2009 Food Guild

Thank you for your interest!  The Sanders Ridge Organic Farm Food Guild is a CSA. Individual members make a financial investment in our farm at the beginning of the growing season and in return - receive a share in the farm's production by way of a box of freshly harvested certified organic produce - delivered once a week for the number of weeks contracted. 

Members pay for their share in advance of the growing season, enabling us to purchase the necessary materials and seeds as well as line up the needed labor.   As crops rotate throughout the season, the contents of the weekly shares will vary by size and variety, reflecting our local growing season and conditions. The farm incorporates many preventative measures and techniques to minimize the risk of crop loss such as extensive irrigation, row covers and tunnels for frost and wind protection and season extension,  succession planting and more...  Members accept in advance, the same risks to the harvest and their investment as the farm faces for circumstances beyond our control and understand that a refund or adjustment of membership payment cannot be made.   

All in all, the Food Guild relationship offers our members quality food from a trusted source, and for the farm - it offers a fair and equitable compensation for the products we produce.  So with all that said, let's get down to the really fun stuff! 

Below is an outline describing the features and costs and at the end of the page there is a link to the membership form.  To join our Food Guild, please review all of this information, then fill out the membership form, sign the membership agreement, and mail it in with your payment. If you have any question, review the Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this page and then contact us if you need additional help. 

Here we go!

For the 2009 season, instead of one 22+ week Food Guild Session, we are offering three 12 week sessions as well as 2 (new!) options that can be added to a member's Food Guild Share.  Also instead of offering 2 share sizes, we will be providing just one share size - which will contain a minimum of 7 lbs of produce per weekly share.

Please note that Memberships are filled on a first paid for - first served basis, and that the number of Memberships available per session is limited. If you wish to participate in more than one session, or a session that is later in the year we strongly recommend that you submit it all on one membership form and make one payment – as available spots will most likely be filled very early in the year.

In the event that your form and payment arrive after all membership spaces are filled, we will let you know and mail your check back to you. This year we will also offer 2 weekly markets to sell surplus produce to all in the community on a weekly basis (see details below).  We may also be able to assist you in locating other growers who may have CSA space available.

2009 Food Guild Membership Options and Cost
In addition to the extra benefits described in the outline below, all  Food Guild members will be entitled to:

• 12 deliveries per session of freshly harvested, USDA Certified organic produce.  We strive to harvest and pack shares the same day they are delivered!
   

• 2 new waxed produce boxes will be purchased by us at the start of the season for each member and will be permanently labeled with the member's name on them both.   
   

• Weekly Notes from the Farm - delivered on-line with photos, recipes and descriptions  about what has been happening on the farm, in the vineyard and at the winery, as well as what to expect in your weekly share box.
   

• An invitation to visit the Farm. We welcome you to visit the farm (preferably between the hours of 9am to 6 pm Monday - Saturday). Its a good idea to call ahead to make sure we will be available to welcome you.  (The farm dogs get to know you more easily if you are introduced first!)
   

• Free wine tastings for any 2009 Food Guild Member visiting the winery. (One taster per membership - per visit, but you can share sips with your guest!)  All tasters, however, must be 21 or older.
   

• FARM DAY! At a date to be determined, we will have a membership get together to share a meal, sample some wine, and just relax and enjoy.

Delivery/Pick-up (Rules)

Share Boxes
2 waxed vegetable boxes will be purchased for you at the start of the season and labeled permanently with your name on them. We will pack and deliver your weekly share in one of 2 personalized waxed boxes. At the pick up location, you will empty the contents of your personalized waxed share box into a reusable container that you will bring with you each week, and leave the personalized waxed share box folded flat at the pick up location for us to retrieve when we make the next week's delivery. (NOTE - the boxes will unfold very easily without tearing - IF you FIRST bend the bottom flaps along their predetermined folds!)

These 2 steps are new for the 2009 season, and very important.  The goal is to keep costs down by insuring that we have enough boxes on hand to pack everyone's shares - and also relieve you from having to remember to tote your waxed share box back and forth each week.  It will also help us to reduce the space needed for storing and transporting the boxes, allowing us to increase the number of shares we can transport. 

