Redwood Empire Farm Frequently Asked CSA Questions
When does the CSA begin and end for the 2011 season?
Barring natural disaster, the CSA will begin the first week of May and will extend through November. We do everything in our power to keep to our predetermined schedule; however, sometimes the weather causes problems. If the schedule has to change at any point, our CSA customers will be alerted and compensated.
What happens if I am going to be away or unable to pick up my bag?
If you are planning a vacation and need to skip a week, you can give us at least seven days’ notice and we will not charge you for that bag. If you prepaid for the entire season and need to skip a week, with the proper notice, we will give you $25 worth of credit to be spent at our booth at the Santa Rosa Farmers’ Market or at our seasonal Farm Stand. Alternatively, if you want to have a friend or family member pick-up your bag, you are welcome to do that. There’s no better way to turn someone on to a CSA than to share the bounty with them!
What if I am allergic or unable to eat a certain vegetable?
If you have a real allergy to a certain vegetable, we will leave that item out of your CSA bag. We will try to replace that item with something else; however, we cannot guarantee that we will always be able to make a substitution.
What if I don’t like a certain vegetable?
If you just don’t care for a certain vegetable, we can leave it out of your bag, but we cannot make substitutions. In the end, your CSA bag is a big bag of vegetables. If you and your family don’t really care for veggies and/or don’t want to experiment with new things, then a CSA probably isn’t for you. If you’re afraid that you won’t know what to do with unfamiliar veggies, we will help you navigate the unknown by frequently providing suggestions and recipes for how to use the items in your CSA bags.
Can I have a friend pick up my bag for me?
Absolutely! Your bag will always be labeled with your last name, so it is easy for someone else to retrieve your bag.
What’s the deal with the pastured chickens?
We raise pastured chickens in the style of Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms in Virginia (you may have seen his farm featured in Michael Pollan’s the “Omnivore’s Dilemma”). Our chickens are raised on grass and fed only the highest quality certified organic feed, resulting in the most tender, succulent, healthy poultry imaginable. Chickens are not always available, but CSA members will be alerted when chickens can be ordered.
What can I expect in a typical CSA bag? The following are examples only…
Spring: Chard, kale, fava beans, summer squash, lettuce, beets, radishes, carrots, and broccoli.
Summer: Dry-farmed tomatoes, summer squash, sweet peppers, carrots, cantaloupe, figs, pears, beans, lettuce, potatoes, and sunflowers.
Fall: Tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, summer squash, winter squash, chard, kale, arugula, romanesco cauliflower, lettuce, and apples.
Will there be fruit in the bag?
We include fruit in the CSA when it is available. We have antique fruit trees on our property from which we harvest, however their yield is somewhat unpredictable because of their age. We will include tree fruit in the bags when it is available and at its best. We do, however, grow awesome cantaloupes and watermelons, which will definitely make an appearance in your CSA bag numerous times throughout the season.
How much food do I get in each bag? How many people will each bag feed?
You will always get at least the dollar value of your bag, often times more. A typical bag will likely feed two real veggie lovers or a family of two adults and two kids. Obviously, this is inexact because everyone eats differently. If you are a household of one and are concerned with having too many veggies, we encourage you to share with a neighbor, friend, coworker, family member, or roommates. If you have a very large family, you can always sign up for two bags or supplement your weekly bag at the Farmers’ Market or at our Farm Stand.
I don’t really like very many types of vegetables. Is a CSA for me?
Probably not. In the end, your CSA is a big bag of veggies. For a fresh produce lover and appreciator, your CSA bag will be like Christmas. For someone who grimaces at the sight of most vegetables, you probably won’t enjoy being a part of a CSA. It’s ok if you’re not a CSA person! You can still find the fresh veggies that you do enjoy at our booth at the Farmers’ Market or at our Farm Stand.
What if I am unfamiliar with a certain veggie? Do you provide recipes?
Each week, we send out an email newsletter that gives a farm update, explains what is in that week’s CSA bag, and provides suggested uses and recipes. We also encourage CSA members to share their favorite recipes with us, so that we can share them with the rest of our members. Part of the joy of a CSA is spending time in the kitchen, working with truly seasonal ingredients, and oftentimes experimenting. You never know what you may find when you go out on a limb and try something new.
How is the CSA packaged?
We pack the CSA in reusable bags. When you pick up your bag each week, you will bring last week’s empty bag, so that we can pack it for the next week. We try to minimize the use of plastic; however, we do use plastic bags for some veggies to help them stay nice longer. We encourage members to return plastic bags to us so that we can reuse them.
Are eggs available through the CSA?
Yes, eggs are available. Unfortunately, we do not have a limitless supply, so eggs are available on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in receiving eggs, please indicate so on your CSA application and we will let you know if we can meet your request.
