EverGreen Farm

2012 CSA Meberships are FULL

All 2012 CSA Memberships and Workshare positions are full. Thank you! If you are interested in joining us in the future, I can add your name to a waiting list and you will be contacted when our 2013 CSA shares go on sale (about January 2013).

2012 CSA Start Date and Membership Availability

The first CSA delivery will be on Wednesday, May 9th.  I am putting together all the details (places, times, etc.) and you'll be getting that information soon.

We have 2 memberships that have not sold yet. If you are interested, contact me ASAP.

Tara

Update: CSA Membership Availability

A few days ago we filled the last Workshare position; however, there is a possibility one of the people signed up for this season will need to drop out due to health concerns.  If someone is interested in being a workshare, please contact me ASAP.  The season is just about to start and I'd like to get all these details finalized.

Regarding memberships for purchase, I received several emails and phone calls last week from people who expressed interest and intial commitment in joining our CSA.  I've yet to see the paperwork or payments come through so there are still a couple of memberships yet to fill.  Shain is concerned about taking on extra members when he has only planted a given amount of early season produce.  He has set a number he is comfortable with and I've agreed to respect this by cutting off CSA members at that number.  Please contact me directly if you are interested, ASAP.  I'll post here when we are officially "full".

We are watching the growth of the early season greens in greenhouse 7.  It is obvious they won't be ready for starting the CSA deliveries on the very first Wednesday of May.  We are pretty confident produce will be ready to harvest for delivery on May 9th.  I'm working on getting all the paperwork and details ready.  If you are a 2012 EverGreen CSA member, I'll be in touch soon.

Tara

2012 Membership Availability Update

Yes, CSA memberships are still available for purchase.  We also have openings in our Workshare Program. 

Membership sign-up information indicates final payment is due in full by April 1st.  We ask that if at all possible, every effort be made to meet this deadline.  However, in that memberships have not sold out and a payment in full option may deter potential new members, we have decided to extend our payment deadline to May 1, 2012.  Credit card payments can also be arranged on an individual basis through Paypal.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Tara

2012 CSA Sign Up Information

EverGreen Farm 2012 CSA memberships are now available for purchase.

Shares will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Membership availability will be updated on this website.  We encourage you to sign up ASAP. 

The cost for a membership will remain at $550.  A minimum payment of $200 will reserve your membership.  All final payments are due by April 1, 2012.

Our goal for this season is to begin delivering produce the first part of May and go through the end of October. 

For more detailed information about EverGreen Farm and how our CSA operates, please refer to our 2012 CSA Sign-up Form or contact us directly.

How to sign up:

1. Download a copy of our 2012 CSA Sign-up Form.  Sign up for has been removed.  Shares are sold out for 2012.
2. Complete the contact information page. 
3. Enclose your partial or full payment and mail in your paperwork. 

EverGreen Farm also has a Workshare Program for people who are interested in helping on our farm in lieu of paying for a CSA membership.  This is for folks who enjoy gardening and will literally work for food.

How to Apply for a Workshare position:

1. Download a copy of our 2012 Workshare contract and read it carefully. Workshare contract has been removed.  Workshare positions are full.
   
2. Also download and read the 2012 CSA Sign Up Sheet.  Removed.  Memberhsips are full.
3. Complete the application page of the contract and return by mail.

If you would like to pay for your CSA share with a debit or credit card, arrangements can be made through PayPal.  Please contact me individually.

Thank you,

Tara Saberon

Making plans for 2012

We hope you are all well and had a nice holiday season.  Our family has slowed back into a routine again, and it's time for me to start putting together all the details for our 2012 CSA season.  I'm craving fresh produce already!

At the end of our CSA season last year I hinted there would be some major changes made with our farm operation.  The decision making process has been very difficult.  We have gone back and forth on how to best accomplish our goals, how to remain true to our ideals, and most of all how to maintain our personal health, well being, and happiness.  The truth is, we have been working too hard.  Too much physical labor.  Too many long days.  This took a toll on me personally and on our family.  We've been searching for a way to operate the farm that still accomplishes great things, but respects our desire for a balanced life.

Our decision is to stop selling produce at the Jackson Farmers Market and focus our efforts on running a great CSA.  We will be expanding the size of our CSA in 2012 which will help offset some of the loss of income we've been earning through selling at the farmers market. 

What this will mean for our 2012 CSA members?

• We truly anticipate that our 2012 CSA season will be the best its ever been.  Why?  Greenhouses!  Growing in greenhouses has proven to be key in growing an abundance of high quality produce.  EverGreen Farm has 7 permanent structure greenhouses!  This space can now be dedicated to growing food exclusively for our CSA (and a few small local accounts).  We are really excited about this extra space and the new options available for planting and growing this coming season.

• With less farm income, we are watching our expenses more closely than before.  The cost of seeds and supplies continue to go up every year but we feel there are things we can do to keep expenses down.  We have reviewed our costs for the coming season, established a fair amount we'd like to receive for our labors, and determined the amount of income the farm needs to generate this coming year.  With the exception of transportation, our budget can be met without any increase in membership fees.  In years past, the CSA delivery expenses were absorbed into the business because it was rather easy to offset the difference with farmers market sales.  This will no longer be the case. 

