CSA Season Starting!

The following is an enhancement of the email sent out to our CSA subscribers this week.  There is actually MORE info for you here if you wish it!

The email list:
  If you wish to opt out of this list, you can do so ONLY if you have another email that IS on the list.  This is our primary method to reach you with announcements and other CSA information. 

On the other hand - if you are reading this here AND you are a CSA member AND you did not receive a copy of the email - it would be good to contact us to remedy that situation.

CSA Pickup for Waverly
  Where: Waverly Farmers' Market - 200 block of 1st Ave SE
  When:  3:30pm to 6:00 pm on Tuesdays
  Beginning: June 5
  Ending: Approx 3rd week of October.
  Who:  Rob and/or Tammy will be there.  Jeff Cornforth will be working with us at distributions starting in week 3.  It is possible that Anden Drolet will be there for the first two weeks.


CSA Pickup for Cedar Falls
  Where: Hansen's Outlet - 127 East 18th St.  We will be in the lot BEHIND the store.  Look for the blue truck with the red hood and black topper.  We're nothing if not colorful!
  When:  4:00pm to 6:00 pm on Thursdays
  Beginning: June 7
  Ending: Approx 3rd week of October.
  Who:  Rob and/or Tammy will be there.  Anden Drolet will be working on Thursday distributions from the beginning into August.

CSA for Tripoli
   Apparently there are only two of you again this season.  There were a few others who reserved spots, but failed to follow through and are not responding to us (if you are one of these people and are reading this - we ARE trying to contact you.  Is it possible we're being blocked?).  So, we will do as we did last season.  Wednesday delivery to your door.

Reaching Tammy & Rob
   A note about calling our cell phones.  Please use them if there is a problem - we will have them on when we are at a CSA distribution and we will be prepared to answer at that time.  HOWEVER - if it is prior to the beginning of the CSA distribution, it is likely we will have them OFF.  Why?  Because we'll be too busy trying to get your produce picked, cleaned and packed - or we might be on the road getting to the distribution point.  If you call at these times, be prepared to leave a message. 

This brings me to another point.  You should expect to leave a message most times you call.  Why?  Because we can't always hear our phones or drop what we're carrying in time to answer.  We try to check the phone for messages at noon and in the evening at a minimum.

What do you need to do to pick up for the CSA?

• Bring a bag or box to put your loot...er... produce into.  It can often be a good idea to have multiple bags if there are things that are a bit more fragile than others during a week. 
  
• Check yourself off on the check-in list
• Look at the sign at each station it will tell you how much of each item is allotted to you. (one number will be for large shares, one for standard shares - if you forget the check off list will have the size of share you signed up for)
• Select produce from each station/basket/tray to fill your allotment.  

What will be in this weeks' share?
   We always tell people to adjust their expectations early as things start slowly.  But, we think you'll enjoy what you'll get.  Wait until July, you'll have no worries about volume!
Anticipated this week:  arugula, spinach, radish, leeks/green onions,beets    Depending on the volume of arugula/spinach we may make it an OR proposition or make it into a greens mix.  Cedar Falls will likely be getting kale/swiss chard in stead of spinach/arugula.  Beet greens should show up in there somewhere.

AND - the arrival of garlic scapes this year is early.

What if I want more/less of something:
   We are finding that one of the best ways to handle it is to ask others around you if they want to trade.  But, if this does not suit, ask one of us - we usually have a good idea of what has been left behind and what is extra.  AND...if you tell us you are opting out of something, we can offer it to someone else.  (note, we have tried trade in boxes before and found that alot of produce got damaged in the process)  Excess at the end of market gets donated to the Cedar Valley Friends of the Family on days one of their volunteers comes to pick up (Waverly) and we donate to the Food Bank (Cedar Falls). 

What if I cannot make it - or realize around 6pm that I have forgotten to pick up?

• If you know you will not make it on a given week ,let us know in advance.  You can designate someone else to pick up if you wish.  If that is the case, just let us know and we'll try to make your substitute feel welcome.  If no one will pick up your share, we will make arrangements for getting it to someone in need - but remember, we need to know so we can make adjustments.
• If you realize "UH OH!  It's 5:55pm and I forgot to pick up my share" - give us a call.  We don't start packing until 6pm.  If we know you are coming we can gather your share for you and be ready when you arrive.  If the situation is more difficult than that, call us anyway.  We might have a solution to handle the issue if you give us a chance to work one out.

Recommendations for those splitting shares
  If you have never split a share before, try one of these approaches we are aware of that have been made to be successful.

1. Come at the same time and negotiate as you pick up.
2. Alternate every other week with those you share with.  Many things will easily store in your fridge for 7-14 days.  If one family is traveling, you can swap some weeks around.
3. Have a dinner together on the distribution night.  Use some of the produce there and split the rest.
4. Remember - we do not split the share for you.  We aren't going to even begin to guess how you want it split, nor do we normally have time to do that sort of processing.  
5. Also remember, early season share sizes are smaller.  They pick up as the season goes on. 

Large vs Standard Sized Shares
   Large shares get some benefits that standard sized shares do not get.  Obviously, they get more produce during the season.  This difference is not as obvious early on, but it becomes more pronounced as the harvest increases.  Examples of differences might be with respect to one veg type (6 cucumbers vs 4) or more of a set of things (standard: kale OR chard, large: kale AND chard).  But, it also means that large shares get items we have less of.  For example, the first tomatoes might only be a few dozen.  The large shares will get a taste of them typically one week before other shares.



Egg Shares
  This is a long ways down - but if you signed up for egg shares you should read this!
   We made a decision to do away with egg shares.  It is simply too time intensive to maintain our egg shares and contracts.  All it takes is a couple of exceptions to the established patterns and a couple of days where we're too tired to update the books.  Add in the fact that we try to pass this back and forth between the two of us...  You get the picture.  It doesn't work.
  Add to this the tendency of our laying flock to give us varying egg numbers as the season progresses and you have a recipe for farmer irritation.  At present, the ladies lay between 4 and 5 dozen eggs a day.  It could go as high as 6 and as low us...well...0.

So - if you signed up for egg shares.  We are putting you on an email list to remind you of the availability of eggs.  Here is what it means for you:

• Eggs are pay as you go ($3/dozen)
• If you want to be CERTAIN you get eggs for a given week, you need to send us an email or make a phone call to reserve them.  If you want to be SURE we see the email - send it at least one day prior to your distribution for the week.  We can't guarantee we'll have time to check email on distribution day after 6 am (and maybe not then).
• If you do NOT reserve them, you may still be in luck.  We'll bring a certain number with us to each distribution.  If they are not all reserved, it will be first come first served.

For those where we are working to figure out old contract status.  We are getting there.  Waverly - give us until week 2 of the CSA.  Cedar Falls, we should have you all figured out and evened out.