Winter CSA Shares Available!

Read on for full details on Winter and Pantry CSA Shares! These run November through February (Pantry) or March (Winter), with pick up at the farm store, rural Madelia.

There are currently 3 Winter and 9 Pantry Shares available! Winter features our winter greens. Add on items will be available for purchase at the farm store at pick up (eggs, greens, etc.).

Winter CSA

Here are the details…

•What’s in the Share: This share features greens from our passive solar winter greenhouse, alongside storage crops and canned goods.

Apples, applesauce, apple butter, apple rings, baking apples, acorn squash, butternut squash, garlic, onions, beets, carrots, pea shoots, microgreens and salad greens.

•Cost: $285  -  please pay in full at the time of reservation, or make a deposit of $185, with $100 due by first box. Payment by cash, check or Venmo.

•Pick Up: Shooting to start Wednesday, November 20—the first of 7 pick ups. Pick up will be at the Farm Store, Wednesdays from 4:00-7:00 pm. Pick up will be every 2-3 weeks, approximately. This all depends on the growth of the salad greens. Flexibility is a must. Boxes in Nov./Dec./Jan.x2/Febx2/Mar.

Pantry CSA

Here are the details…

•What’s in the Share: This share features our organic storage crops and canned items.
Apples, applesauce, apple butter, apple rings, acorn squash, butternut squash, garlic, onions, potatoes, beets, carrots.

•Cost: $95  -  please pay in full at the time of reservation, or make a deposit of $65, with $30 due by first box. Payment by cash, check or Venmo.

•Pick Up: Shooting to start Wednesday, November 20—the first of 4 pick ups. Pick up will be at the Farm Store, Wednesdays from 4:00-7:00 pm. Pick up will be once per month, approximately. Flexibility is a must, as we will line up with Winter CSA pick up as we are able (some folks do both). Boxes in Nov./Dec./Jan./Feb.

Reservation

Please email info@alternativerootsfarm.com or text 507-412-7605, to reserve your share and make sure there is one available. Then I will give you the sign up link.

Pick Up

Pick up of shares will be at the Farm Store - 11197 130th St. Madelia, MN 56062 - 23 miles West of Mankato, 12 miles South of New Ulm, 8 miles North of Madelia.
   •Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 pm
   •Thursdays 4:00-7:00 pm
   •Fridays 9:00 am-12:00pm

Notes

•Some folks to decide to get both shares.

•Other Items: When picking up at the Farm Store there will be other items you can add on to your share—eggs, raw apple cider, greens, etc. As pick up approaches we will offer reservation on eggs.

•Weather: In case of winter weather we may postpone pick up, or change the day that week.

•Your investment in a Pantry CSA Share gets you a discount on all these items and the best of our storage produce!

Coming Soon!

Farm Share Options Coming Soon!

We offer different share options that provide you with a discount on a little larger purchase of various items. Perfect for enjoying the best of each season and stocking the pantry or freezer!

Fall Apple Share Sign Up

Opening shortly! Beginning in September enjoy 6 weeks of seasonal organic/transitional organic apples. Pick up at the Saturday Mankato farmers market or on farm (12 miles South of New Ulm, 8 miles North of Madelia). More info: 2019 Shares.

$54.00 :: 24 lbs/4 lb Bag x 6 weeks

Tomato Shares

10 or 20 lbs boxes of organic, heirloom tomatoes for canning. For purchase during the season as available - join the wait list to be notified.

$28  ||  10 lbs  30% discount
$52  ||  20 lbs  35% discount

Pesto Shares

Includes 2 lbs of fresh, organic basil and 4 heads of organic garlic. Delivered as available in August/September. Eat it fresh and stock up your freezer.Add into scrambled eggs, pastas, spread on sandwiches or garlic bread or pizza. Delish! For purchase during the season as available - join the wait list to be notified.

$23.00  ||  2 lbs basil & 4 bulbs of garlic

Fall CSA Shares

Fall CSA Shares will be offered once in September, twice in October. Sign up for one, or all three, dates - coming soon. An on-farm market will also be available during Fall CSA pick up.

Full details coming soon!

Now Available!

Applesauce Shares  -  Apple Butter Shares

Applesauce Shares - A case of 12 quarts for $65. A popular option for the kiddos!

Apple Butter Shares - A six pack of butter to stock your pantry, $26.

Clean eating treats made with no extra sugar - just local honey!

2014 Shares Now Available!

2014 CSA and Farm Shares are available now! 

Fresh • Sustainable • Organic methods • Local

:: CSA ::
Full and Half Shares are both available--Full Shares are delivered every week for 18 weeks, and Half Shares for 9 weeks, every-other week. Home or workplace delivery is available. All CSA Shares will be delivered on Mondays and Wednesdays. New this year, we have added a couple of "boosters" to enhance your experience, as optional add-ons to your traditional CSA Share.

CSA Box Week 3, 2013

In 2013 CSA members received 122% of the value invested at sign-up!

For full details head over to our 2014 Shares page.

Note quite sure how CSA works? Check out more information on what CSA is all about.

2014 Order Form

:: Farm Shares ::  

Available in limited quantity, Farm Shares are available in $100 or $150 amounts. Farm Shares are delivered at Monday or Wednesday CSA pick-up and operate sort of like a Farmers' Market that comes to you! We send you a list of available produce, you place an order and we deliver. As an additional perk you can shop at the Saturday Farmers' Market, with no need to bring cash.

For full details go to our 2014 Shares page.