Barring natural disaster, the CSA will begin the first week of May and will extend through November. We do everything in our power to keep to our predetermined schedule; however, sometimes the weather causes problems. If the schedule has to change at any point, our CSA customers will be alerted and compensated.
What happens if I am going to be away or unable to pick up my bag?
If you are planning a vacation and need to skip a week, you can give us at least seven days’ notice and we will not charge you for that bag. If you prepaid for the entire season and need to skip a week, with the proper notice, we will give you $25 worth of credit to be spent at our booth at the Santa Rosa Farmers’ Market or at our seasonal Farm Stand. Alternatively, if you want to have a friend or family member pick-up your bag, you are welcome to do that. There’s no better way to turn someone on to a CSA than to share the bounty with them!
What if I am allergic or unable to eat a certain vegetable?
If you have a real allergy to a certain vegetable, we will leave that item out of your CSA bag. We will try to replace that item with something else; however, we cannot guarantee that we will always be able to make a substitution.
What if I don’t like a certain vegetable?
If you just don’t care for a certain vegetable, we can leave it out of your bag, but we cannot make substitutions. In the end, your CSA bag is a big bag of vegetables. If you and your family don’t really care for veggies and/or don’t want to experiment with new things, then a CSA probably isn’t for you. If you’re afraid that you won’t know what to do with unfamiliar veggies, we will help you navigate the unknown by frequently providing suggestions and recipes for how to use the items in your CSA bags.
Can I have a friend pick up my bag for me?
Absolutely! Your bag will always be labeled with your last name, so it is easy for someone else to retrieve your bag.
What’s the deal with the pastured chickens?
We raise pastured chickens in the style of Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms in Virginia (you may have seen his farm featured in Michael Pollan’s the “Omnivore’s Dilemma”). Our chickens are raised on grass and fed only the highest quality certified organic feed, resulting in the most tender, succulent, healthy poultry imaginable. Chickens are not always available, but CSA members will be alerted when chickens can be ordered.
What can I expect in a typical CSA bag? The following are examples only…
Spring: Chard, kale, fava beans, summer squash, lettuce, beets, radishes, carrots, and broccoli.
Summer: Dry-farmed tomatoes, summer squash, sweet peppers, carrots, cantaloupe, figs, pears, beans, lettuce, potatoes, and sunflowers.
Fall: Tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, summer squash, winter squash, chard, kale, arugula, romanesco cauliflower, lettuce, and apples.
Will there be fruit in the bag?
We include fruit in the CSA when it is available. We have antique fruit trees on our property from which we harvest, however their yield is somewhat unpredictable because of their age. We will include tree fruit in the bags when it is available and at its best. We do, however, grow awesome cantaloupes and watermelons, which will definitely make an appearance in your CSA bag numerous times throughout the season.
How much food do I get in each bag? How many people will each bag feed?
You will always get at least the dollar value of your bag, often times more. A typical bag will likely feed two real veggie lovers or a family of two adults and two kids. Obviously, this is inexact because everyone eats differently. If you are a household of one and are concerned with having too many veggies, we encourage you to share with a neighbor, friend, coworker, family member, or roommates. If you have a very large family, you can always sign up for two bags or supplement your weekly bag at the Farmers’ Market or at our Farm Stand.
I don’t really like very many types of vegetables. Is a CSA for me?
Probably not. In the end, your CSA is a big bag of veggies. For a fresh produce lover and appreciator, your CSA bag will be like Christmas. For someone who grimaces at the sight of most vegetables, you probably won’t enjoy being a part of a CSA. It’s ok if you’re not a CSA person! You can still find the fresh veggies that you do enjoy at our booth at the Farmers’ Market or at our Farm Stand.
What if I am unfamiliar with a certain veggie? Do you provide recipes?
Each week, we send out an email newsletter that gives a farm update, explains what is in that week’s CSA bag, and provides suggested uses and recipes. We also encourage CSA members to share their favorite recipes with us, so that we can share them with the rest of our members. Part of the joy of a CSA is spending time in the kitchen, working with truly seasonal ingredients, and oftentimes experimenting. You never know what you may find when you go out on a limb and try something new.
How is the CSA packaged?
We pack the CSA in reusable bags. When you pick up your bag each week, you will bring last week’s empty bag, so that we can pack it for the next week. We try to minimize the use of plastic; however, we do use plastic bags for some veggies to help them stay nice longer. We encourage members to return plastic bags to us so that we can reuse them.
Are eggs available through the CSA?
Yes, eggs are available. Unfortunately, we do not have a limitless supply, so eggs are available on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in receiving eggs, please indicate so on your CSA application and we will let you know if we can meet your request.
