Hello, March!
Can you believe it’s already March? There’s snow out here at the farm, but cross your fingers, because spring is on its way! The season starts in just a few short months, and we’re excited to tag along on your food journey this year. It should be a wonderful season!
Have you signed up for the 2024 CSA Season yet?
Have you heard the good news? Our CSA season is over halfway full! We are so grateful for our new and returning members this year. You all keep us going here at the farm (in more ways than one!), and we can’t tell you how happy it makes us to have you all as part of our Winter Green family.
If you haven’t already and you’re interested in joining us for the CSA season this year, let me know! We will have full shares and half shares again, for both the Standard and Extended seasons, with residential and market pickups in Eugene, Springfield, Portland, Veneta, Noti, Florence, Mapleton, Reedsport and Coos Bay. (Coos Bay/North Bend and Reedsport are still Standard Season only, due to limited membership. If we can get more people to sign up, we can looking at doing both seasons again!)
All you need to know about payment plans!
With the season right around the corner, and so many of you signed up already, I’ve been getting lots of questions about payment options and payment plans. Here is all you need to know about both! (But feel free to shoot me an email if you have more questions anyway. 🙂 [email protected])
Here at Winter Green Farm, we do our best to accommodate all financial needs. While it does help the farm to receive payment in full, we understand that’s not always an option for every household. To that end, we offer the following payment plans for your convenience, as well as financial assistance for those in need.
Pay in Full: You are always welcome to pay for your share in full. Doing so helps the farm cover costs for seed, labor, maintenance, and anything else that needs to be done before the season begins. The payment deadline for paying in full is May 15th. If you’re able to pay in full before April 1, 2024, you will receive a $10.00 discount towards your share!
Pay in two installments: For those who need to split their payments a bit, you can pay in two installments, one before the season begins, and the balance halfway through. The payment deadline for the first installment is May 15th, and for the second, August 15th.
Pay in five monthly installments: If you’re interested in an even more economical option, you can make payments in five monthly installments. The payment deadline for monthly payments is the 1st of each month from June to October.
SNAP Benefits: We are thrilled to let you know that we’re accepting SNAP benefits and working with the Double-Up Food Bucks program again this year! This also includes the P-EBT benefits sent for school-age children. The Double-Up Food Bucks program (DUFB) will match your monthly payments for up to half your share. Payments will be withdrawn from your benefit account by the state on your benefit loading day every month from June to October. If you’d like to use your benefits to pay for your share, please email me at [email protected].
We offer the following payment options for your convenience:
Check: We’re happy to accept checks for payment to avoid the credit card transaction fee. (We actually prefer it, as it saves us the fee too!) If you’d like to send post-dated checks so you don’t have to remember to make additional payments, you’re more than welcome to! We’ll lock them away in our safe, so they’ll always be secure.
While mailing a check is the most secure way to make sure we receive your payment, if you choose to pay at one of our markets, please make sure your payment is contained in a sealed envelope with your name and “CSA” clearly written on the front. Please do not leave a check at your pickup site.
Credit Card: We’re happy to offer online payment options through our website, wintergreenfarm.com. After logging into your account, you can find your invoice in the “Orders” tab. When you check out, you can choose any of the payment plan options mentioned above. There is a credit card transaction fee of a little over 3%, as that’s what we get charged to process online payments. (This fee is added to all online payments, so if you’re paying by check, please feel free to subtract the fee from the total.)
Please note that we are unable to take any credit card payments over the phone, as we’re no longer set up to do so. Thank you for understanding!
Cash: While cash is definitely the least secure way to pay, we are happy to accept cash as payment for your share. If you choose to pay cash, please make sure to contain it in a sealed envelope with your name and “CSA” clearly written on the front if you pay at a market, or included in a note or letter if you send it by mail. Please do not leave cash or payment of any kind at your pickup site.
You can mail checks to:
Winter Green Farm
89762 Poodle Creek Road
Noti, OR 97461
If you are in need of financial assistance to help with your share, please contact the farm at [email protected].
Would you like to be a site host this season?
We’re looking for a new site host for the Washington Street and Coos Bay/North Bend delivery sites! (I think we found someone in Florence!) If you or anyone you know would be willing to volunteer a little time and donate your driveways or porches once a week for the season, let us know! You do not have to be a member to do so. In fact, we have quite a few amazing site hosts that aren’t CSA members this year, but they’re still part of the Winter Green family! We would love to have you as a site host if you’re able, so we can continue to deliver to the Washington Street and Coos Bay/North Bend areas. We’re hoping for a volunteer by April so we have time to reroute if necessary. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have!
We’re at the PNWCSA Share Fair this weekend!
Chris and Shannon will be in Portland this weekend for the annual CSA Share Fair!
“Looking to buy locally and get connected to your food system? Hoping to eat more fruits and veggies this year? This year’s CSA Share Fair is right around the corner and we hope you join this free family-friendly event filled with food, fun, and community. There will be 45+ local farmers to meet, CSA matchmakers, cooking demos, kids activities, and farmers market style shopping.Get connected with your local farmers and learn more about Community Supported Agriculture Sunday, March 3rd from 10-1 pm at The Redd.
What is CSA? It’s a subscription to freshly harvested food from a local farm. Throughout the season, you’ll receive a weekly share of delicious produce picked at the peak ripeness. Becoming a CSA member is a great way to support your farmers, improve your health, become a better cook and decrease your carbon footprint all at the same time!
If you’ve been curious about Community Supported Agriculture, coming to CSA Share Fair is one of the best ways to get started. SNAP users get 50% off of CSA! Hope to see you there!”
Come say “Hello!” at the Lane County Farmers’ Market!
Are you craving fresh organic veggies before the season starts? I definitely am! We weren’t able to get the winter box idea off the ground this year (cross your fingers for 2025!), but we have lots of delicious food at the Lane County Farmers’ Market on Saturdays! It may be a little chilly this weekend, but don’t let that stop you! Come on down and say “hi” to Kate and Rob this Saturday, and stock your kitchen with our tasty produce. We would love to see you there!
What’s going on at the farm?
So much! This time of year, the energy is always buzzing, and lots of things are happening. I got to spend the other day in the greenhouse with Kate and Shannon, and wow, there’s so much growing! We spent hours seeding peas, and I can’t wait for them to be ready — still have a few months to go! We have lots of little lambs running around, and a few more that are almost ready to greet the world! We’re so excited for this coming year, and we can’t wait to share it with all of you.
Spring is right around the corner, so wrap those scarves tight and stay warm through this end-of-winter weather! Oregon isn’t done showing off yet! We wish you all a wonderful weekend!
Many blessings,
Chelsea and your Winter Green farmers