FAQ
What is a CSA?
Prospect Heights Community Supported Agriculture is a community collaboration that connects a group of Brooklynites hungry for sustainably grown foods with Windflower Farm, a small organic farm located in upstate New York. We were founded in 2006 with support from Just Food. As CSA members, we invest in the farm’s financial stability by paying for produce “shares” before the start of the growing season. In exchange, for 22 weeks of the year, we receive fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers, free-range eggs, and more, delivered straight from the farm to the heart of our neighborhood.
How do I join the mailing list?
Go to the top of this page and click the link that says, “Mailing List/Contact Us”. Or, follow us on Twitter at @phcsa!
Where does the produce come from?
Vegetables, fruit, and flowers come from Windflower Farm, eggs from Elihu Farm, and supplemental products from a collective administered by Lewis Waite Farm. For more information, see the Shares page.
Who runs the CSA?
A core group of CSA members volunteer their time to work with our farmers, recruit members, run the distribution site, maintain records and accounting, manage member work shifts, write the newsletter, and perform community outreach. The $20 administrative fee helps to cover expenses associated with running the CSA.
If you would like to volunteer to join the core group, your support would be much appreciated! Email us at prospectheightscsa AT gmail DOT com for more information.
What are member work shifts?
Our CSA is a collective effort that relies on members to run the distribution site. This includes unloading produce from Ted’s truck, organizing vegetables for easy pick up, checking in members as they arrive, and cleaning up the school cafeteria at the end of the evening.
The purchasers of each single vegetable share are responsible for covering two work shifts during the season, from 3:30-4:45pm, 4:00-6:00pm, or 6:00-8:00pm. You’ll be asked to sign up for your shifts at the first two pickups of the season, and we’ll do our best to ensure that members are assigned times that work well for them.
Please keep in mind that enjoying the fruits of a well-functioning CSA requires a small commitment from every member of the group. The failure to fulfill your work shifts places undue stress on the core group and your fellow shareholders and could jeopardize your eligibility to participate in the CSA.
What if the Prospect Heights CSA runs out of shares?
Try our friends in neighboring CSAs: Central Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Crown Heights, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens.
OR, help start a new CSA! If you’re interested in helping to start a second Prospect Heights CSA, email us at prospectheightscsa AT gmail DOT com, and we’ll put you in touch with other people who are working on getting one started.
Do you offer winter shares?
Windflower Farm makes four once-a-month deliveries during the winter months. We’ll pass along information on how to sign up directly through Ted in the fall.
What are the different types of shares available?
Please visit the Shares page for more information.
Why are there different membership prices?
Because our CSA strives to make fresh organic produce available to families at all income levels, we offer a sliding scale based on household income, with high-income shareholders subsidizing low-income shareholders. Our cost breakdown is an estimation of what we think are fair and reasonable prices. However, members should feel free to select the price level that best fits their household budget and personal circumstances. We will honor requests for financial assistance on a case-by-case basis, as subsidy funds permit. If you would like to contribute to our subsidized share program, please feel free to make a donation when you purchase your share. We are accepting food stamps for the 2010 season. For more information contact prospectheightscsa AT gmail DOT com or (347) 725-1419.
Are there any other costs affiliated with CSA shares?
Each share will be assessed a $20 administrative fee to cover expenses associated with running the distribution site. Members may also choose to contribute to our subsidized share program (see previous paragraph).
When are payments due?
Administrative fees and fruit and flower shares must be paid in full by April 15th. Lump sum payments for vegetables are also due on this date. If you prefer to pay in installments, two equal payments must be submitted 1) at time of registration, and 2) by June 1st. If you would like to propose an alternate payment plan, email us.
Why do I have to pay before distribution begins?
Paying at the beginning of the season provides our farmer with income to cover the expenses for the seeds, supplies, and equipment necessary for the growing season. This advance income, at a time of year when there are usually no crops to harvest, enables CSA farmers to avoid the usual pattern and pitfalls of farm loans. In addition, knowing the number of CSA members early on takes the guesswork out of how many crops to plant.
Do you offer half shares?
We will be offering half shares to our members. Half shares will be picked up every other week. If you are interested in having a half share, please choose the Half Share option on the membership application form and mail in your payment. Please note that fruit, flower and egg shares are only sold as full shares. If you want to split these shares, email prospectheightscsa AT gmail DOT com and we will try to connect you with another half share member who wants the same.
When and where do I pick up my produce?
Shares are ready for pick up on Thursdays, from mid-June to late November, between 4:30pm and 7:30pm at PS 9, located at 80 Underhill Avenue. You can access the cafeteria via the St Marks entrance at the foot of the stairs, adjacent to the playground.
How does the distribution work?
Members should bring their own bags to distribution. Eggs and flowers are pre-portioned. Fruits and vegetables are placed in bins, and members select a predetermined quantity or weight from each category (for example, 2 heads of lettuce, 3 pounds of zucchini, 2 beefsteak tomatoes, etc.).
What exactly am I going to get each week?
That really depends! Please visit the Shares page for more information.
Can I select the produce I want from what’s available?
Due to the variety of vegetables offered at distribution, you’ll often have some flexibility in picking a combination of vegetables within each category. However, to ensure that popular or labor-intensive crops—like corn, peas and tomatoes—are distributed equitably, we may limit the number of pieces or the weight of a particular item per share. There will be clear signage at the distribution site each week to help ensure you get the right combination of vegetables.
What if I can’t pick up my share?
If you can’t make it to distribution, send a friend in your place! Just be sure to let that person know what name the share is under and if they should pick up any items in addition to vegetables.
What do you do with leftover produce?
Leftover produce is donated to an emergency food provider that serves our neighborhood: Church of God Feeding the Hungry on Classon Avenue, led by Pastor Urlin Gray.
