CSA Terms and Conditions
About our CSA
CSA Basics
What is a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a way for eaters and farmers to connect and support one another. Members sign up at the beginning of the season to receive a bag of produce once a week. Eaters enjoy the convenience of having a preselected bag ready for them, the fun of trying new healthy foods, and the satisfaction of connecting with where the food comes from. The farmer enjoys long-term relationships with committed customers, the fun of growing more variety, and income in the spring to help with expenses for the season to come.
What’s in a share?
Each share contains a variety of seasonal vegetables and herbs. Spring shares are much lighter, and variety and quantity increase as the summer goes on, with the heaviest shares in the fall.
We specialize in greens and root vegetables, but also have a nice selection of alliums (onion family), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, etc), and warm season crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini. Click here for a monthly list of likely items.
What will not be in my share?
Our cool coastal climate limits what we are able to grow, and you will not receive corn or melons. Warm season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and winter squash are a challenge for us, so you will see less of these crops in your CSA. Farms are subject to variations in weather, and it is impossible to predict when a crop might fail. No crop is promised: share the bounty, share the risk!
How does it work?
The CSA runs 18 weeks, from July to October. Each week you come to your chosen pickup site and get your share. Your share comes in a reusable grocery bag that is the property of the farm. You can either bring your own bags to empty the share into at the site, or you can take it home as is and return the bag the following week. We only have a limited number of bags. It is very important that you are responsible about returning them so we have enough for all our members every week. If you choose to share the CSA with another family, you are responsible for splitting it up and coordinating with your partner to return the bag promptly.
Are there other benefits to being a CSA member?
Many of our members particularly enjoy the share notes and recipes that come each week, which help you learn about farming and new vegetables. You will also get priority to sign up for next year’s CSA, and get priority on crops that yield poorly, giving CSA members the broadest variety we can provide. Occasionally we offer bulk specials to CSA members (juicing carrots, green beans for canning, storage crops, etc). And last but not least, you support local, sustainable agriculture and keep family farms thriving!
Shared Risk
One of the benefits of a CSA is the increased connection you get with how and where your food is grown. The abundance of the farm varies from year to year, as changes in the weather and natural cycles affect the crops. Your CSA share will reflect that, with some unexpected bounty and probably a few failures. As a CSA member, your share will be fuller and heavier when the farm is doing well and in full production, and it will be lighter when the season is working against us.
We make every possible effort to make the CSA a rewarding experience for all of us, but there are always a few mistakes and disappointments (as well as nice surprises!). So far we have had an overwhelmingly positive response from our members, and we do our best to keep it that way. By signing up for a CSA, you are demonstrating a deep commitment to local sustainable agriculture and fresh healthy food.
About our farming practices
The farm has a priority of preserving and protecting the health of the land, with respect for the stream, forest, and animals that share its space. We never use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. We carefully consider all decisions regarding soil and water conservation, our effect on wildlife and the land, and pest and disease management. Responsible seed sourcing and stewardship help to maximize the sustainability and biodiversity of the farm. We are not certified organic because of our small size, but we are committed to following ecological and organic practices.
Joining the CSA
Who should join a CSA?
If you eat lots of vegetables, cook regularly, and enjoy trying new foods, our CSA might be for you. In our classic CSA, share contents are selected by the farmers: you don’t get a choice about what you get. Members love unpacking their weekly shares, some saying that “every week is like Christmas.” Each bag is full of bright colors and fresh smells, and the CSA takes a lot of the work out of shopping and meal planning.
This allows us to make use of abundances and adjust for shortages, and still supply a wide variety to all of our customers. But some people prefer more choice.
What members like about the CSA:
- Trying new foods
- Eating a healthier, more varied diet
- Unpacking the bag and seeing what’s inside
- Convenient pick up: just grab your bag and go
- Access to the freshest produce available
- Connecting to the farm and supporting local agriculture
- Recipes and share notes give new ideas and help them use up the share
You may not like the CSA if:
- You travel frequently
- You cook irregularly
- You have moderate to strong preferences about vegetables
- You don’t eat a lot of vegetables
- You would have trouble remembering the weekly pickup
You may be happier shopping at our farm stand or farmers market booths, where we offer a full selection of our produce. You can give extra support to the farm by signing up for one of our flexible CSA options: the CSA flex share offers part time options and allows you to choose when you come and what you get, and Market Choice vouchers get you a discount to produce throughout the season.
Should I get a full or a half share?
A full share contains enough for a family of 4 or 5 moderate vegetable eaters, 2 adult vegetarians, or 1 vegetable eating machine. The half share is enough for 1 vegetarian or 2 or 3 moderate vegetable eaters.
The full share is our best value and gives you the most variety, but it’s be a lot of food! If you are unsure or new to the CSA, you might want to try a half share. You can always buy extra produce when you pick up your share. If you have a big family or you really love vegetables, I’d recommend the full share.
We offer suggestions for preserving items from the share throughout the summer, so with careful planning the CSA could last you well beyond the end of the season. You can also split a share with a friend, preferably someone with different likes and dislikes.
Where do I get my share?
Select a pick up option when you sign up. You can almost always change later, just let us know. Your options are (exact times subject to change):
- Tuesdays at Corvus Landing Farm (8605 Slab Creek Road, Neskowin)
- Tuesdays in Pacific City
- Thursdays at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital farm stand
- Home delivery
Home Delivery
If you’re busy and finding yourself in a million places every week, maybe you’d rather have your CSA share delivered to your house or work.
We offer home delivery of CSA shares in Neskowin, Pacific City, and Lincoln City (some addresses may be ineligible). If you forget to pick up just 2 or 3 shares during the season, this will pay for itself! We will deliver multiple shares to the same address for the price of one, so get together with your neighbors and save. [spacer height=”20px”]
I would like to join the CSA but it would stretch my budget. Do you offer options for low income folks?
Yes! We accept SNAP benefits and also offer up to 10% of our shares for half price. For SNAP customers, we change the payment schedule so that you make monthly payments starting in July when the shares begin.
Our half priced shares are funded through donations from members and a match from the farm. If you would have difficulty affording the full price but would still like to receive the CSA, these are for you! We don’t have specific income requirements, but if you receive SNAP or any other public assistance, are a senior on a fixed income, or are finding yourself in a tough spot with work, health, or family issues, please ask for the half price option on your registration.
Click here to learn more.
Thanksgiving Shares
A one time share for Thanksgiving and beyond! Traditionally, our final share of the season is extra large and stocked with storage crops to last members after the CSA ends. We will be offering these as a stand alone share this year, available to members and non-members alike. The farmers will choose what is in the share and bag it for pickup or delivery.
Our final shares are usually a steal! Depending on our harvests, we aim for this share to be a 15-25% savings.
Pickup will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at the farm, or get your share delivered in Lincoln City, Neskowin, or Pacific City (some addresses may not be eligible).
Flower Bouquet CSA
Bring joy into your home (or someone else’s) with a weekly flower CSA! Members receive a large weekly bouquet of fresh, seasonal flowers. Our flowers are a range of types and colors, showcasing the variety of blooms and greenery that we are able to grow here at the coast. Flowers will be harvested fresh for you and most blooms will last a week in the vase (not provided). Sign up for 5 or 10 weeks, with shares running from mid-July to mid-September. If our production is good, you may get a bonus week at the end!
Flowers can be picked up at any of our regular CSA pickup locations. Home delivery also available to most addresses in Neskowin, Pacific City, Lincoln City, and Cloverdale. Some addresses may not be eligible, please ask if you are not sure.
Member FAQs
What if I forget to pick up my share?
You MUST pick up your share during the designated pickup time. Shares not picked up on time will be donated and no replacement will be made. If you know you will be unable to pick up your share, contact us ahead of time. We can usually switch you to a different pickup day or site for a given week, or we can arrange a replacement at the market.
What if I go on vacation?
If you can’t or don’t want to get your share on a given week, you can ask for a vacation credit. You must give us one week’s notice to get credit for your share: no credit will be issued for shares that have already been harvested. Vacation credits can be redeemed at the farmers market, farm stand, or toward bulk purchases when available (basil, potatoes, etc) any time before the end of the year. Credits are $30 full or $20 half.[spacer height=”20px”]
Late Fees
We give a one week grace period on all payments. After one week, a $5 per week charge will be added to all late payments, added at the beginning of the week. So if your payment is due Monday, August 1, you will owe $5 extra on Monday August 8, $10 extra on Monday August 15, $15 extra on Monday August 22, and so on.
If money is really tight in a given month, just talk to us. We will almost always waive these fees given proper communication and are happy to work with you to make the CSA fit in your budget. But I’m tired of chasing people down because they’re flaky.
What if I need to quit partway through the season?
The CSA is a commitment, and members are strongly discouraged from canceling partway through the season. But life happens. Before dropping out, please talk to us. We may be able to change your drop spot or share size to make pickup easier.
If you are moving or really unable to continue your share, the best case scenario is if you can find a friend who wants to take over your share. Please let us know if you want to do this and we can help you calculate a pro-rated cost.
Failing that, we will offer pro-rated refunds on the following schedule:
- Before June 30: Full refund less $15 cancellation fee
- July 1 to July 31: Full refund less $30 per share received ($18 half shares) and $15 cancellation fee
- August 1 to September 30: Full refund minus $35 per share received ($25 half shares) and $15 cancellation fee
- After September 30: No refunds available
- Home delivery charges will be refunded in full less $3 per week delivered
CSA Flex Shares
Where can I use my share?
You can start using your share in July (note that our markets start earlier). You can pick up vegetables at any of our market locations:
- Tuesday Farm stand at Corvus Landing, 8605 Slab Creek Rd, Neskowin October and November only
- Thursday Farm stand at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, Lincoln City July through October
- Saturday Neskowin Farmers Market, Neskowin July through September
Note that we sometimes sell out of popular items and our abundance varies over the season. Our availability has increased a lot in the last few years, and we almost always have a good selection of veggies throughout the day. But if you have your heart set on a particular thing, make sure to get there early.
What counts as an “item”?
