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Made in March
March 15th, 2011
Hello everyone, We’ve made it to March! I’m happy to report that Ten Speed Farm is alive and well, albeit under several feet of snow. Yes, you read that correctly; I have LAND for this season! Phew.
Ten Speed Farm’s new location is on Thomas Road, off of Hinesburg Road, in Guilford, Vermont – about six miles from Brattleboro. Sunrise Farm is leasing me two acres of Berkshire loam (that’s soil-speak for Darn Good Soil) in the middle of their cow pasture. Hooray! Now, it’s time to think about seed orders and springtime. And that’s where you all come in.
There are now TWO ways to buy delicious Ten Speed Farm veggies! You can still order what you want by email, and come to the farm on Wednesday afternoons to pick up your order. To distinguish this option from the new CSA, I’m calling it the UNCOMMON FARM-SHARE.
For Uncommon Farm-Share participants, please consider pre-paying for some of your veggies! It is WAY more helpful for me to have that money now than in June. In fact, cash in March is so valuable to me that I’m giving a 10% bonus for all money that you send before April 10. For example, if you send me $100, I’ll credit you an extra $10. If you send $50, I’ll write “$55 pre-pay” in my little notebook. Just like last year, I’ll keep track of your balance and let your know when funds are running low. At that point, you can either write another pre-pay check, or just pay for your veggies each week.
In the category of CHANGES: Not only do I have twice as much land in a new location, but I also am, uh, laying down the law. For Wednesday pickup orders, there is now a $10 minimum. Folks, I hate to do this, but in order for me to run a sustainable business, I have to be able to predict some of my income. Besides, $10 worth of vegetables is really not that much, and in my thoroughly biased opinion, if you’re only eating $5 worth of produce each week, you’re not eating enough vegetables! So, send in those $10-or-more orders when the time comes. You’ll be happier & healthier, and you’ll make your farmer smile every time I open to the Money section of my notebook, or (gasp!) Quickbooks. I assure you that smiling and opening Quickbooks are not two things that I usually do simultaneously, but for you, I’ll do my best. Thanks, everyone.
ABOUT THE NEW CSA option: THE FARMER’S CHOICE is here! Here’s how it works: As in a traditional CSA arrangement, you pay a flat fee at the beginning of the season (read: now!) and receive a share of the harvest every week from mid-June through mid-October. The difference is that this CSA share costs less than many others; your share will only include the very best of every week’s harvest. You won’t get an overwhelming amount of produce – just a great mix of whatever is tastiest on any given week. Shares cost $300 for the whole season, which is 18 weeks, beginning on June 16. That averages out to $15-$18 worth of produce every week. You can pick up your share at the farm, or at a location somewhere near downtown Brattleboro (exact location TBD). Brattleboro Memorial Hospital employees can also choose to pick up shares right inside the Hospital kitchen! Shares will be delivered to their various pickup locations on Thursday afternoons. Email me to sign up!
