FAQ's about our CSA

What is CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a mutually beneficial partnership between a local farm and a neighborhood that desires fresher, healthier produce.

Before the harvest season begins each CSA member purchases a share. As a shareholder in the farm, a CSA member receives a weekly box of the highest quality produce.

Payment is required before the season begins to provide a stable financial base for the farm. This allows the farmer to purchase seeds, hire labor, and get the season started without having to take out high-interest loans.

How much produce is in a share?

Shares are provided in 2 sizes: full and half. A full share is estimated to be enough vegetables for the average family of 4 omnivores (folks who eat both plants and animals as their primary food source). A half share should suffice for a family of two omnivores. If you are a large family or are eating a primarily vegetarian diet, you might consider ordering more than one full share. If you have a household of 1 omnivore, you may want to consider splitting your share with a friend or neighbor.

How do I get my vegetables?

Prior to the harvest season you select your preferred pick-up location.

We will have pick up locations in Carmel, Broad Ripple and Downtown Indianapolis. However, we have not yet finalized our 2010 pick up locations.

What is the difference between the Standard and the Culinarian Harvest Share?

The Standard Harvest Share will include common vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, spinach, lettuces, tomatoes, etc, - no herbs or uncommon "gourmet" vegetables.

The Culinarian Harvest Share will include both common and uncommon “gourmet” vegetables as well as herbs.

Both the Standard and Culinarian Harvest Share will include a similar quantity of produce each week. However, the Standard will have fewer different vegetables in larger quantity while the Culinarian will have a smaller quantity of a wider variety of vegetables plus herbs.

There will be a bit of crossover since some members consider particular vegetables to be common and others consider the same item uncommon (Swiss Chard, for example).

What types of produce do I receive?

Local food is seasonal and what you get depends on which season we're in. At Balanced Harvest we specialize in greens and herbs. However, excluding corn & asparagus, we grow most vegetables from A-Z.

In a normal season here's a sampling of what might be available:

Spring

Lettuces such as red & green leaf, butter crunch, bibb, black-seeded simpson, oak leaf. Curly endive, radishes, heirloom turnip greens, wild arugula, Lacinato kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, mint, chives, cilantro, spinach, salad mix

Summer

tomatoes – heirloom, cherry, beefsteak, etc, basil, beans, beets, swiss chard, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, dill, fennel, Italian peppers, kale, lettuce mix, onions, rosemary, scallions, Asian eggplant, Italian eggplant, plum tomatoes, cabbage, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnips, dandelion green & red, radicchio, romaine, leaf, butter crunch and bibb lettuce, cilantro, parsley-Italian & curly, broccoli raab, broccoli shoots, cantaloupe, radishes, green onions, pickling dill, pickling cucumbers

Fall

arugula, Asian eggplant, basil, black radish, beets, bell peppers, broccoli, broccoli raab, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cardoon, carrots, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, collards, cucumbers, daikon radish, dandelion, dill, fennel, green beans, heirloom tomatoes, Italian eggplant, kale, leek, onions, parsley- Italian & curly, parsnips, radicchio, radishes, rutabaga, salsify, savoy cabbage, scallions, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

Note: Depending on weather conditions and other factors involved in the growing season, not all items may be available.

How much does it cost?

Our 15 week Full Share cost is $525 and the Half Share is $325.

Do I have to pay the fee all at one time?

No. You may pay in full with your application or contact us for payment options.

What if I move or for some reason can no longer pick up my share?

You may transfer ownership of your share to another person, but there are no refunds. Balanced Harvest Farm does not get involved in brokering shares for others. You will be responsible for providing us with the new shareholder's information in order for them to begin picking up their share.

Do I have to work on the farm or in the market?

Absolutely not. We do the work; you enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Can I give a CSA membership as a gift?

Giving the gift of a CSA membership to a friend or family member is a wonderful, healthy and appreciated gift. Upon request we can provide a gift certificate and a packet of information for the recipient. So, sign them up!