Feeding our Community
In 2017, we decided to expand our garden, so that we could become a part of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement in Northwestern Wisconsin. It had been a dream in the making for over 5 years and we had finally felt ready to expand and open up our garden to more than just our family & friends.
Our first year of weekly fresh produce boxes went very well for everyone involved. We collected feedback through out the season from our founding members and decided to expand the number of Produce Shares and introduce a new Market Share for the 2018 growing season.
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
At its most basic, CSA is a farming model that directly links the consumer with the farmer through a membership or “share”. In short, our farm (the agriculture) is supported by a community of members who finance a portion of the operation of the farm and in return receive a share of the weekly harvest. It is an opportunity for a family to receive the freshest most delicious, nutritious, unprocessed produce, meat, eggs and other farm products available locally. The up-front payments from members allow the farmers to invest in the necessary seeds, equipment, and infrastructure in the spring, to help ensure a successful growing season & harvest in the summer and fall.
CSA also incorporates the ideals of buying local and contributing to a sustainable economy. When you become a member of a CSA you are directly contributing to your local economy and helping reduce your carbon footprint. There is no middle-man in your food system. You know exactly where your food comes from. You know exactly how it is grown & raised. At Valley Pasture Farm, we use all natural, local fertilizers and pest control and are working toward becoming Certified Naturally Grown in the next 3 years. Many people have a tremendous sense of pride in contributing to their local economy and becoming a part of a sustainable agricultural model that benefits everyone involved.
How will I benefit from becoming a member of your CSA program?
All members of the Valley Pasture Farm CSA programs will be provided with:
- Knowledge of where your food comes from and how it is grown & raised
- Weekly emails that list the current products available and exclusive tips & ideas to help your family enjoy eating healthy
- A unique and rewarding experience of being connected with your food and farmer while supporting a small family farm
- Invitations to exclusive member & neighborhood events hosted on the farm
- The satisfaction of helping to improve our environment by reducing your carbon foot print by purchasing local and working with a farm that is committed to sustainable practices that help preserve our resources
- A 10% discount on all regularly priced items offered from our farm & at the Menomonie Farmers Market in 2018, which includes produce, meat, eggs, soap, canned items and admission to the Pumpkin Patch & Fall Fun in September and October. (Live animal sales are not eligible for discount.)
A Produce CSA Share will include a bushel of sustainably grown, nutrient rich, freshly picked produce weekly, for 16 weeks. PLUS other goodies through out the season including fresh-cut flowers, pasture-raised meats, eggs, and more. Read more on our Produce Share Details page.
A Market CSA Share is more flexible and allows you to use your membership to purchase only the items you want, when you want them through out the 2018 growing season at both the Menomonie Farmers Market and our on-farm stand. Read more on our Market Share Details page.
How do I become a member of your CSA program?
We make joining easy! Read through the appropriate member agreement and submit your payment via check or credit card. We do have a limited number of each type of share available. All shares went very quickly in 2017, so we suggest signing up as early as possible.
You are welcome to sign up for multiple shares and/or multiple share types. These are great options if you are a regular Menomonie Farmers Market shopper and would also like to reserve a box of produce each week. Large families, avid canners & preservers, and veggie lovers also benefit from multiple shares.
Shared Risk – Shared Rewards
We strive to bring you beautiful, freshly picked produce and pasture raised meats each week during harvest season. We promise to do our best to provide everything outlined above for each of our members. Our members, in turn, agree to understand that nature is full of blessings, yet can also cause mischief and sometimes mayhem. The quantity of produce available may vary week to week, month to month, and season to season due to extreme weather, insects & pests, and other factors beyond our control. By participating with us in one of our CSA programs, you are agreeing to share this risk with us and the other members.
What Our Members Are Saying
“Zucchini and basil jumped in the pan with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and leftover grilled chicken to make dinner in minutes. Rosemary is infusing in olive oil for a batch of salve I’ll make this fall. I am so happy – thanks for growing our food and medicine!” – Lisa Y.
“Had the fresh strawberries, pea pods, and cooked up the baby red potatoes to accompany some meatloaf for lunch today. We’re loving the produce from the CSA!” – John M.
“Eek! I was just talking to the boys about how much I’m missing the colors of summer on my plate! I can’t wait to start our weekly trips to the farm again!” – Kait B.
If you have further questions or would like help deciding which share option is best for your family, please e-mail csa@valleypasturefarm.com or call Katie at 715-256-7676
