Q: A year-round CSA in New England? What does that look like?
A: 2021 will be our sixteenth growing season as a CSA farm. Seven years ago, we challenged ourselves and our customers to take our farm and CSA program to the next level: year-round Farm Shares. With careful use of our 1500 sq. ft. root cellar and 3000 sq. ft. greenhouse, we’re able to deliver weekly Farm Shares for 48 of 52 weeks each year (for our four, twelve-week seasons).
CSA contents are chosen by our farmers to provide a balanced selection of the best vegetables our fields have to offer each week. Our Single-Season and Multi-Season farm shares are 1/2 bushel boxes (approximately 9x9x13 inches), weigh between 10-20 lbs, and have 10-15 different items every week. Below are descriptions and examples of the types of veggies and other local products in each season of our CSA:
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- Spring: A combination of our own produce, both storage crops out of the root cellar in the early spring plus fresh field crops later in the spring (such as green garlic, baby salad greens, radishes, fresh herbs, etc.), as well as local produce and pantry items sourced from our favorite farmers and producers across New England. These products include favorites such as freshly ground flours from One Mighty Mill in Lynn; Karma Coffee beans roasted right here in Sudbury; fresh-baked bread from local bakeries; preserved and pickled summer vegetables from local farms, and more. As a “pantry share,” it is inspired by the many talented purveyors who have been supplying their artisanal foods to our farmstores in the South End and at the Boston Public Market. Local farm products in the Spring Share include such treats as dry beans from Maine, local honey and maple syrup, fresh spring crops such as asparagus and rhubarb, and so much more to satisfy our spring cravings for eating local food, grown and prepared with love.
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- Summer and Autumn (Peak Season): Here’s a detailed look at the contents of sample farm share boxes at three different times in the summer and fall.
- Early Summer share: 2 lbs. fresh fava beans, 1 bunch rainbow chard, 1 head fennel, ½ lb. mesclun, 2 lbs. new potatoes, 1 bunch spring carrots, 1 bunch fresh chives, 1 bulb fresh garlic, 1 bunch hakurei turnips, 2 lb. summer squash, 1 lb. bac choi, 1 bunch scallions, 1 lb. spring beets, 1 head Boston bibb lettuce
- Late Summer share: 2 lbs. heirloom tomatoes, 2 lbs. beefsteak tomatoes, 1 lb. golden Roma tomatoes, 1 pint sungold cherry tomatoes, 1 lb. fairy tale eggplant, 1 bell eggplant, ½ lb. broccolini, 2 lbs. cucumbers, ¼ lb. Hungarian hot wax peppers, ½ lb. shishito peppers, 1 lb fresh onions, 1 head green oakleaf lettuce, 1 head salanova lettuce, 1 bunch cilantro, ½ lb green beans, 1 bulb cured garlic.
- Autumn share: 2 lbs. rainbow carrots, 3 each honeynut winter squash, 1 lb. watermelon radishes, ½ lb. purple daikon, 1 bunch Tuscan kale, ½ lb. arugula, 1 lb. leeks, 1 head escarole, 2 lbs. gold potatoes, 1 bunch fresh dill, 1 head red leaf lettuce, 1 lb. yellow onions, 1 head cauliflower, 1 bulb kohlrabi.
- Summer and Autumn (Peak Season): Here’s a detailed look at the contents of sample farm share boxes at three different times in the summer and fall.
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- Winter: Our Winter Pantry Farm Shares are full of deep-winter vegetables, picked fresh in late autumn when they have reached peak quality from repeated frosts, and then stored safe and sound in our root cellar, where they last in pristine condition for months. Our winter crops include such stars as bolero and rainbow carrots, watermelon radishes, kohlrabi, celeriac, onions, beets, turnips, potatoes, cabbages, kale, daikon, winter squash, and more. Our winter shares also include delicate baby salad greens from our greenhouse, plus, like our Spring Pantry Farm Share, a weekly loaf of fresh-baked bread and surprise pantry items from our favorite local producers.
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Q: Are Siena Farms CSA Farm Shares refundable?
A: Our CSA Shares are not refundable, they are easily transferable. Let us explain… If you realize at some point after purchasing your farm share that you’re not able to use it for some reason, or just change your mind, too many veggies, too few veggies, you’re moving — whatever it is! — we will still not be able to refund your purchase, even if it’s a totally reasonable request. This is because your investment in the farm will already be out in the fields, in the form of seeds, soil fertility, equipment, labor — you name it! Instead, we’ll encourage you to find a friend or neighbor to take over the membership for you. Another option is to transfer the value of your CSA to a Siena Farms’ Market Card, which you can used to shop with at our retail locations. Meantime, please know that this blanket “no-refund policy” is central to the integrity of the CSA business model, for any farm that relies on CSA memberships as a substantial portion of their annual income. We thank you in advance for your understanding, and for the trust you place in the team here when you join our CSA.
Q: What happens to my farm share if Siena Farms experiences a natural disaster such as flooding or drought during the season that wipes out a lot of crops?
A: Someday, that could happen, as we saw happen to many farms in Vermont in 2011 after Hurricane Irene, and then again across New England during the Great Drought of 2016. One of the truly progressive aspects of the CSA model is that customers share the risks and the rewards of the growing season with their farmers, in a very direct way. During a truly challenging season, we may need to supplement our own harvest with crops sourced from neighboring farms, as available, or the diversity and quality of our crops may be diminished, or in the most extreme situations, overall quantity may be diminished. Meantime, we’ll do our very best to prepare for the variety of challenges the changing climate may toss our way, and work to grow you the very tastiest produce we can every season, for many years to come!
Q: Does Siena Farms have any work requirements or Pick-Your-Own like some CSA’s?
A: Nope! We take care of all the planting, growing and harvesting — plus, you’ll have enough work cut out for yourself in the kitchen! However, we normally schedule a couple of large-group volunteer harvest days in the fall to help pull in our fall/winter storage crops (like carrots!), which is a ton of fun, a ton of help to the farm, and a nice opportunity for our members to experience the deeply gratifying activity of harvesting beautiful vegetables with us. This year (2020) we will be taking a break from farm events due to social distancing guidelines, but as CSA members you’re always welcome to come visit and check out the fields. Just give us a heads up that you’re on your way if it’s not on a CSA pickup day, and enjoy your farm romp!
Q: I’m interested in home delivery… What is your current delivery range?
A: We’re able to reach most areas within the 495 beltway, and then some — currently as far north as the North Shore, as far south as Quincy, as far west as Worcester, and of course anywhere in Greater Boston and Metro West. If you’re unsure if we’re able to reach your town, just ask! You can also view our home delivery range here.
Q: I want to give a CSA or a market card as a gift! Can this be done?
A: Absolutely! Simply purchase the item in the recipient’s name (but with your contact info), and shoot us a quick email to let us know it’s a gift. We can even include a custom note with some info about their new share.
Ready to register? Click here! Other questions? Chat with us at our farmstores or give us a call at 978-261-5365.