Ledge Top Farm CSA
Ledge Top Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) grows around $20,000 per acre in berries, produce and eggs each season. Most of the expenses to grow this produce come in January through May, when the farm has the least income. Your pre-purchase through the CSA will help to even out cash flow through the year. Ledge Top Farm is committed to using the state organic standards to grow our own produce. Produce is not brought in from other farms. No chemical fertilizers or chemical pesticides are used to grow our produce. We are not a state-certified organic farm, but we belong to Certified Naturally Grown, which requires that all organic standards are followed.
Advantages
Advantages of pre-buying with Ledge Top Farm CSA:
All items offered for this CSA are grown exclusively by Ledge Top Farm. There is NO buying from different farms to fill your order. If we don't have the produce, it will not be offered. You know the source and history of your food supply. You may tour the fields and greenhouses before purchase and ask any questions about how it is raised. All products have a money back guarantee.
All products are raised following USDA organic regulations. This is regulated by "Certified Naturally Grown" but this farm is not state-certified organic.
- Purchasing a share option gives you discounts throughout the season.
- No cash is needed once your plan is in place.
- You can send your order by email or phone and have it waiting for you to pick up.
- You can pick up at four different remote locations in the area.
- Your CSA money supports this farm so it can give continuous products to you.
- Your CSA money is good all year long for most plans.
Options
Ledge Top Farm will provide for you the highest quality vegetables, eggs, and berries we can grow for your pre-purchase advance with one of the following options:
- Committed Work Share
Put no money down and commit to work on the farm a set number of hours a week. The number of hours is determined by what you want to purchase. Hours are converted to produce to be redeemed at a dollar-to-dollar ratio. One dollar of work is one dollar of product. Time used is converted to dollars and banked. The banked credit can be used anytime for farm products. The exchange rate is $8 per hour. All accumulated credit expires on Dec 31, 2013. - Day-to-day Work Share
This option is similar to option one but you work that day and take home the equivalent in product. No money exchange. No banking of time. No committed hours. Call to see what work is available. - Fixed Share
A credit is established so you "buy" with your credit at the current retail price. You can redeem your credit for any item, anytime within the year. A sales slip is used to keep track of your order. Pick up at any time with an email for an order until your credit is used up. Committing in January gives you a 20% discount on your advance. Every $80 advanced is valued at $100. If the plan is set up in February, a 10% discount is applied. Funds not used by Dec 31, 2013 are lost. - Work Share and Fixed Share
A fixed payment is used to establish a credit line, and then a work commitment is made for a certain number of hours on a regular basis. All the other advantages of option three apply. - Weekly Fixed Package Share
During the main growing season (June through September), a box of produce from the farm is available for you each week. The value of the box of produce will be determined by the amount of money you provide. If you wanted $20 per week for 20 weeks it would cost $400. If you wanted a $20 box for 16 weeks it would be $320. If you sign up in January this amount is discounted 20%. February discount is 10%. This program does not start until June.
Getting the right balance
How much should you pre-purchase? To determine how much you should pre-buy, think about how much you would spend each week on fresh fruit and vegetables grown on this farm. The peak season is June through September, about 16 weeks, although early and late vegetables are available from the greenhouse. If you think you would use $10 per week you would pre-purchase $160 in value using option three. Most customers last year bought between $8 and $33 per week.
Redeeming your credit
You can redeem your credit with an order for produce via email, phone, or text message. The redemption is calculated based on the retail price of each item. Produce will be available when you call or come to the farm or stop at the farmers’ market. You will get an email newsletter to find out what is available each week. There is no pre-determined amount you must buy. You use your credit like cash. Ledge Top Farm reserves the right to limit multiple discounts for CSA customers.
You must use all CSA funds by December 31, 2013. There are no refunds.
You may call to pre-order (620-7302) or come to the Wilton farm, farm stand, or farmers’ market to pick up your order. Sales receipts are issued to keep track of your purchases, but an email or any written receipt is fine. Delivery can be arranged for larger, local orders. You will be notified by email of your current balance after you receive your produce.
Application form
Please print and fill out the application form, then send your application and check to Ledge Top Farm, 487 Lyndeborough Center Road, Wilton, NH 03086. Checks should be made payable to "Ledge Top Farm". Applications may also be dropped off directly at the farm.