Picking up weekly shares
Your assigned pick up location has a specific window of time the day it is delivered in which you can come by and collect your share. Some of the locations may be at a place of business, and some are a member's front porch in a residential neighborhood.  Pick-ups for the residential locations should be made before dark - for everyone’s safety and convenience - and the pick-ups at the business locations must be made before the cut-off time indicated.   Uncollected shares at either type of location - after the cut off time (- or after dark) will be donated.  If you have an emergency and can't get there in time - please make arrangements for someone else to pick your share up for you. 

If you are planning a vacation or will be away during the season or will not be able to pick up your share on your delivery day for any other reason - we ask that you arrange to have someone else pick your share up for you to hold until your return, or to enjoy themselves, or to take to someone else to enjoy.  If you are unable to make arrangements or would like us to keep it and redistribute it,  let us know at least one week in advance so that we can make arrangements.  (We will either donate the contents or sell it to another member wanting additional produce or to someone on our waiting list.)

Pick-up Locations:
The start date for deliveries will begin within the week indicated for the particular Session.   We'll firm up actual start dates for each session well before it begins. 

The pick-up locations below represent locations, times, and days which have been convenient and worked well for our past memberships.

We have added a NEW farmers’ market opportunity – on Tuesdays & Thursdays – which will provide an opportunity for folks to purchase additional produce during the week and will hopefully satisfy the needs of those who were not able to get into our full food guild membership.

Please review the locations below and indicate your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd location choice on your membership form. Once all of the session slots are filled for 2009, we'll contact everyone to let them know which delivery/pick up location they are assigned to.

Farmers’ Market Locations - Starting May 5th
There won't be share pick ups at these locations or times.

Frequently Asked Questions 

• How will I know if I have been accepted as a member?

• Do I get to pick and chose what will be included in my share box?  What if my family or I don't like a particular vegetable? - Can I request substitutions?

• What if I want more of a particular vegetable?

• What types of vegetables will be included in my share?

• What happens if I am on vacation, have an emergency, or forget to pick up my share?

• Who do I make my check out to for additional produce?  Where do I mail my check?

• What if I wish to discontinue my membership before then end of the session?

 

How will I know if I have been accepted as a member?
Upon filling all of the slots available we'll send out an email to all who sent in an application and payment to verify receipt and assign delivery locations.

In the event your form and payment is received after all of the memberships have been filled, we'll return your check and try to make optional arrangements to serve you weekly during the season through our farmers’ market opportunities as well as refer you to other growers who may have space available in their co-op.

 

Do I get to pick and chose what will be included in my share box?  What if my family or I don't like a particular vegetable? - Can I request substitutions?
Nope.  Everyone gets an equal share of what's coming out of the garden. We encourage members to look through the many recipes provided and try out news ways to prepare our produce.  More often than not - members and their families have discovered new tastes and appreciation for vegetables they once wouldn't have allowed on their plates!  We've also had members who will simply swap undesired vegetables with other members - or give them away to friends or neighbors who will surely appreciate them!

 

What if I want more of a particular vegetable?
Each week we will post a note on our web site letting folks know what we have a surplus of. 

If you would like for us to pack extra into your weekly share box, just email us at least 1 day ahead of your delivery day and we will pack the extra in your box and email you with the additional amount owed. You can then mail us a check for that amount.

If you would like to select and purchase extra produce off the truck, meet us at Krankies (click here to see the address, days and times)

 

What types of vegetables will be included in my share?
For the broad list, we have posted a list of the vegetable varieties we will be growing and a calendar showing the season in which to expect them.  Each week we will post a list of what is being harvested and packed into the share boxes for that week.  To access both lists, see the side menus on the Farm's Home Page for the links.

 

What happens if I am on vacation,have an emergency,or forget to pick up my share?  We ask that you either arrange to have someone else pick your share up and store it for you - or to enjoy as a gift or donation. If you are unable - or would like us to make arrangements to give it away or donate it, just be sure to let us know at least one week in advance. (We will either donate the contents or sell it to another member wanting additional produce or on our waiting list.)

 

What if I wish to discontinue my membership before the end of the session?
Although we cannot refund your membership - you can sell it (or the remainder of it) yourself to another person.  You must make all of the arrangements with the potential new member, including the exchange of money, getting the membership form filled out to reflect the change in share ownership and  the delivery location desired, signed, and mailed to us at least one week before the delivery.

 

Who do I make my check out to for additional produce?  Where do I mail my check? Sanders Ridge Farm - 1501 Nebo Road, Boonville, NC 27011

Membership Form

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