At Upswing Farm we LOVE our CSA members. We know that our farm would not be possible without the core group of dedicated customers who are willing to commit to the realities of a local harvest and we make sure they reap the benefits. We believe a CSA share provides your family with access to fresh, high quality produce while supporting the growth of a regional food system.
Example Spring Share:
1 bunch scallions, 1 bunch french breakfast radish, 1 bunch spinach, 1/3 lb arugula, 1/3 lb salad, mix, 1/3 lb pea tendrils, 1 bunch bok choy.
Example Small Summer Share (July 30th) Small:
1 pound tomatoes, 1 pound mix: eggplant/peppers, 1/4 pound green beans, 1 head lettuce, 1 bunch carrots, 2lbs mix: zucchini, summer squash, cucumber, new potato, 1 bulb fresh garlic, 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes.
Example Fall Share: 1 pound carrots, 2 pounds potatoes, 1 pound sweet potato, 3 pounds winter squash, 1 pound broccoli/cauliflower, 1 pint brussels sprouts, .5 pound onions, one bunch cooking greens, 1/2 pound lettuce mix, 1 bunch herbs.
(2021 Fall Shares will be an EVERY WEEK pick up. The photo is of a 2019 fall share, which was an Every other week pick up. Weekly distributions will be roughly half of what is photographed.)
Example Winter Share: 8 pounds mix and match: carrots, potatoes, parsnips, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, onions, beets, radishes, cabbage, celery root. 1 pound spinach, 1 bag microgreens, 1 bunch herbs, 2 bulbs garlic, 3 shallots
Our Growing Practices
Your farmers have only worked on farms that follow organic standards, and we are finally able to apply for organic certification this year! We use crop production methods that build soil health, like composting, reduced tillage and cover cropping. We never use chemical pesticides, herbicides or fungicides and even avoid the use of organically approved sprays whenever possible. Instead we rely on methods to prevent pest and disease infestation such as: crop rotation, pest exclusion, using regionally appropriate planting dates and varieties, growing healthy crops with resistance, appropriate plant spacing, multiple successions of crops, and, on occasion, hand picking of pests.
We live on this produce. We eat it, we feed our families and friends, and we only want the best for them, for ourselves, and for you. We are always happy to talk to you about our growing practices.
Our Crops
We strive to grow a wide variety of produce that is exciting to cook with, and plenty for fresh-eating in salads. We can’t guarantee the success of any single crop, but we plant many varieties and multiple successions to provide the greatest opportunity for success. We offer as much choice as possible during CSA pick up.
Payment Plans
Although payment in full, when possible, is convenient for us, we also know what it’s like to live on a budget, so we offer a payment plan, which you can choose at check out. The plan is structured to provide adequate cash flow for the farm. Please don’t hesitate to use the payment plan if it is the right choice for you.
More About CSA
The CSA model allows customers to invest in their farm by committing to a season of fresh vegetables. CSA’s are a great way to access incredibly fresh produce while supporting local farms and maintaining an agricultural landscape in your community. Membership not only provides your family with fresh vegetables, it supports farmland preservation and community development.
At Upswing Farm you will pick up a variety of vegetables once a week during your share season (we have 4 seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter). By paying in advance you will provide the farm with essential funds for supplies like seeds, mulch, compost, tools and equipment. In exchange for your commitment it is our intention to provide you with the highest quality seasonal produce we can grow at a value of 20% more than what you are paying.
Low risk. Your farmers have a combined 20 years of experience farming, and have never failed to provide a bountiful share. Our farm plan includes over 60 crops, many of which are planted multiple times during the growing season, to ensure that small crop failures do not mean empty CSA shares. We grow multiple varieties of each crop, some that do well in heat, some that do well in wet soils, some that almost always do well, to ensure that regardless of the weather, we will have produce to harvest.
High Return. You are signing up for a share with farmers who have impeccable standards. We adore great flavor, stunning color, unique variety and take special care to harvest and wash our crops so they will be easy to process and inspiring to cook with. Customers who have bought shares from Upswing in the past are thrilled with the quality, and with the tasty influx of vegetables in their diet!
Social Value. Your commitment to our CSA is a commitment to the future of your community. By supporting our farm you are also supporting farm land preservation, resource conservation and community development and food access. More than 12,000lbs of vegetables have been donated to hunger relief organizations throughout the lifetime of our farm. Your farmers don’t just care about growing vegetables, they are actively involved in their communities and are passionate about the environmental and social justice that is created by a local, fair, secure food system.
Questions?
Email your farmer: brittany@upswingfarm.com
