Join the DCJCC, DC Minyan & Fresh and Local CSA’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program as we bring together members of the community to support local and biodynamically grown food.
Get quality fresh produce every week while promoting local agriculture!
You, the shareholders, pledge to cover some of the anticipated costs of planting and harvesting the farm's fruits and vegetables. In return, you will receive a weekly portion, or ‘share’, of the farm's bounty throughout the growing season and reconnect to the land and our food system.
DC MINYAN/ WASHINGTON DCJCC MEMBERS SIGN UP HERE
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tell me more about Fresh and Local CSA?
Fresh and Local CSA is located in Shepherdstown, WV where our farmers, Allan and Maura Balliett, have lived for over twenty years after moving from Arlington, VA. The farm is just slightly over an hour away from Northwest DC. Allan and Maura have been CSA farmers for nearly 15 years and believe that CSAs provide a special relationship between the farm and the people who eat the food. They base their method on the Biodynamic management principles.
Click here to learn more about biodynamic agriculture
What is in a CSA share each week?
The spring shares start out light with mainly greens, broccoli, lettuces, onions and garlic and expand out each week as more and more vegetables come into season and ripen. Usually the Spring share contains at least one or more weeks with strawberries and melons. Summer shares include more vegetables and there are usually five weeks of incredibly delicious peaches and five weeks of heirloom varieties of apples. The peaches and apples come from a neighboring farm and are not totally organic but use very few inputs.
One share contains enough fruits and vegetables for approximately two people, though this estimate depends on the amount of produce each individual will consume. Participants have the option of purchasing two shares per week. Participants also have the option of purchasing a dozen of eggs per week from pastured chickens.
How do I pick up my produce?
As a shareholder, you will pick up your produce on Tuesdays, between 4:30-7:00 pm, at the Washington DCJCC: 1529 16th Street, NW Washington DC, 20036 (on the Q Street side near the parking lot). Participants will be provided with bags in which to take home their produce.
How long is your season?
The full season runs from May 22 to October 30.
Can I sign up for just a part of the season?
The season is divided into three sessions. You can sign up for a full harvest season of 24 weeks or just one or two sessions.
Spring session: May 22 – July 10.
Summer session: July 17 – September 4.
Fall session: September 11 – October 30.
What is the price of a share?
Spring session: $200
Summer Session: $256
Fall Session: $214
Shareholders have the option of purchasing a weekly dozen of eggs at an additional $36 per session.
All shareholders who are not members of the JCC or DC Minyan pay a $15 fee.
How can I help out?
We are asking all shareholders to please volunteer one Tuesday during the season to help with drop-off and pick-up. As a volunteer, you will need to be at the Washington DCJCC at 4:15 pm or 5:15 pm to help set up, and will finish around 7:15 pm. As a bonus for volunteering that day, you get to take home some leftover produce!
Can I try this out for a short time to see if I like it?
The purpose of a CSA is to provide local farmers insurance that they will have buyers for their produce. They need to know when they order seeds and plant how many people will be buying their fruits and vegetables during the course of the season. Therefore, we ask that people complete all sign-ups, for any session, by April 15. But you are welcome to try the CSA for a short time this year if you want, and when you like it (we know you will!), sign up for a longer plan next year! There are NO refunds for any reason. If needed, you could try to sell the remainder of your plan(s) to a friend, neighbor, co-worker or family member.
What if I go on vacation?
If you go on vacation, you can ask a friend to pick your CSA box up for you. If your box is not picked up from 4:30-7:00 pm, it will be donated to the Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service/Hunger Action program and DC Central Kitchen. In special circumstances, if you contact the coordinator, we may occasionally be able to hold your box until 8 pm. Otherwise, there is NO storage of produce left after pick up time. All produce left unclaimed at 7:00 will be donated.
What if I don't want a particular item? What happens to the extra fruits and vegetables?
If you do not want an item in your CSA box that week, you can either donate it or switch the item with another shareholder. All produce left over at the end of the pick up day will be donated to Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service/Hunger Action program and DC Central Kitchen. As mentioned above, it is important to remember that there is NO storage of produce left after pick up time. All produce left unclaimed will be donated.
How is the CSA involved with Common Good City Farm?
Common Good City Farm is an urban farm and education center growing food with and for low-income residents in Washington, DC. The JCC typically volunteers for Common Good City Farm on the 4th Sunday of every month April-October. This season, the JCC & DC Minyan CSA is working to help support the mission of this organization. Shareholders have the option of volunteering for CGCF, participating in their herb CSA, or subsidizing a farmshare for a low-income DC resident.
I want to join! How do I sign up?
Fill out the registration form, select your plan, and submit your payment online by May 11, 2012.
Other questions? Email csa@dcminyan.org
DC MINYAN/ WASHINGTON DCJCC MEMBERS SIGN UP HERE
NON-MEMBERS SIGN UP HERE
