Massachusetts Organic Food Guide

Description

Stone's Throw CSA is a multi-grower CSA that distributes from Silvermine Farm in Sutton. Stone's Throw CSA is dedicated to supporting sustainable local food systems in the Blackstone and French River valleys of Massachusetts. All of our farmers are committed to growing fruits, vegetables and herbs using organic and ecologically sustainable methods, without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and while working in harmony with nature to control pests and diseases. Our farmers often focus on planting heirloom and open-pollinated varieties of vegetables that encourage plant genetic diversity, have natural resistance to pests and diseases, and which have been selected over generations to taste great.

Now in its third year of operation, Stone's Throw CSA's growers include Silvermine Farm of Sutton, Sweet Birch of Douglas, and Hidden Hills Farm of Oxford. The CSA operates on a cooperative basis, from the farmers working together cooperatively to produce the food, to the CSA members assisting the farmers and sharing in the running of the organization. We are currently gearing up for the 2010 season, and information on share sizes, work hours and opportunities, distribution days and times will be available on our website shortly.

Annual membership in Stone's Throw CSA costs $30 and provides an identification card, reduced or free admission to workshops, an emailed copy of the newsletter Share, access to purchasing a share of produce, an opportunity to help sustain local farms, and an opportunity to participate in the running of Stone's Throw CSA's organization. While the membership is open to everyone, it is required for anyone who wishes to purchase a share of the produce.

In our continued desire to make shares available to as many people as possible, workshare arrangements are available through the individual farmers. We are also exploring the possibility of taking SNAP payments for shareholders. If you have a need for financial assistance, please contact us, as we have some scholarship money available through the generous donation of our shareholders.

Products

25 different crops are being planted for Stone's Throw CSA shareholders this summer. A more complete list of crops and quantities planned for the year can be found on our website.

CSA

While all shareholders must be members of Stone's Throw CSA, all members must not be shareholders. One share size will be offered this year, with the opportunity for members to split the share with others. Distribution of shares will take place on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Any shares that aren't picked up at the end of Tuesday and Saturday will be donated to a local food cupboard. As Julie Rawson from Many Hands Organic Farm tells her CSA shareholders, veggies don't take vacation or days off. If you can't come to pick up your share and don't make arrangements for a friend to do it, it will be much appreciated by your neighbors in need.

Many of our past shareholders opted for the smaller sized share, but the growers weren't able to effectively manage the multiple share sizes, so this year we will work cooperatively to make the transition go smoothly. One suggested way to split a share would be to have one family become a member, purchase the share and split it with a friend or neighbor away from the distribution site at their convenience. Another would be to have both families become members of Stone's Throw CSA to provide both families with access to the membership benefits and with each family deciding together how to best handle that split and, if necessary, have one family leave half of the weekly share at the distribution site for the other family. A third way would be to have two families that don't yet know each other become members of Stone's Throw CSA and ask for assistance to find another family to split with. No matter which option is chosen, one distribution day for split shares must be chosen.

The share size will be based on an average of $30 worth of organic produce (using 2009 summer prices) weekly. Of course, since plants grow in relation to the sun, the amount and variety of produce will follow the bell curve of the sun's growing capacity from early summer to early fall.

Pick Your Own

Strawberries, peas, beans and cherry tomatoes will be offered on a PYO basis this summer. Shareholders who are not able to pick their own vegetables due to medical issues will be assisted by other shareholders so they don't miss out on the full harvest.