IS A CSA RIGHT FOR ME?
A CSA is not necessarily right for everyone. Before making the commitment to join our farm ask yourself some important questions:
Do I like vegetables?
This seems like an obvious question, but it is common, especially around the new year, for people to want to eat healthier. Unfortunately, if you are not a big vegetable eater, starting with a CSA might be an overload. Just consider, this is a season-long commitment. If you are unsure, our Half Share might be a good introduction into eating more veggies with a lesser commitment. If you are still unsure about that, we recommend making a plan to visit your local farmers market once a week where you can start by selecting the vegetables you know you like and work at your own pace to introduce more veggies.
Am I a picky eater?
Our weekly shares are based on the produce we have available as it grows in season. As the farmers, we make the selections for each weekly box. You will receive 8-12 different vegetables each week. While certain vegetables are in season, you may receive the same vegetable multiple weeks in a row. We do not make substitutions. If there are a number of vegetables you don't like, it would be important that you share you box with someone who does like those vegetables. This would ensure that we are producing less waste. If you are not prepared to eat the selections in each box, a CSA may not be right for you.
Am I interested in eating something I've never tried before?
While our CSA will contain many familiar vegetables throughout the season, you will likely also encounter some foods that you have never tried or never even heard of before. We encourage our members to eat differently and usually provide suggestions for how to use the lesser known contents of our shares. If you are someone who doesn't like to try new foods or doesn't want to learn how to prepare them, a CSA may not be right for you.
Do I like to cook? Or am I interested in learning to cook more?
When working with whole foods, you will need to do a decent amount of cooking. If you are someone who doesn't like to cook or doesn't want to learn to cook, doesn't want to cook regularly, or enjoys eating out most nights of the week, a CSA might not be right for you.
Do I regularly travel throughout the year?
Shares are picked up once a week (or every other week for Half Shares) for 24 weeks. Are you able to pick up your box each week? Are you home enough to eat the veggies in your share? We understand that many people go on vacations, particularly in the summer. Often people will have friends or family members pick up their boxes while away. Vacations are generally not a problem, but if you are regularly away, will miss multiple pick-ups, and/or will not be home enough to cook and eat your veggies, a CSA may not be right for you.
If you love vegetables, are interested in trying new foods, eating with the season, and willing to expand your cooking skills, a CSA might be a great fit for you. If you are still unsure, send us an email with your questions at hartbeetfarm@gmail.com.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kind of produce can I expect throughout the season?
Our CSA boxes generally contain 8-12 different vegetables each week and may also include an herb. We grow more the 70 varieties of vegetables and herbs. Occasionally we will may also have wild fruits, log-grown mushrooms, jams, and maple syrup for purchase in addition to your weekly box. See our produce list for what we typically grow as well as examples from our previous seasons.
How consistent are the boxes each week?
The contents of your box will change from week to week based on the flow of the season. The weight (and value) will be lighter in the spring and heavier into the summer and late fall. Regardless, there will always be a variety of different items in your box each week.
What if I don't like certain vegetables?
The joy of being a member of our CSA is that you have the opportunity to try a variety of different vegetables. Some you will love and some may not be your favorite. We encourage you to try new ways of preparing vegetables (and we often give you helpful suggestions). In the end, if you really don't want to eat it, find someone who does.
Is my share delivered to my house or do I have to pick it up?
Shares are delivered to specific pick-up locations with designated pick-up times for members. Let us know if you are interested in hosting a new pick-up location.
What is your delivery area?
Currently, we can accept members who can pick up in Lincoln, St. Charles, St Louis, and St Louis City counties. Let us know if you are interested in becoming a member but live outside this area.
Can I share a box with another household or individual?
Yes. You will need to decide how you would like to split your share, the cost, and responsibility for picking up your box.
What if I cannot pick up my box this week? What if I go on vacation?
This is bound to happen some time during the season. We encourage you to try to find someone else to pick up your box for you. If you are going to be out of town, perhaps a family member or a friend would enjoy your produce while you are gone. If you pick up at a host site, please be sure to inform your host that a different person will be picking up your box that week. If you absolutely have no way to pick up or use your share that week, please inform us so we either do not pack and deliver it or arrange for it to be donated elsewhere. Keep in mind however that we do not make up missed weeks.
Can I visit the farm?
