FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
On
our website, select the CSA Membership option from the main menu at the top of the screen. Create your
membership, print out the membership agreement, then sign it and mail it along
with your check or money order to Good Life Farm.
HOW DO I RESERVE A SHARE?
After you register, you will be on the Good Life Farm email list. We send an email with share information on
every Wednesday evening with a link to reserve that week's share. You must reserve your share 24 hour in advance of pickup. All Full Season members are auto reserved for each pick date. If you do not recieve an email from farmerlaura@goodlifefarm.com, please check your spam filter.
WHAT IS A SHARE, or 3 SHARES ?
A Share is 1 week pickup of vegetables from our CSA. 3 Shares is 3 weeks of pickups from our CSA. Pickups are Friday during our Season May through November on the following dates:
- Friday, May 27
- Friday, June 24
- Friday, July 15
- Friday, August 5
- Friday, August 26
- Friday, September 9
- Friday, September 30
- Friday, October 21
- Friday, November 19
MAY I PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD?
Yes you may. We now accept PayPal.
WHY DO I PAY IN ADVANCE?
When you subscribe to the Good Life Farm CSA, we make an investment on your
behalf. Seeds and other materials are purchased specifically with you in mind.
We start the process in February, growing seeds in trays, then plant our fields
from March through July. So by May, when you receive your first share, your CSA
share has already paid for materials and months’ worth of labor.
MAY I PAY AS I GO?
No.
HOW
LONG IS THE SEASON?
The season will begin between May 15 and May 31st and end between Nov 1 and Nov
15. We expect to provide shares for between 10 to 12 weeks.These dates are dependent upon the weather.
MAY I CHOOSE WHAT IS IN MY CSA SHARE?
We choose what goes in the share, based on availability. This will expose you
to some unfamiliar items, which is part of the excitement of buying a CSA share.
That said, at various times during the season we offer a choice of products; in
addition, we offer you the ability to purchase both rare and overly abundant
items. For example, in season we often have an abundance of tomatoes and sweet
corn. We list these items on our website and offer them for sale, independent
of your CSA subscription.
WHAT WILL BE IN MY CSA SHARE?
Each week, you’ll receive 5 to 7 seasonal farm-fresh vegetables, herbs, and
fruits. Some of these may be multiple, but will count as one item: for example,
you may receive 4 to 6 ears of sweet corn, 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, or 2 to 6
slicing tomatoes, depending on the harvest and the time of year. Produce will
vary according to the season, as will the weight of your share (melons, for instance,
weigh more than salad mix). We will do our best to ensure that you receive the
true value of your investment during the growing season. Click here to
see the offerings from our past CSAs.
MAY I ORDER EXTRA PRODUCE?
When you pickup your share there will be an offering of items that we have for
sale in addition to your csa share. All members agree to purchase at least $5 of
these items per week.
WILL
MY CSA SHARE CONTAIN FRUIT?
While Good Life Farm is predominately a
vegetable grower, we do grow strawberries and melons. In addition, we have
relationships with local orchards to ensure that you’ll receive a fair amount of
fresh fruit each season.
WHAT
ABOUT EGGS?
We
will offer eggs for sale to our members, in limited quantities.
ARE YOU ORGANIC?
Good Life farm is not a certified organic farm, but we use natural
methods (OMRI-certified fertilizer and sprays) unless it is absolutely not
possible to do so. The produce you receive as a CSA member may not be organic.
MUST I WASH MY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES?
Absolutely! In fact, as part of the membership agreement you pledge to wash
all your produce before consuming it. We recommend triple washing, with the
first rinse lukewarm water. Click here
for more information about washing produce.
WHAT BENEFITS DO I GET BESIDES FRESH
PRODUCE?
Your
CSA purchase supports local agriculture in Montgomery County, Maryland. Your investment stays in your community. It does not leave to another state. This creates jobs in the county,
preserves open space, and enhances food security for the area.
SOME CSAs ADVERTISE THAT A SHARE WILL FEED A FAMILY OF 4 FOR A WEEK. IS
THIS TRUE?
This is a common error in CSA expectations. On average, your weekly share will
contain approximately $30 worth of vegetables (based on local market pricing).
It is unreasonable to expect to feed a family of four on $30 per week, no
matter what the source.
WHERE DO I PICK UP MY CSA SHARE?
In 2017, members will pick up their shares on Friday at our Farm in Darnestown, Maryland, near the intersection of Rte. 28 and Rte. 118.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I FORGET TO PICK UP MY SHARE, VACATION or TRAVEL?
You must pickup your share on the scheduled date or have a friend pick it up for you. Any shares not picked up will be donated to our animals.
DO YOU GROW EVERYTHING IN YOUR CSA ?
We do our best to grow 60 to 70 percent of what we provide in our CSA. We do not grow Sweet Corn, melons and some tomatoes. Additionally, we may need to supplement what we grow with other local sources in order to provide you with the best value for your share.
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