Question 1

What is CSA?

Accepted Answer

The concept of CSA membership began more than fifty years ago as organic family-run farms realized that a new local delivery system was necessary. This new direct connection between the farm and its customers would significantly enhance the understanding and appreciation for growing and harvesting high-quality organic foods. The immediate concern was always price, which was hard to overcome when marketed through other distributors. As a result, some courageous and bright farmers decided to eliminate the costly middle-man and bring the savings directly to the consumer.
 
This Community Supported Agriculture program concept has enabled many locally operated farms throughout the U.S. to stay in operation and to provide the highest quality local, sustainable, and certified organic produce for the discriminating consumer. The model that we have embraced involves a set fee for the growing season in exchange for a weekly delivery of organic vegetables and small fruit.

Question 2

What size shares are there?

Accepted Answer

Large Share, Medium, and Small Shares.

Question 3

What is a customizable CSA share?

Accepted Answer

Heavens Harvest Farm Customizable shares allow each member, for a small additional fee, to choose the contents of their weekly box. Customizable shares are only available during our summer and fall seasons where our farm provides 95% or more of each box. Our customizable share option is available in large, medium and small boxes. Each member is assigned credits equal to their weekly box price (you must use all of the credits as they do not roll over!).
 
Choices are made through our farm store portal from 3 pm Friday until 5 pm Sunday for the upcoming week’s share. This allows any member to “customize” their weekly box and still stay true to the CSA model.

Fees for Customizable Shares allow us to basically cover our extra costs associated with the packing for each individual member share.

Question 4

How many people does each share feed?

Accepted Answer

Small shares are 1/2 bushel in size and will provide a number of meals for 1-2 persons
Medium shares are 3/4 bushel in size and provide for 2 persons and maybe a child
Large shares are 1 bushel in size and will serve 3-4 persons
Members who are vegetarians or vegans should consider their own potentially larger needs.

Question 5

What are the benefits of CSA?

Accepted Answer

For Our members: 
Eating high nutritionally dense organic food fuel your body best. It reduces stress and detoxifies all those competing poisons from our air, water, and general environment. A healthy body wards off the typical ailments common to our high-paced culture, resulting in more productivity and a heightened sense of well-being. It exchanges poor food choices & lifestyle habits for lifelong significant behavioral decisions regarding caring for our most important asset: our health. Physical, Emotional, Psycho-spiritual
 
For Us: 
CSA programs enable conscientious food producers to continue to grow excellent quality produce of all kinds in a manner that is in harmony with the cycles of natural intent and driven by quality. It provides local and sustainable work for residents who need a job and a purpose in delivering good towards their fellow citizen. CSA’s discourages factory-like food production driven only by price and practicality. This leads to long-term ill-health of body, mind, soul, and the harming of our earth created for our benefit.

Question 6

What do I get in a share?

Accepted Answer

Large shares consist of a bushel-sized box containing 10-14 seasonal items. 
Medium shares consist of a ½ bushel box containing 8-11 seasonal items. 
Small shares contain the same number of items as a medium share but fewer amounts. Please check out our Newsletter to see what is in each week’s share.

Question 7

How do I sign up for a CSA?

Accepted Answer

Click here for a step-by-step guide(https://info785473.wixsite.com/heavensharvest/how-it-works)

Question 8

How does eating “seasonally” benefit the environment?

Accepted Answer

Have you eaten a strawberry picked at the peak of its season, still warm from the early summer sun. Then you know the incredible, intoxicating deliciousness of seasonal produce. Contrast that, if you’ve ever been tempted to buy a strawberry from the grocery store in December, you remember what a bland, flavorless disappointment it was. There really is a difference when you eat produce in season.

What does “eating seasonally” mean? It means you buy foods that are being grown and harvested locally right now. It does not mean buying “fresh” green beans in January when you live in New England shipped in from far away places

By buying seasonally, you guarantee that the food is local. You’re not harming the environment by shipping the food thousands of miles (with all the carbon footprint that entails). You also are guaranteeing that you get the freshest, most nutritious, and tastiest food available.

Question 9

How does the CSA model benefit the community and economy?

Accepted Answer

CSAs help us, the farmers, in several ways. Since we market our CSA subscriptions early in the year, we get to spend our time in the fields during the growing season instead of trying to generate business. The payment early in the season also helps us fund the crops that year – from seeds to improvements to the soil to new equipment.
 
Local farmers are small business owners. Spending money with a local business instead of a big-box retailer or chain keeps more of those dollars in your own community. Supporting local businesses does matter. It is a way of living mindfully, supporting sustainable businesses, voting with your dollars, being an active participant in your own life.
 
CSAs are also a great way to foster connections within the local community. They are an amazing opportunity to get kids involved in their “food chain”. Kids get to learn about the farmers, ask questions, learn about new vegetables and fruits. Being able to touch, see,  smell, learn colors and tastes, and much more. The more they are invested in their food, getting to pick it up, help in the kitchen, know about the farmers, the more likely they will be to actually eat the amazing food.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If you have any questions about our family farm or our Massachusetts CSA program, we would love to help you answer them. So if you can't find what you're looking for below, please reach out to us through our contact form and we will be happy to help.

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