We feel we have two options for addressing the cost of transporting the weekly shares to the Jackson and lower Star Valley.

1.  For the past several years, we've had arrangements with CSA members to help deliver the weekly shares as they've commuted back and forth from Jackson and Alpine for work.  Unfortunately, these people are no longer able to help.  We consider this to be the best option for keeping transportation costs low.  It's a win-win-win for us, the delivery person, and for CSA members.  We would love to set up some type of similar arrangements in 2012, but have yet to find any interest.  We are seeking an individual (or group of individuals), with a larger type of vehicle (a van or truck with an enclosed and empty bed), who is available to drive produce to the pick-up locations each week of the CSA season (May through October) in exchange for produce.  We will continue to make efforts on our end to solicit this help, but are limited in our resources and contacts.  This is one way our CSA members can step in to help the farm and help keep your costs down as well.

UPDATE:  Looks like we've found ourselves a delivery person!  Yahoo!

2.  The second option is to add a one time, upfront delivery fee of $50 for CSA shares being delivered to Jackson and a $25 delivery fee for shares going to the Lower Valley.  (These fees will barely cover the price of gas for us to drive the food to these locations each week throughout the season.)  We still feel this is a fair and reasonable price for the quantity and quality of food you will receive. 

We would love some feedback on these options.  Any suggestions?  Does the idea of an additional delivery fee have any impact on your decision to purchase a 2012 CSA share?  Are these options reasonable?  Unreasonable?

We are looking forward to a great season!  Feel free to start talking us up amongst your friends, family and neighbors.  Sign up information will be posted here on this website soon.

Sincerely,

Tara Saberon

EverGreen Farm

Some of my favorite quotes from this past season:

"I want you to know that I have used all of the CSAs in the area and find your produce and pick up the best by far.  The variety of veggies, length of the season, and weekly newsletters are above and beyond what the others offer."

"...wanted to let you know one of the benefits I have noticed with EverGreen produce is that [it] lasts much longer.  It makes me realize that the 'fresh' produce I bought at the grocery store was probably over a week old when I bought it.  Keep up the good work."

"I am very impressed with your offerings.  You do good farming - a high compliment from and old Illinois farm girl!!"

2012

As I mentioned in my last CSA newsletter, we will be reducing the size of our farm operation in 2012.  Over the past month we have been going back and forth on what aspects of the business to keep, revise or cut out entirely.  This process is still on going, but we have made one very big decision.  EverGreen Farm will continue running a fabulous CSA program again in 2012.  We are still working on the details but we expect things to remain much the same as last season.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  I will update this blog as more information is available.  Memberships will go on sale in January 2012.

Workers Still Needed

Recently, I've had several inquiries from folks asking if they can join our CSA.  Unfortunately, we no longer have memberships for sale.  Those slots sold out back before our deliveries started in May.

However, we still have several openings for people who would like to help the farm in trade for a CSA membership.  I explained what we are looking for in detail here.  In summary, there are 3 ways the farm could use help and this is the only way someone can join our CSA this far into the season.

• 1.  Regular Workshare - puts in work on the farm one designated day each week in exchange for a share of produce.  Will mostly help with harvesting food, but also with weeding, planting, etc.
• 2.  Yard Maintenance Workshare - puts in work on the farm each week on a more flexible schedule.  Main purpose is to help with basic farm and yard maintenance, including weed whacking, mowing the lawn and areas of the farm, etc.  The hours could even be completed by more than one person coming together to fill the hourly commitment (for example, a family with older responsible children).
• 3.  A delivery person who will help transport our produce each week from Smoot or Afton to Alpine.  Person must be available on Tuesday afternoons.  This help will be traded for a reduced cost CSA membership or combined with help on the farm for a full membership.

Please contact me if you are interested or have any questions.

Tara

First 2011 CSA Delivery will be Tuesday, May 10th

Shain gave the go ahead today for our first CSA delivery.  I'm putting all the details in place and will be contacting all our CSA members very soon. 

The only produce that is ready to harvest right now is our salad mix.  We've been going back and forth for several days in our decision to harvest the salad when it's just right or wait another week when there will be an additional item to include with the CSA share.  From all the people I've spoken to today, no one is complaining.  We all want salad! 

Shain is outside planting more crops even now as I write this blog post.  We are working every day to bring you a bounty of food this season.  There are so many crops planted and growing right now that it's hard for me to remember it all.  I've noticed an increase in the plant's growth over the past week as the temperatures have warmed up a little and the sun is out more.  It will all kick in soon.

Tara

 

Sold Out

The last of our CSA shares have sold. 

We still have a few positions available for those who would like to work on our farm, or help the farm in other ways as I indicated in my last post. 

If you would like to be added to our list to be notified when shares are available in the future, please email me.

Thank you,

Tara