FAQ

When and where does it all go down?
We distribute out of a community garden on the Lower East Side.
During the summer season, the distributions take place weekly, 5:30 – 7:30 PM on Tuesdays. During the winter season, the distributions take place monthly, 12:30 – 1:30 PM on Saturdays.

Is there a work shift requirement?
For our summer season, yes. For our winter season, no.
During summer season, full veggie share holders must work 3 shifts, and half veggie share holders must work 2 shifts. Sign up for your shifts on our online calendar. Many members consider their work shifts to be a bonus of CSA membership! It’s an opportunity to unplug in a beautiful garden, and pitch in while getting to know your neighbors. All of us members are our own unpaid staff, and our collective labor is what keeps this CSA running–therefore work shifts are mandatory. Members who fail to fulfill their work shift obligations by the final distribution of summer will not be invited to re-join the CSA for following seasons.

Work shift tasks can include unloading heavy bins from the delivery truck, staffing the distribution stations, sweeping the patio, staffing the garden’s front gate, wiping down empty bins, carting leftovers to the food kitchen, etc.

Shifts are worked during our distributions on Tuesdays, with the option of:
Early shift (5:15 – 6:30 PM) <– 1 hour & 15 minutes
Late shift (6:30 – 7:45 PM) <– 1 hour & 15 minutes

How many people does one veggie share feed?
It depends…
Our weekly summer FULL SIZED vegetable share consists of more than what one single person could likely get through each week. One full veggie share tends to work out well for a household of two to four–depending of course on how much you cook/eat. An every-other week HALF SIZED veggie share is exactly half of what you’d get in a full sized share 🙂  Also keep in mind that the first few weeks of the season are lighter as the harvest season gets underway, but things ramp up pretty quickly. More info on veggie share contents & size here.

Do you sell half veggie shares?
No sorry. As of 2022, yes!
Full shares are delivered every week (22 weeks of vegetables. 20 weeks of fruit, 22 weeks of eggs) while half shares are delivered every other week (11 weeks of vegetables, 10 weeks of fruit, 11 weeks of eggs).

Half share members will be assigned to pick up their shares on either exclusively ODD weeks or exclusively EVEN weeks. No mixing and matching odd/even pickups, and no exceptions! That would create absolute mayhem for our poor farmers and also for the volunteers staffing our distribution site.

What do you offer besides vegetables?
Lots. We sell veggie shares, fruit shares, egg shares, mushroom shares, grain shares, and maple shares.
You have to have purchased a veggie share in order to purchase any add-on shares.

What if I can’t make it to distribution on time or at all?
No need to give us a heads up.
Keep in mind that it’s not possible for us to hold food for later (or earlier) pick-up, beyond our regular distribution hours. NO EXCEPTIONS! If you can’t make it, send a friend instead–that person simply has to provide your full name at sign-in and they’re good to go. If nobody comes for your share, your food gets donated to the Mary House’s soup kitchen around the corner.

Do you take kitchen scraps for compost?
No, sorry!
However, we encourage our members to save their scraps (in a container in the freezer, for reduced smell/mess) and drop them off for no cost at a collection site, or explore the option of a paid home pick-up service such as Reclaimed Organics.

Can I meet the farmers?
Absolutely!
Most years farmer Ted comes down to the city in the spring before the start of our summer season, for a meet and greet. He loves the opportunity to meet all the members for whom he’ll be growing and harvesting his veggies. You can also meet him by signing up to work one of our weekly truck unloading shifts–yes he’s also the man behind the wheel!

Additionally, every summer Farmer Ted invites us up to his farm in Valley Falls, NY. It’s a weekend of tromping between rows of veggies, sampling carrots straight from the ground, communal meals, a bonfire, camping under the stars, and maybe a dip at the local swimming hole. This year’s 2024 weekend event will be held June 29-30, mark your calendars!