The 2023 CSA Season is almost here!
Can you believe this year has gone so fast! We begin deliveries next week, and we hope you’re as excited for the start of the season as we are!
We start next week!
June has snuck up fast this year, and with that, the beginning of the 2023 CSA Season! Share information did get emailed out last week, but due to an email glitch, it looks like a lot of them did not go through. That said, I’m the majority of the way through getting those email packages out (again!), so if you don’t receive yours by the end of the weekend, please let me know.
We’ve been hit with a few technical difficulties this season, and we are still down a printer, so the hard copies share info packages are waiting for the new printer’s arrival, which should be any day now! As soon as it shows up, we’ll get those in the mail. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding on this. We really appreciate you!
First deliveries:
- Tuesday, June 6
- Wednesday, June 7
- Friday, June 9
- Saturday, June 10
- Sunday, June 11
Extended Season Half Shares (12-week program), your shares will begin the following week and alternate from there. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] or give us a call at 541-935-1920.
If you’re in need of delivery site info for this season, you can always access it on our website. The addresses and delivery times are listed, though the names and phone numbers are not, though they are included on the site info sent to you directly.
We have two new site locations in Eugene and one in Portland!
We’ve successfully found two new wonderful site hosts in Eugene, andone for our last-minute change to the SW Alice site in Portland for the 2023 CSA Season. Our site hosts have graciously volunteered their time, porches, and driveways for your convenience each week!
Sean Peterson at 1346 W Broadway has taken over for the Taylor Street Location.
Sally Baumgartner at 2867 Sarah Lane has taken over the Wingate Street Location.
Iris Sexton at 4018 SW Alfred Street has taken over the SW Alice Street location in Portland.
For those members picking up at those locations, information about those sites will be sent to you with your share information.
Are you going on vacation this season? Let me know!
We know the season is during the summer and we all like to go on vacation. We’re happy to accommodate you by either rescheduling your share, issuing a credit for the 2024 season, or donating your share to Food for Lane County. Please note: we are only able to make these changes with at least 7 days notice. If you’re unable to pick up your share the day of delivery, you will contact your site host to see if they are able to hold it for you. Your site hosts are under no obligation to hold your shares! The pickup deadline for residential deliveries is 7:00pm. After that delivery window passes, the leftover shares will become forfeit. Please make sure you contact your site host if you’re unable to pick up your share. Our office is usually closed or we’re out on the farm during those pickup windows, so we will not be able to help with missed pickups the day of delivery.
I will be out of the country the last half of August, so please get your vacation days for Weeks 10 through 13 (August 8 through September 4) to me by August 1st so I can get them entered. If vacation requests are for that time frame are submitted after August 1st, they will unfortunately NOT be processed. Thank you for your time and consideration!
A few things of note to remember for this season:
- Please only take a box if your name is on the list! If you think it should be there and it’s not, email me at [email protected]. I will respond by the next business day and sort it out.
- Please only touch YOUR veggies! Help us keep everyone safe from Covid and other illnesses by only touching your own box.
- Check your name off the list, so we know you got your share! This helps us keep track of deliveries.
- Please only take extras if YOUR NAME is on them! Extras, like strawberries or blueberries, are paid for in advance. Taking someone else’s purchase is stealing. Please don’t do this.
- Please leave CSA bins at the delivery site! We do provide extra bags, but we ask that if you take one, you bring another to replace it at your next delivery, and leave the actual bins at the site.
- Make sure you make the delivery window! We love to offer you shares at convenient locations, but our amazing site hosts are volunteers, and we only ask they make their property available to our members during the designated pickup window. Those times are listed on the website and your site info sheets. Please note that all residential pickup sites have a deadline of 7pm! If you can’t make that deadline, please call your site host the day of (the farm will not be available) to see if you can make arrangements. Shares left after that 7pm deadline become forfeit and go to the site hosts.
We do still have shares available!
Do you know someone interested in a CSA share? Are you still on the fence about joining us this year? Let us know! Send friends to our website (wintergreenfarm.com) and share our posts on social media! You can find us on Facebook (Winter Green Farm) or on Instagram (@wintergreenfarm). Our membership is a little low this year, and it’s amazing members like you who keep the CSA going, so any help and referrals is greatly appreciated!
Last year was hard for everyone. The weather was wet and cold well into June, so getting food in the ground on time was difficult, if not impossible for some veggies. Then, we had some more setbacks when the quality didn’t turn out the way we hoped. Weather, ground squirrels, bugs–all added to working short-staffed–last year was tough, and we know the quality of some of the veggies wasn’t up to our usual standards. While this is all part of being in the CSA and can be an unfortunate risk, we do understand the concern and frustration, and hope we can make it up to you and keep your loyalty with the farm. We’d miss you if you go!
But this year is looking so much better! The weather did play games a little bit, but we were able to seed a bunch of veggies in our greenhouse. Now it’s overflowing! It’s bright, it’s warm, and we’re working as hard as we can to get as many delicious veggies ready for the first delivery in a few weeks! Fingers crossed this year the quality will be back to our usual standards!
Come see us at the farmers’ markets!
Not getting everything you want in your share this week? No problem! Come check us out at the farmers’ markets! In Eugene, we’re at the Eugene Farm Stand at 18th and Polk on Wednesdays, and the Lane County Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. In Portland, we’re at the King Farmers’ Market on Sundays. Stop in, grab some extra veggies, or just say hi! We would love to see you, and you can pick up some extra strawberries as a treat!
We are so excited to begin next week, and we’re working hard to make sure we get you as many delicious vegetables as we can. Thank you so much for hanging in there while we get through all our technical glitches. We truly appreciate you!
Many blessings,
Chelsea and your Winter Green farmers