmail.com
Craig Rapin, Farm Proprietor Phone: (231) 838-2711
Mary Rapin, Farm Proprietor Phone: (231) 838-3859
This is a beautiful post and your CSA looks wonderful. Beyond the sustainable farming methods that you mentioned, CSA is a wonderful community building device. The dollars spent with a local farmer stay in the local community much more readily than they would if spent in a chain grocery store. Great photos too!
Thanks for your comment Tammy! This is so true, every time we shop at a national chain store or buy a product produced out of state we are sending that money out of our communities! Now this may not be a bad choice when buying orange juice, or other goods that are not produced in our region. Although, in these harder economic times it is important to think about buying locally produced goods and shopping at locally owned stores. Buying local goods at locally owned shops stimulates a social-economic revival, and we know in Michigan that a social-economic revival is what we need. A local consumer buying direct from a local producer is a major benefit to the community because it keeps the money in that community, so thank you for supporting our farm and community!