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  • From: alicia best <bestici AT hotmail.com>
  • To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Now What?
  • Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 16:11:32 -0700

I really meant to get the winter rye that I planted last fall tilled in or mowed down or something.  But it was too wet/cold/, I was too busy doing something else important.... Now I have about 1/2 acre of winter rye that has huge rye berries on it and I don't know what to do.  Suggestions????? Thinking of removing the rye berries (by hand) and down the standing straw ( by hand) and using it to mulch in my garlic.  See any problems with this idea???? thanks in advance.  I am new to cover cropping and do realize that I missed the whole point of planting the rye in the first place.... alicia in northern wa

 





Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:57:10 -0300
From: jenanddereksfarm AT gmail.com
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Alternative CSA Models

Hi,

We have a fairly small CSA in PEI, Canada and I use the swap box method.  I harvest about 2-3 extra shares worth of veggies and herbs and into the swap box they go.  I also take lesser loved veggies in the swap box as well.  This is our first year using the swap box and its VERY popular!!!  Cabbage seems to be a popular item to put back into the swap box, it is also a way for people to take extra if they want too.  I found one common comment on our season end surveys was there were too many vegetables each week in the box.  Our shares are $20/week but can often be valued at $25-28 dollars in a good growing season.  The swap box is a way to keep the shares around $22-24 and then people can take extra if they want.  Seems to work well for us.  I am curious as to what members will say on the surveys this year. 

Jen

On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 3:02 PM, Etienne Goyer <etienne.goyer AT outlands.ca> wrote:
Andy,

I really like your system.  It sounds very useful as a way to use those
fruits/vegetables that you do not have enough to put in every basket, or
for those more "exotic" things (like celeriac, for example) that not
every CSA shareholder are interested in.

Another thing I am considering is to have an "exchange basket".  For
example, if there are turnips in the share this week and you do not like
them, you can trade them for beets from the exchange basket.

Cheers,

Etienne (not a farmer yet, but looking forward to start in 2011!)


On 10-09-01 12:17 PM, Andy Fellenz wrote:
> I offer a hybrid approach.  2/3 of the share is pre-packed and my
> members make additional selections from a market table. Each member gets
> a certain number of choices based on their share size, generally at
> least three choices, they can choose whatever they want from the choice
> table, unless an item is in short supply and I ask them to limit
> themselves to a maximum of one of the short supply item.  Most of the
> season I'll have about twenty different items on the choice table.  As
> an example, this afternoon my members will be able to choose from
> raspberries, blackberries, peaches, 2 varieties of lettuce, 2 varieties
> of chard, 2 varieties of beets, scallions, spinach, turnips, okra, about
> a half dozen varieties of tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, two varieties
> of eggplant, about a half dozen varieties of peppers, 4 varieties of
> cukes, 4 varieties of summer squash, onions, watermelon, cantaloupe and
> sun jewel melons.
> I do three distributions a week which range from 52 to 74 shares each
> day.  Many of the choice table items will keep several days, so if they
> aren't chosen today they will either go on the farmstand or be offered
> as choices on Friday.
> Andy
>
>
> John Ferree wrote:
>> I'm looking to replace myself as farm manager for the 2011 season. . .
>> and while that will be a challenge by its self, I would like to change
>> up the CSA to add a bit more flexibility to the system.
>> Our current system is box-subscription.  While this system works, most
>> of the disadvantages are on the customer side.  No choice, little
>> input as to the box contents.
>>
>> I have heard of other CSA's that have switched to a market style
>> pickup.  Table 1 has 3 things - take 2 units, Table 2 has 4 things -
>> take three, etc  I see a number of advantages with this.  Decreased
>> packing costs. . . introduction of member choice. . . more face time
>> with members (currently near 0 face time/week). . . streamlining field
>> -> cooler processing. . . increased flexibility in quantities for the
>> new manager who still has a fair bit to learn.  Downside - probably
>> need to get 50+ members per pickup, or shorten pickup duration.
>> I heard a former employee from Angelic Organics started on their own
>> with a system like this. . . but I need to talk to someone who's doing
>> it.   Know anyone?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> John
>>
>> --
>> Seldom Seen Farm <http://www.seldomseenfarm.com/>
>> Danville, IN
>> 317.509.7828
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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--
Jen and Derek Campbell
1805 Route 13
Brookvale PE
C0A 1Y0
902-658-2148
JenAndDereksFarm AT gmail.com
http://farmfreshveggies.blogspot.com/

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