Stone Soup is pleased to offer our Community Supported Agriculture program!  Click here to see all the options for membership, pick up locations & times.

What is CSA?

CSA is a method of purchasing your produce on a pre-pay basis.  You sign up at the beginning of the growing season, and receive a weekly load of veggies for your family.  The quantity and variety varies throughout the season, giving you a full spectrum of seasonal produce that is grown at the farm. 

In a way, buying a share is like buying stock in the farm.  You pay for a percentage of the farm's output, and each week we distribute evenly to all CSA shareholders that which is available.  Like when buying stocks, you share in the ups and downs of the organization.  If Stone Soup has a very poor potato harvest, then you will not receive many potatoes.  On the other hand, if there is a bumper crop of  potatoes, then you will receive a heavy load of them.  Our planning is aimed at providing a balanced and steady supply of all the vegetables, but the reality of farming is that it is sometimes inconsistent, and CSA members will share in the ups and downs of the farm.

What comes in a share?

Well, the short answer is: Most vegetables you can think of will be part of the share one week or another!  The favorites (tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, corn, broccoli, etc.) will be distributed multiple times, up to about 8 times per season.  The lesser known veggies will be given out less frequently, some will only be included once. 

Check the list on the left to see all the items that will be grown for the CSA members.  About 10 items per week are given out, in variable quantity.  When tomato season rolls around, expect a lot of tomatoes.  You will also only receive what is seasonal, which means sorry, no watermelons in June, but sometime in August they will be ready.

A full Share will add up to about 10-15 lb. of produce each week, while the half share will total about 5-8 lb. per week. 

Why CSA?

There are many benefits to the CSA model that benefit both the farmers and the consumers.  Here's why it's the coolest thing you can do:

  • By signing up, you are ensuring the support of local agriculture
  • Stone Soup Farm is dedicated chemical free, and meets all organic standards
  • Members are introduced not only to the varieties of produce that are able to grow in the area, but also the seasonal availability of these foods.  Members really appreciate the closeness to the land that this model provides.
  • The farm is able to have a more secure line of income, which allows it to operate safely.  Farming today can be hard, and CSA helps alleviate the extreme risks inherent in the business.
  • CSA provides a wonderful way to connect people to the place their food comes from, as well as letting the farm come in contact with the people that eat from it.  Both the experiences of the members and the farmers are enriched by this process.

For more specific details on membership such as pickup times and places, prices, and options, click here

We're all Sold out of CSA shares for the season.  Boston and Leominster shareholders still have time to get a bread share!

or

Click to download our CSA Signup Form