2014 Order Form

:: Other Offerings ::  

Budding Farmers Program :: 10% off Sign-up during January. You sign up with Budding Farmers and ARF simply distributes the materials. This is a great program we are happy to offer to CSA and Farm Share Members for delivery with their Shares, or non-members to pick up at Saturday market. See our blog post for more details.

CSA Home//Workplace Delivery :: Get your CSA Share delivered right to your door--literally! We are happy to make a custom delivery for any CSA member for just $25 Full Share or $13 Half Share.

CSA Boosters :: For CSA members only, a couple options to expand your CSA Share, or enhance your CSA experience. Try the Herb Booster if you are wild about herbs. Choose the Apple Booster if you just can't get enough apples. All CSA Members do get herbs and apples, this simply gives the option of getting larger amounts. See our 2014 Shares information for full details and cost.

Apple Shares :: A few of you participated in our first Apple Shares last year. We will be doing them again for 2014. Sign-up for Apple Shares will be in August. Shares will again be limited.

:: Farmers' Market ::  

You can find us at the Saturday Farmers' Market again this season! We're still waiting for details about the market location, as Runnings has moved, so stay tuned. Saturdays 9-Noon, July-October.

Brooke and John at the New Ulm Farmers' Market

P.S. We are applying for Organic certification this year! Super awesome. It's a three-year transition time and our three years is up in October! It's a very exciting time for our farm, and organic agriculture as a movement.

Winter Planning

Well we have been busy farming ideas this winter! In December the catalogs started to arrive (which I always like to call the first sign of spring) and we get all nutty and excited about different veggie varieties. It's quite fun.

Our favorite catalogs & main companies we'll purchase from
this year. Primarily heirlooms, all natural--no GMOs. 

At this point we have all our varieties picked out, debated upon, and choices slimmed down. I have been working on a whole new bed layout for 2013, and with that a new crop rotation plan, which is somewhat complex. Once I'm done with the mapping then the next step is to order seed, tubers and sets!

A pic of the in-progress planting plan, which helps me to
determine how much seed stock I need and provides much
excitement of what's to come this summer!

A successful season is due much in part to thorough planning in the winter. My crop rotation serves to build healthy soil, aid in pest control and enhance efficiency; so a lot of thought has gone into alternating crop families, crop functions (soil building legumes, roots, vines), high/med/low nutrient needs of crops, placing everything next to beneficial/non-detrimental crops (companion planting).

My messy workspace :) You can't see the catalogs here
because they are all over the floor. Bonus points if you can
tell me what's missing from this picture!

Such an exciting time. All our previous year's CSA customers have been contacted about this season, and on January 17th we'll post all the new details for this year's CSA Shares & Farm Shares. Stay tuned, or shoot us an email at alternativerootsfarm@yahoo.com for any questions you may have.

Along with the planning we continue to build our knowledge over the winter (as always). This is a prime time of the year to watch webinars, read up on all those things I jotted down over the summer (i.e. why did the broccoli do that?), attend workshops, conferences and meetings. John headed up to the annual meeting for the Sustainable Farming Association's Crow River Chapter and presented on a panel of farmers, which gave him an opportunity to teach and learn at the same time--what a great opportunity. I am headed to Eau Claire on Thursday for the Midwest CSA Conference. Also, you can watch for me on the public access channel, as the Heart of New Ulm group has been helping to promote community supported agriculture farms with some little interviews--pretty cool.

May you have good food and good health in this wonderful new year!

CSA & Farm Shares Sold Out for 2012!

Our CSA Shares & Farm Shares are sold out for 2012--thank you for all your inquiries and interest.

We will be selling shares in 2013--if you are interested in getting on a waiting list for 2013 please shoot us an email.

It's going to be a GREAT season!!

2012 Farm Share Designs

2012 Farm Share Certificates are hot of the press!!  Purchase your Farm Share and use it like cash all season--a great way to make a commitment to healthy eating, the farm, and no need to carry cash at the market.  More info here.  Farm Shares are still available, in limited quantity.

2012 Farm Share designs
Artwork by John

2012 Farm Share Information

For 2012 we are offering individual Farm Shares available in any amount, in limited quantity.  Shares are ideally purchased early in the season (January-June), as this helps with planning and capital investments, but a Farm Share can be purchased anytime of season--as long as you feel you'll have enough time to use it.  

Farm Share certificates will be mailed out to you after receiving payment in full, and can be used like cash, all season long, for purchases on-farm, special orders or from farmers' markets.  For 2012 we will plan to be at the New Ulm Saturday farmers' market and in Madelia on Wednesdays.

What is a Farm Share?

2012 ORDER FORM:  download or email us at alternativerootsfarm@yahoo.com

Payment

To receive your Farm Share complete the order form and submit it with a check for the full amount of the share.

Farm Shareholder responsibilities

Purchasing a Farm Share is also a mutual agreement with the farmer, you are making an up-front investment in the farm to receive quality produce during the season.  If purchasing at the farmers' market know that sales are done on a first come, first served basis--arrive early for your best selection.  Your Farm Share is good for the current growing season only, approximately June-October; if you have a balance left at the end of the season it is forfeit, it cannot be used for 2013, and it cannot be refunded.  Keep a copy of your order form, which contains sales and contact information; read emails and newsletters that are sent out; know when the growing and farmers' markets seasons begin and end; and know how much of a balance you have remaining on your Farm Share.  

What is CSA & Farm Shares?

If you are looking for more information on what the concepts of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and Farm Shares are check out our newly updated CSA & Farm Shares page.

Details on 2012 CSA shares and Farm Shares will be out shortly.  Stay warm!

A.R.F.