Q. & A.:
What
is a CSA Share? CSA stands for "Community Supported Agriculture". Under this way of doing business, we sell our produce only to people who are interested in making a season-long commitment to our farm. So, a CSA share is a farm membership for one whole growing season, which runs from late spring through early fall. Farm members receive a box
of fresh produce every two weeks from June through October, for a total of 10
such boxes.
What
is in each box? A little
bit (or sometimes a lot) of every thing we are harvesting that particular week.
The selection will change every
time; however, there will be some constants: for example, some type of lettuce or other salad greens
should be in nearly every box. Many other
things will only be available once or twice, but this gives you a great opportunity
to sample the incredible diversity of organic produce we grow, from carrots, garlic,
tomatoes, and basil to cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkins, and squash.
When
& Where are the boxes delivered? You have your choice of three pickup points. The first one is at our farm in Hanover, IL: 6889 S. Blackjack Road, every other Sunday.
We
will bring boxes to the other two pickup points every other Monday, in the afternoon/evening. Those locations are in Hoffman Estates, IL, and Mount Prospect, IL. (For complete details, see the delivery schedule in the membership agreement - click on "CSA sign-up" at the top left of this page.)
How
much does a share cost?
$400.
Will
I get my money’s worth?
We think our prices are a good deal. We are the lowest-priced CSA in all of Northern Illinois, to our knowledge.
What
if I don’t like certain vegetables? You can choose not to receive specific items. Just let us know which vegetables you
dislike, and we will substitute other items.
What
if I will be out of town on a pickup day? You may “opt out” of receiving a box. If you choose this option at the time
of signing up, your share will be discounted by $20.
Will
I receive weird vegetables that I don’t recognize? Maybe. But a recipe will accompany anything unusual! It’s a great opportunity to try new
things!
Is
there any risk involved in being a shareholder? Yes. You are not guaranteed any specific
amount of produce, as that will be determined by the amount harvested. Crops often fail, for all sorts of
reasons. Farming is a risky
business. However, your risk is
mitigated by the fact that we grow many types of vegetables and
herbs over a long growing season, and we harvest continually from June through
October. If one crop fails, there
are usually other crops that can be substituted.
Can
I visit your farm? Of
course! Visit anytime during the
growing season. Check the website
for our address and a map. Be sure
to call or e-mail first to arrange your visit.
Is
all your produce really organic?
Yes. We are committed to
organic practices.
Are
you “certified organic”?
No. Certification is a very
expensive option that we cannot afford.
Do
you also sell at farmers’ markets? No, not anymore. All our produce is reserved for our CSA members.
Do
you have a list of all the things you grow? Yes, on the website.
Click on the sidebar tab that says “Crop Lists A-Z”.
How
can I sign up? Easy! Just click on the sidebar tab that says "CSA sign-up" (in the upper left corner of this page), and there you will find the membership agreement/sign-up form. Print the form, fill out the requested information, and mail it back to us. 2013 shares are on sale now!!
Is
there a deadline for signing up?
No. And, even though it is now past the deadline for other CSAs, we still have shares available for 2013 and are still accepting new sign-ups right up until the last minute! After box 1, we will continue to sell shares on a pro-rated basis to anyone who may be interested.
Thank You for your interest!
Please call: 224-305-6451 or e-mail: Richard@hollomanfarm.com with any questions.
We are happy to hear from you!