As CSA shareholders, we invest in the farmer who
grows our food. Oftentimes, this means enjoying unexpected
bounty, especially at the height of the growing season when
tomatoes, corn, and summer squash are especially plentiful.
But we also accept the risk of unforeseeable variations in
the season, whether they result from excessive rain, drought,
or heavy winds.
CSA makes for a direct relationship between producer and
consumer, offering a means to bypass the distributors, buyers,
and middlemen associated with conventional grocery stores.
Our farmer is guaranteed a set market for his crops, and we
members receive delicious, fresh organic produce (often picked
the same day!) throughout the growing season, from mid-June
through November.
The core of the CSA consists of the vegetable
share. Members can choose to supplement their vegetables
with optional fruit, flower,
and egg shares. Once a month, special orders
of grass-fed meat, honey, and bread can also be placed through
Lewis Waite Farm.
For share prices, go to the Join page. This year, half share sign-up forms are available.
For an explanation of share prices, click
here.
The vegetable share runs for 22 weeks, from mid-June through
late November and provides enough produce to form the core
of a week's worth of meals for a typical omnivorous couple.*
An average share consists of a couple pounds of leafy greens,
a few pounds of hard veggies (like carrots, potatoes, and
onions), and is often supplemented with fresh herbs and small
quantities of specialty vegetables. Expect to see about six
to eight different vegetable varieties each week.
sample midsummer share (August 9, 2007)—1/3 pound baby
lettuce mix, 1 pound green beans, 5 ears corn, 2 beefsteak
tomatoes, 7 Juliet tomatoes, 2 cucumbers, 1 bunch beets with
greens attached, 3 yellow onions.
sample fall share (November 1, 2007)—1 bunch vitamin
greens, 1 carnival squash, 6 pieces parsnips, 1 bunch carrots,
1 bunch red Russian kale, 2 pieces eggplant, 1 head bok choy,
2 heads garlic, 1 bunch thyme.
Eating locally grown foods emphasizes seasonality and crop
diversity, and our CSA shares are no exception to this rule.
Here's a partial listing of the vegetables we received over
the course of the 2007 season:
arugula • basil • beets • bok choy •
broccoli • Brussels sprouts • cabbage •
carrots • celery • cilantro • corn •
collards • cucumbers • fennel • garlic
• herbs • kale • leeks • lettuce
• mesclun • onions • parsley • parsnips
• peppers • potatoes • pumpkins •
radish • scallions • spinach • sunchokes
• Swiss chard • tomatoes • turnips •
vitamin greens • winter squash • zucchini
* We recommend that vegetarians and families supplement
their shares with additional vegetables.
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Fruit Share (optional)
For share prices, go to the Join page
The fruit share runs for 20 weeks, beginning with the first or second week's distribution. A typical share might consist of a pint
of berries or several pounds of apples. Though it's not grown
on Windflower Farm, Ted gathers fruit from local farmers who
use integrated pest management (IPM) or low-spray agricultural
practices. For the time being, only the berries are grown
organically.
Fruits distributed during the 2007 season:
apples • apricots • blueberries • blackberries
• cherries • nectarines • peaches •
pears • plums • raspberries • rhubarb
• strawberries
Organic Flower Share
For share prices, go to the Join page.
Running for ten weeks, flower shares consist of a fresh-cut
bouquet of a single variety of flower or an arrangement of
several blooms grown on Windflower Farm, all selected for
their color, fragrance, and long-lasting qualities.
Past flower shares have included:
asters • bells of Ireland • campanulas •
celosia • cosmos • cockscomb • gladiolas
• godetia • lavatera • larkspur •
lilies • lisianthus • rudbeckia • snapdragons
• sunflowers • sweet William • zinnias
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Egg Share (optional)
For share prices, go to the Join page.
Purchase free-range eggs from Elihu Farm, owned by Ted's neighbors,
Mary and Bob Pratt, who raise sheep and free-range chickens
on protected lands.
Lewis Waite CSA Pastured Meat and Poultry
View
price list
In addition to raising their own grass-fed and
pastured animals, Alan and Nancy Brown of Lewis Waite manage
a collective of regional family farms, delivering humanely
raised meat, cheese, bread, honey, and more to New York City
CSAs. Once a month, CSA members can place online orders for
pick up at distribution.
Contact us: prospectheightscsa at gmail dot com