FAQ

HOW MUCH PRODUCE CAN I EXPECT?

The amount and type of produce you receive changes with the seasons. In the spring you can expect more leafy greens and spring roots. As summer arrives and temperatures go up, the share gets more robust, consisting of familiar vegetable staples like tomatoes and melons. This leads into a fall of hardy greens and cold loving root crops. Each share consists of some quantity of each vegetable that is in season that week, based on “farmer’s choice”. For example: one bunch beets, 1 bunch carrots, 1 head lettuce, 2 pounds potatoes, 3 pounds tomatoes, etc.

Amounts depend on the variances of Mother Nature, but often correspond to the size unit you would see at the grocery store. While everyone’s vegetable needs are different, a full share tends to be adequate for a small family or a vegetable enthusiastic couple.

For more details and photographs of harvest expectations, CLICK HERE.

WHAT IF I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH A CROP? (OR WHAT THE HECK IS KOHLRABI)

Part of the CSA experience, and many would say it’s one of the bonuses, is trying new vegetables- some of which may go on to become your favorites. We post unique recipes every week on our BLOG that are created from that week’s CSA share. You can search the blog by ingredient to access years of wonderful recipes. As a CSA member you are given access to our private Blooming Glen Farm CSA Members Facebook group community. This is a unique and welcoming place to swap recipes, talk food, ask questions, get inspired and get down with the BGF tribe of fellow foodies with experience levels from newbies to CSA masters. Also included when you are a CSA member:

• Access to our hidden website page full of original educational support materials just for our CSA members, such as “10 Tips from CSA Masters: How to go from Veggie Amateur to CSA Pro“; “Tips & Tricks for CSA Success: A Beginner’s Guide for CSA Members“; Recipe Formula one-page PDF’s like “Pesto 101“; “Freezer Cubes“; and “Freestyle Frittata” and so much more!
• Our updated 60 page illustrated A to Z Storage Guide (PDF), chock full of storage and cooking tips for every veggie we grow.
• A weekly live video unboxing of the CSA share, where our CSA Coach talks about storage and cooking tips for every item in that week’s share (later posted to our You Tube channel for those not on Facebook).

WHAT IF I GO ON VACATION?

One option is to “Share your Share” with a friend. You can have someone else pick up your share while you are gone. However, you are responsible for explaining the pick-up location and procedures to your substitute. For on-farm pick-up members, another option is to change your pick up day from a Tuesday to a Thursday or vice versa. Half shares may switch from A to B week or vice versa. Just let us know by email or phone by 7pm Thursday the week before you wish to switch. Unfortunately, because we harvest a precise number of shares each harvest day, we cannot accommodate last minute switches.

PICK-UP PROTOCOL OR “WHAT DO I DO WHEN I GET THERE?”

All of the CSA shares are pre-packaged in a crate. You will check in at the farm and receive your crate, any share add-ons’s you may have, and any pick-your-own instructions for that week. You will then unload your crate at your car into your own bags and coolers and return the crate to a pallet in the parking lot. You will need to provide your own clippers to cut flowers or herbs. A hand wash station is available. Please DO NOT come to the farm if you have any symptoms of illness- we do have curbside pickup available if needed.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SHARE IF I FORGET TO PICK IT UP?

Blooming Glen Farm has partnered with Rolling Harvest Food Rescue. Rolling Harvest Food Rescue collects donated produce from local farms and markets, and distributes immediately to the non-profit hunger-relief agencies helping the most needy families in our community. If you have not made prior arrangements for someone to pick up for you, or to switch pick up days, at our discretion, some or all of any unclaimed shares will then be donated to Rolling Harvest, or to other local organizations helping families in need. Please note that once the pick-up is over, pick-up is over. If you forget to pick up on Tuesday, that does not mean you can show up on Thursday, or vice versa. We harvested for you, it is your responsibility to be there to pick it up. We are not able to hold food for you to pick-up at a later time or day.

WHAT ARE U-PICK CROPS?

For CSA members picking up at the farm, throughout the season your share will include various “Pick-your-own” crops. These are items that are easy to pick, but too time-consuming for the farmers to harvest cost-efficiently. In addition to vegetables and herbs, this also includes about 8-10 weeks of pick-your-own flowers in the summer. For insurance reasons, you will need to bring your own clippers for harvesting. Please bring your own flower vessel to harvest into (NO GLASS)- a plastic gallon water or milk jug with the top cut wider is what we prefer you use. You may do the pick-your-own crops on either a Tuesday or a Thursday from 1-7pm.

WHAT IF IT’S RAINING ON MY PICK-UP DAY OR I DON’T HAVE TIME TO PICK MY OWN CROPS?

You may come back on a different pick-up day during that week or the next week to do your u-pick crops. Some seasons may be particularly rainy- as long as it’s not thundering you are welcome to don your mud boots and rain gear and head out to pick- consider it getting the true farmer experience!

WHAT IS THE SHARING TABLE?

The Sharing Table is a place in the distribution center to put things from the share that you may not want that week. Then another member can enjoy it. For example, you hate beets- so you put your bunch in the basket. Someone else didn’t want their eggplant, but you love it, so you take theirs. If everyone remembers to utilize the sharing basket it can be a great way to be sure everyone gets what they want. The sharing table works on the honor system.

WHAT DOES CERTIFIED ORGANIC MEAN?

In order for a farm to be certified organic it must follow the practices approved by the National Organic Standards Board. Each year the farm must gain approval from a USDA recognized certifying agent. The farmers at Blooming Glen manage the land according to the organic standards, and have done so since starting the farm in 2006. In the summer of 2014 we became officially certified organic through Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO).