CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, a program for purchasing fresh produce from a single, regional farm. With a CSA, you buy a fixed-price share of a farm’s output at the beginning of the season, and receive a selection of their harvest once a week from June through October.
For the farmer, CSAs reduce wasted food (in good years) and financial loss (in bad years), allowing smaller farms to avoid some of the risk of their business. In return, you get fresh, organic vegetables from a farmer you know.
How does it work?
From June 1 through the end of October, the family farmers of Monkshood Nursery in upstate NY will deliver locally grown, certified organic produce once a week to our distribution spot at the Educational Alliance, where you come to pick up that week’s bounty every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm.
How much food is it?
A large family share ($610) is generally enough for a (non-vegetarian) family of four, a small family share ($395) for a family of two. There is not a fixed quantity each week: you’re getting fresh vegetables from a single farm, so the variety and amount will vary based on the farm’s actual harvest. Leftover or unclaimed food will be donated to the Head Start Program through the Educational Alliance.
For an idea of what variety of vegetables will be available during the season, check out this chart from the Monkshood web site.
Who are we?
The LES CSA is a partnership between residents of the Lower East Side, the LES Food Coop, the Educational Alliance, and Monkshood Nursery. We are member-run and not-for-profit, organized in 2010 for the purpose of bringing fresh produce to our community and supporting local food programs.
A large family share ($610) is generally enough for a (non-vegetarian) family of four, a small family share ($395) for a family of two. There is not a fixed quantity each week: you’re getting fresh vegetables from a single farm, so the variety and amount will vary based on the farm’s actual harvest. Leftover or unclaimed food will be donated to the Head Start Program through the Educational Alliance.
For an idea of what variety of vegetables will be available during the season, check out this chart from the Monkshood web site.
Who are we?
The LES CSA is a partnership between residents of the Lower East Side, the LES Food Coop, the Educational Alliance, and Monkshood Nursery. We are member-run and not-for-profit, organized in 2010 for the purpose of bringing fresh produce to our community and supporting local food programs.
