Educational
programs
Here is a detailed explanation of the community supported agriculture model that we run at the farm. Click on the desired section that you want to jump to or use the scroll down button to read the entire document. Click on download in order to obtain a printable version of the text. Click here if you want to download the application form.
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The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Model
CSA refers to a model of farming in which farmers sell harvest shares directly to people in the local community. The CSA represents a direct connection between consumers and farmers, and a shared commitment - shareholders commit to the farm for the season, providing farmers with a secure customer base, and farmers commit to doing their utmost to provide their shareholders with the best-quality, most nutritious food around. You, the CSA member, pay in advance for a season's worth of fresh, sustainably grown produce, providing the farm with income to get started. We, the farmers, can then focus on growing great crops to supply you with a “share” of fresh, organic fruits and veggies, each week, as we harvest them (within 24 hours of pick-up). This direct connection between farmer and consumers bypasses middlemen (e.g., marketers, long distance shippers), benefits the farmer by increasing farm revenue, benefits the environment by decreasing packaging and pollution, and benefits consumers by providing access to farms and fresh, high-quality produce at competitive prices.
The Brookwood Community Farm CSA
2007 will be the second year of farming and CSA program at Brookwood Farm. We were very successful in our first year with 12 “founding members” on 1 acre of land and plan to increase to 30 shares this year. Shareholders will receive fresh produce and a newsletter each week, for 20 weeks, from mid-June through early November (members will receive a schedule and detailed information before the start of the harvest season). To simplify the process, CSA members can pick up their share at the farm on Wednesdays, between 2 and 7pm, or at one of the Farmer’s Markets we go to- Milton on Thursday, 1 to 6pm or Roslindale on Saturday, 9am to 1pm. If you come to the farm, you will have more choice about the items and amounts in your share because you will be able to fill your own box from the produce table (with some limits to ensure that everyone gets enough), and “pick-your-own” for certain crops, such as cherry tomatoes and cut flowers. At the Farmer’s Market, we will have the boxes ready, although, if we are not too busy, you can make adjustments to the produce in your share.
Brookwood Community Farm grows a wide variety of crops, planted in succession to provide support for biodiversity, and a continuous weekly supply of mixed vegetables. We enjoy planting many heirloom and specialty varieties that are beautiful to look at, taste especially yummy, and are hard to find in most grocery stores. The farm is always excited to try new things and welcomes suggestions from our members for new cultivars or personal favorites to plant each season. Last year BCF grew 20 types of heirloom tomatoes, an extremely popular and diverse salad mix, striped eggplants and purple potatoes, along with traditional crops, such as zucchini, cucumbers, onions, beans and more. In 2007 we plan to add a few crops we overlooked- collard greens, paste tomatoes, garlic; and experiment with a few new things- artichokes, fava beans. We also hope to improve yields of some crops that did poorly in 2006 by changing our growing methods to increase soil nutrient levels and produce healthier transplants. This year, members should get more sweet and hot peppers and more fall brassicas.
Yet, CSA Shareholders take on the risk of the farming season with the farmer, which means that weather conditions, and other factors beyond our control, will result in uneven outcomes for different crops- a hot, dry year might produce a bumper crop of peppers, but no lettuce or greens and visa-versa. We plan to provide our shareholders with their money’s worth of vegetables and herbs over the course of the season, valued at prices we think are fair and reasonable to our shareholders and our farm operation. In a good season, you will receive more produce; in a challenging year, you may receive less.
This spring we hope to have more acreage to plant at Brookwood Farm, and possibly at another nearby site, giving us the ability to include sweet corn in the member boxes for a few-week period. We also plan to plant some perennials: berries such as; blueberries, raspberries and strawberries; as well as asparagus and lavender. However, these will not be ready to harvest next year. In addition, CSA members might be able to purchase a “fruit share” for an additional $65.00. The fruit share provides apples, and a sprinkling of peaches and pears, from a local orchard, from mid-August through October.
Here is a list of the crops we plan to grow in 2007, organized by predicted harvest period:
JUNE - BEGINNING JULY
Salad mix, lettuce | Braising greens | Radishes | Peas | Garlic scapes| Herbs| Chard
MID-SUMMER;
Beans | Summer Squash | Cucumbers | Herbs | Carrots | Tomatoes- large, paste, cherry | Peppers- sweet and hot | Eggplant | New Potatoes | Melons | Sweet corn * (maybe) | Beets | Chard | Flowers | Garlic
FALL; SEPT – OCT
Broccoli | Onions | Leeks | Potatoes| Cabbage | Collard greens | Cauliflower | Brussel | sprouts | Winter squash | Pumpkins | Kale | Spinach | Salad mix
Brookwood Community Farm is committed to sustainable farming and all crops are grown using organic practices that promote a healthy soil and balanced ecosystem to maintain populations of “good bugs”, soil microorganisms and disease fighting mechanisms in the field. Soil fertility is achieved without the use of synthetic chemicals, through composting, nutrient recycling, cover crops/green manures, organic fertilizers, raised beds and other soil building techniques. Pest control methods emphasize variety selection and cultivation techniques that enhance natural defenses and promote strong, disease resistant plants. We use row covers, crop rotation, beneficial insects and, when necessary, organic materials approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute to minimize pest damage to our crops. BCF will apply for organic certification at Brookwood Farm this year. Since the DCR has never used chemical fertilizers or pesticides at this site, certification should be possible without the usual 3-year transition period. Our farmers pledge to keep CSA members and community farm participants informed about our farming practices and we welcome your questions, input and direct involvement in the sustainable farm operation.
Because this a community farm that depends on volunteer labor to keep up with the chores and harvesting, and because we want our members to get involved, we ask that each share-holder work 6 hours over the growing season. This work commitment can be done any Wednesday, or by attending one or more of our monthly, weekend workdays (or by arrangement with the farm manager). We will also offer a couple of “work-shares” this year, which allow folks who have more time than money to use “sweat equity” to purchase a share. A work-share requires the member to work at the farm 4 hours per week during the CSA season (tasks and schedules can be worked out with the farm manager). For members who don’t like farm work, there are plenty of other ways to help out, such as newsletter production, outreach, administrative tasks, etc. BCF will also provide members the opportunity to spend time at the farm in a social context, by hosting monthly pot-luck get-togethers for CSA members to share recipes and get to know each other.
Just print and fill out the CSA application form and send it in with your season payment ($500) or deposit ($250). We will give returning members first option on 2007 memberships (holding their spaces until the end of January) and fill the remaining spaces on a first come basis. Once the 2007 CSA is full, we will return applications and checks, along with information about other nearby CSA programs and alternative options for enjoying Brookwood Farm produce this summer. We hope to grow our CSA program in the future to accommodate more families in response to the huge interest and demand for local food and farming connections. If you are interested in splitting a share, let us know on the application or by sending an email and we will try to find you a partner.
If you have questions or suggestions feel free to use our contact form. You can also directly email or call the BCF Farm manager at:
farmerjudy@brookwoodcommunityfarm.org
Judy’s cell- 617-980-2368
Click here to download the form (word document). We will send you a confirmation once we receive your application and payment, along with more information about the BCF 2007 CSA program and production information. CSA members will receive emails with farm news and updates and a weekly newsletter containing produce lists, recipes and useful tips, with your weekly share.