Food is one of the few things that every one of us has in common. We all need to eat; food fuels us and dictates a great number of actions throughout the day. From what we eat to what we buy, who we eat with and when. And increasingly we are all becoming more and more interested in the question ‘Where did this food come from, and how was it raised?’ And lucky for all of us there is an increasingly growing availability of fantastic locally grown, sustainably raised food out there for us. That spans from farmers’ markets to grocery stores, restaurants implementing local food and more and more of our neighbors raising their own.
But for many of us growing tomatoes and breeding chickens isn’t something we’re interested in or have time for. Though fortunately, so many farmers out there are doing the work for you. I’m not talking about big mechanized 1000 acre farms on the other side of the country, or the world. I’m talking about farmers in your community. The ones whose kids are with yours in school. They use the same gas stations, dentists, lawyers, department stores and public libraries as the rest of us. They are here in the local community spreading their dollars within the local economy.
With all of the choices out there, sometimes we can’t all make it to the farmers’ market. But we want to participate in the local agricultural community. So we turn to the convenience of a CSA subscription system model.
CSAs generally focus on the production of high quality foods for a local community, often using organic or sustainable farming methods, and a shared risk membership–marketing structure. This kind of farming operates with a much greater degree of involvement of consumers and other stakeholders than usual — resulting in a stronger consumer-producer relationship. The core design includes developing a cohesive consumer group that supports the farm budget in return for receiving quality foods throughout the season. This way a farmer can plant for their members, focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste or financial loss.
How Does It Work on Our CSA Farm?
CSA members sign up and pay in advance, before the start of the season. In turn, they are delivered a weekly share throughout the growing season (20 weeks). This way a box is provided every week of all of the wonderful vegetables, eggs and baked goods that are ripe, ready and fresh-made that day. And for us prepayment provides operating capital for the year’s production, and helps us plan the planting and harvest schedule. On our own farm, members are part of our farm and our family. As a subscriber of our CSA you can partake in sustainable, local food; support the local economy and a healthy planet while providing your family with local, healthful, fresh produce and goods.
A Little About Us
Both classically trained in the culinary and pastry arts, we have spent several years in the restaurant and bakery industries. Food has always been very important to us, drawing our interests towards local food systems and sustainable farming practices. So we have decided to combine our passions and turn them into a career. So we offer you this share, as a way of presenting all of our experience and passions in one neat, weekly package. We are glad to have our members sharing this with us, supporting us and participating in responsible, sustainable agriculture.
How Are We Unique?
In addition to receiving sustainably raised vegetables like another CSA farm, we also provide many value added products. By including local, organic pastured eggs and our own scratch baked goods, using local and sustainable ingredients, we help make eating local convenient and affordable. Lastly, we’re introducing an alternative to a weekly share by offering a market credit. This means you can come to one of our market locations and use a pre-paid ‘tab’. So you show up when you’d like, pick out what you’d like and we mark it down. This way you can participate in the farm without committing to a full season.
Our CSA Pantry Share: Your share is packed in a box every week for 20 weeks and delivered to a ‘drop site’ right in your neighborhood. Deliveries will be every Wednesday afternoon and newsletters will be emailed that morning. Your boxes each week will consist of a variation on each type of: 1 loaf of whole grain bread (made with our family’s 200 year old starter), 6 healthy muffins and 1 (8”) tart, quiche or fruit pie, all made from local and sustainable ingredients in our certified kitchen. Plus 6 different types of our vegetables, depending on what are ripe & ready at the time!
Here are 3 examples of what a weekly share would contain:
June 15th
1/2 Dozen Eggs
Sprouted Lentil Bread
6 Blueberry Muffins
(1) 8” Spinach Quiche
Napa Cabbage
Bunching Turnips
Salad Radishes
Ramps!
Broccoli
Head Lettuce
July 13th
1/2 Dozen Eggs
Honey Oat Pepita Bread
6 Pear Muffins
(1) 8” DC Cherry Tart
Bunching Onions
Baby Bok Choy
Patty Pan Squash
Golden Beets
Cucumbers
Head Lettuce
August 31st
1/2 Dozen Eggs
Rustic Ciabatta Bread
6 Cheddar Corn Muffins
(1)8” Pear Almond Tart
Tomatoes
Sweet Peppers
Spinach
Muskmelon
Leeks
Head Lettuce
So we’re hoping you’re ready for the fresh produce season as much as we are! If you’re interested in more information on CSAs, our membership brochure or have any questions, please contact us at thesummerpantry@gmail.com check us out at www.thesummerpantry.com or our winter CSA thewinterpantry.com. Thank you for supporting local food and sustainable agriculture! The food system of the future!
Yvonne and Steven
The Summer Pantry CSA
thesummerpantry@gmail.com
www.thesummerpantry.com
The Winter Pantry CSA
thewinterpantry@gmail.com
www.thewinterpantry.com
Sumac Room
Specialty Cakes & Catering
Sumacroom@gmail.com
Trusted Earth
Farm and Forage
Wholesale Distribution
17539 County Rd G,
Mineral Point, WI 53565
Phone: 608-482-3366
Find us on Facebook & Localharvest.org!