Yes! We encourage all members and potential members to visit our farm. We believe it is important for you to have the opportunity to see exactly where your food is coming from and how it is grown or harvested. Please note: In order to give you our undivided attention and ensure farm safety, we do ask that you make an appointment with us before visiting.
How do I prepare my produce?
There are infinite ways to prepare your produce. Some items are more particular than others. We will regularly try to include recipes or tips in the weekly newsletter for the lesser known items in your share. However, the internet is a wonderful place for cooking ideas. ;-)
Do you have payment plans?
We have two basic options:
-Option 1: Pay in full at time of signup
-Option 2: Pay in two installments - half at time of signup, second half by May 1st.
If these options are not possible for you, please contact us and we can discuss your situation.
Do you offer any discounted shares for folks with lower incomes?
Yes. We offer a limited number of reduced rate Half Shares. Please see our CSA Pay-It-Forward Grant Program for more information, how to donate to the program, and how to apply.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. For your convenience we do accept credit cards. However, we give a discount for payments made by check.
Do you issue refunds if I change my mind?
No. Your membership with our farm is a season-long commitment. We make this very explicit in your member agreement and we take that commitment very seriously from the moment you sign up to become a member. Our only exception could occur if the season has not yet started and we have interest from our waiting list.
For any other questions please send us an email.
Our CSA boxes generally contain 8-12 different vegetables each week and may also include an herb. We grow more the 70 varieties of vegetables and herbs. Occasionally we will may also have wild fruits, log-grown mushrooms, jams, and maple syrup for purchase in addition to your weekly box. See our produce list for what we typically grow as well as examples from our previous seasons.
How consistent are the boxes each week?
The contents of your box will change from week to week based on the flow of the season. The weight (and value) will be lighter in the spring and heavier into the summer and late fall. Regardless, there will always be a variety of different items in your box each week.
What if I don't like certain vegetables?
The joy of being a member of our CSA is that you have the opportunity to try a variety of different vegetables. Some you will love and some may not be your favorite. We encourage you to try new ways of preparing vegetables (and we often give you helpful suggestions). In the end, if you really don't want to eat it, find someone who does.
Is my share delivered to my house or do I have to pick it up?
Shares are delivered to specific pick-up locations with designated pick-up times for members. Let us know if you are interested in hosting a new pick-up location.
What is your delivery area?
Currently, we can accept members who can pick up in Lincoln, St. Charles, St Louis, and St Louis City counties. Let us know if you are interested in becoming a member but live outside this area.
Can I share a box with another household or individual?
Yes. You will need to decide how you would like to split your share, the cost, and responsibility for picking up your box.
What if I cannot pick up my box this week? What if I go on vacation?
This is bound to happen some time during the season. We encourage you to try to find someone else to pick up your box for you. If you are going to be out of town, perhaps a family member or a friend would enjoy your produce while you are gone. If you pick up at a host site, please be sure to inform your host that a different person will be picking up your box that week. If you absolutely have no way to pick up or use your share that week, please inform us so we either do not pack and deliver it or arrange for it to be donated elsewhere. Keep in mind however that we do not make up missed weeks.
Can I visit the farm?
Yes! We encourage all members and potential members to visit our farm. We believe it is important for you to have the opportunity to see exactly where your food is coming from and how it is grown or harvested. Please note: In order to give you our undivided attention and ensure farm safety, we do ask that you make an appointment with us before visiting.
How do I prepare my produce?
There are infinite ways to prepare your produce. Some items are more particular than others. We will regularly try to include recipes or tips in the weekly newsletter for the lesser known items in your share. However, the internet is a wonderful place for cooking ideas. ;-)
Do you have payment plans?
We have two basic options:
-Option 1: Pay in full at time of signup
-Option 2: Pay in two installments - half at time of signup, second half by May 1st.
If these options are not possible for you, please contact us and we can discuss your situation.
Do you offer any discounted shares for folks with lower incomes?
Yes. We offer a limited number of reduced rate Half Shares. Please see our CSA Pay-It-Forward Grant Program for more information, how to donate to the program, and how to apply.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. For your convenience we do accept credit cards. However, we give a discount for payments made by check.
Do you issue refunds if I change my mind?
No. Your membership with our farm is a season-long commitment. We make this very explicit in your member agreement and we take that commitment very seriously from the moment you sign up to become a member. Our only exception could occur if the season has not yet started and we have interest from our waiting list.
For any other questions please send us an email.