This varies from crop to crop. It could be a bag or a bunch or a pound. A few popular items are:
- 1 bag salad
- 1 pound tomatoes
- 1 box cherry tomatoes
- 1 bunch beets
- 1 bunch or 1 pound carrots
- 1 bag green beans
- 1 cucumber or 1 pound cucumber (whichever is greater)
You also don’t have to pick 10 different items, you can get more than one of any of the veggies.
Can I share with a friend?
Sure. Just let us know if you want somebody else to be able to use your shares and we’ll add their name to your tab.
Can I use more than one share a week?
Yes. If you have company coming or just want extra veggies, you can use 2 shares at a time. However, we can’t split a single share over multiple weeks (eg, get 5 items one week and 5 the next).
What if I don’t use up my shares?
Shares are only good through the end of the year. No refund or credit is available for shares left over after Thanksgiving.
The CSA is a commitment, and members are strongly discouraged from canceling partway through the season. But life happens. If you are moving or really unable to continue your share, the best case scenario is if you can find a friend who wants to take over your share. Please let us know if you want to do this and we can help you calculate a pro-rated cost.
Failing that, we will offer pro-rated refunds on the following schedule:[spacer height=”20px”]
- Before June 1: Full refund less $15 cancellation fee
- July 1 to September 30: Full refund less $30 per share received ($20 half shares) and $15 cancellation fee
- After September 30: No refunds available
What payment plans are available?
We offer installment plans based on your share size. Your first installment is due at signup. All half time (10 week) shares must be paid up front. 3/4 time (14 week) shares can be paid in 1 or 2 installments, and full time (18 week) shares can be paid in 1 or 3 installments. Your second installment will be due July 1: $115 half, $175 full. The third installment is due August 15.
Are there low income options?
CSA Flex is eligible for our half price share option. Half priced shares are funded through donations from members and a match from the farm. If you have difficulty affording the full price but would still like to receive the CSA, these are for you! We don’t have specific income requirements, but if you receive SNAP or any other public assistance, are a senior on a fixed income, or are finding yourself in a tough spot with work, health, or family issues, please ask for the half price option on your registration. Use discount code SUBSHARE50 at registration to get the half price option.
We cannot accept SNAP for the CSA flex share at this time. You can use SNAP for our classic CSA shares and at the Neskowin Farmers Market.
Market Choice CSA Share
How does it work?
The Market Choice share works as a prepaid voucher: available in $100 increments with increasing discounts, good at all of our market booths. We will hold onto your voucher and track your purchases for you so you don’t have to remember cash when you come to our stand. You can buy whatever you like at regular retail prices whenever you like throughout our market season. [spacer height=”20px”]
Why sign up for Market Choice?
The Market Choice share is a commitment to the farm and helps us with early season expenses. It accommodates travel and leaves you with the choice about what to eat. You’ll get a discount in exchange for committing to purchase from our stand throughout the season.
You might find that having a tab at the farm encourages you to come to the market more and eat healthier. And it’s convenient: don’t worry about getting cash or forgetting your check book! Additionally, we’ll include you in any special bulk offers to the CSA (juicing carrots, green beans to can, storage crops, etc). You can also follow our CSA blog to get weekly recipes, updates about the farm, and suggestions for how to use and store our produce.
Where can I use my Market Choice voucher?
- Farm Stand at Corvus Landing, Tuesdays, July to November limited service
- Neskowin Farmers Market, Saturdays 9 to 1, May to September
- Farm stand at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, Lincoln City, May to November
- Special orders and bulk offers to the CSA
Can I share my voucher with friends and family?
Sure! We’ll keep it under your name in our market binder, which we always bring with us. You can have your friends just give us your name and charge to your voucher. You an also choose to keep track of your own voucher and give it to others to bring to the market.[spacer height=”20px”]
What if I don’t use the full value by the end of the season?
Sorry, your voucher is only good through the end of the year it’s purchased. We will not refund your voucher or roll over the balance at the end of the market season. We may offer partial refunds for unexpected life changes, see below for more info.
If you don’t think you’ll be able to use it up, share it with friends or family. Or ask us for suggestions for buying storage crops or freezing summer produce.
What are the payment options for Market Choice?
All Market Choice shares must be paid up front, we don’t offer installment plans for this option. We prefer cash or check to Corvus Landing Farm and accept Paypal. We don’t accept SNAP or offer half price shares for Market Choice (but we do offer these for our weekly CSA, and accept SNAP at the Neskowin Farmers Market).
Do you offer any refunds? What if I move?
The CSA is a committment, and members are strongly discouraged from canceling partway through the season. But life happens. Before dropping out, please talk to us. We may be able to work together to figure something out.
If you are moving or really unable to continue your share, the best case scenario is if you can find a friend who wants to take over your share. Please let us know if you want to do this and we can help you calculate a pro-rated cost.
Failing that, we will offer pro-rated refunds for Market Choice shares on the following schedule:
- Before June 30: Full refund less $10 cancellation fee
- July 1 to August 31: 90% of remaining balance less $10 cancellation fee
- September 1 to October 31: 75% of remaining balance less $10 cancellation fee
- No refunds after November 1