Learn about our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Community Support Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship between our firm and you as our customer. Rather than simply purchasing food, our customers become “members” of this CSA farm who receive a portion of the farm’s harvest.
Our CSA will run 10 weeks for each season. You will generally receive 5-7 items of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs or a combination of the above, equivalent to one grocery bag of produce each week. It is your responsibility to pick up your share of freshly harvested goods from our Farm located at 3059 E 5th St in Valley Center, Kansas on Mondays between 3 pm and 7 pm.
Strong Roots Healthy Farming believes in growing food naturally: no chemicals, artificial fertilizers, or harmful pesticides. We believe nutritious food comes from strong organic matter in the soil and a little bit of help from mother nature. (A balance of sun and rain always produce a few good crops.) We use worm castings, local horse manure, and organic compost to build our topsoil. We use fish emulsion and worm casting tea as fertilizer. And we use Neem Oil, Diatomaceous Earth, Essential Oils, Nematodes, interplanting techniques, and our greenhouse to help deter pests. Our promise to you is that we will not spray our produce with man-made chemicals.
Our 2022 Expected Crops
The chart below outlines some of the vegetables, fruits, and herbs we hope to deliver and when you may see them in your share. This chart is based on our best estimate, but of course, weather, pests, and other events will affect actual production.
- Season 1 (April 4, 2022 - June 13, 2022) EXCLUDING Monday, May 30th - the week of Memorial Day
- Season 2 (July 11, 2022 - September 19, 2022) EXCLUDING Monday, September 5th - the week of Labor Day
- Season 3 (October 10, 2022 - December 12, 2022)
This season includes 10 weeks of things like Salad Mix, Arugula, Romaine, Kale, Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Spinach, Fennel, Snap Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Micro Greens, Kohlrabi, Head Lettuce, Cabbage, Bok Choy, Eggs, Honey, Cilantro, and Parsley. We provide recipes to try with each week. The entire season will need to be paid for by April 1, 2022, so we can plan accordingly. $300.00 for a Full Share of 5-7 items per week / $180.00 for a Half Share of 3-4 items per week
This season includes things like Salad Mix, Arugula, Carrots, Celery, Micro Greens, Kale, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Okra, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Eggplant, Watermelon, Onions, Garlic, Eggs, Honey, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, and Basil. We provide recipes to try with each week. The entire season will need to be paid for by July 8, 2022, so we can plan accordingly. $300.00 for a Full Share of 5-7 items per week / $180.00 for a Half Share of 3-4 items per week.
This season includes 10 weeks of things like Salad Mix, Romaine, Head Lettuce, Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Winter Squash, Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Honey, Eggs, Ginger, Turmeric, Cilantro, and Parsley. If the weather turns nasty, we may also include a few of our canning products such as salsa, red pepper relish, apple sauce, or pickles. We provide recipes for you to try each week. The entire season will need to be paid for by October 7, 2022, so we can plan accordingly. $300.00 for a Full Share of 5-7 items per week / $180.00 for a Half Share of 3-4 items per week
Sharing in the Risk
We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. The quantity of produce, however, may vary from week to week due to extreme weather, insects, or other production factors despite our best efforts. By joining our CSA, you are agreeing to share the risk of crop failure with us and other members. In the unlikely event of a crop failure, our procedure is as follows:
If only a small portion of the crops fail, we compensate for the failed crops by filling your share with other crops grown on the farm that are ready to harvest at that time. If a large portion of crops fail, we may cover for a crop loss by buying it from other local farmers. This may not be a feasible option for all crops because of cost or widespread failure. The last option is for Strong Roots Healthy Farming to extend the CSA season beyond its initial 10-week time frame.
2022 Membership Fees
By selling membership in advance of the growing season, a CSA reduces the burden of up-front costs for the farmer. Your membership fees provide us with money to purchase seed and equipment before the season starts, and we appreciate your commitment.
Please note that Strong Roots Healthy Farming can only accept TWENTY seasonal shares in 2022. These spots will be allotted on a first-come on a first-serve basis.
$300 for 5 to 7 items of leafy greens, vegetables, herbs, and/or canned products.
$180 for 3 to 4 items of leafy greens, vegetables, herbs, and/or canned products.
The chemicals we are putting into the ground are killing our biodiversity and consequently the nutrition that exists in that biodiversity. Our soils can no longer produce the kind of fruits and vegetables we need to survive. That is why Strong Roots is building its backyard with worms, compost, and good old horse manure. The things our grandparents did are the things we should be doing.