Farmbox Membership (2023 Season)

Weekly box of vegetables picked at their peak, all grown right here on our South Bend farm. Get in touch with the land and farmer that grows your food!

Timeframe: 24 weeks, May 2nd through October 25th. There will be a 2-week break mid-way through (July 24-August 4th) to give everyone a break!

Pickup Locations:
– Barn Swallow Farm: Tuesdays 4-5:30pm
– Purple Porch Co-Op: Wednesdays 5-7pm (during their weekly farmer’s market in the parking lot)

Full vs Half-Share: Full-shares are picked up every week, and are enough food for a family of 3+, while the half-shares pick up every other week, and are great for 1-2 people.

Description

Farmbox is a type of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), where members buy "shares" of a farm's harvest ahead of the season. Members then enjoy the bounty all season long through weekly pickups at the farm or at the Purple Porch Co-Op downtown.

A typical week looks like this:
- Friday: Dan (the farmer) walks the fields and decides what's ready for harvest, focusing on ripeness as well as variety for our members
- Friday: Weekly newsletter is sent with what to expect in your upcoming week's box, recipes the more difficult veggies, as well as other news from the farm
- Monday/Tuesday: Produce is harvested, washed (if needed), and stored in the walk-in cooler, keeping the veggies at peak flavor
- Tuesday/Wednesday: Members show up to the farm or the PP Co-Op and find tables piled high with that week's harvest. A chalkboard will let members know what a share consists of that week. Members are encouraged to pack only what they think they'll eat to reduce food waste.
- Enjoy your produce!

FAQs:

How many veggies will I receive weekly? You'll receive 7-8 veggies on average per week, though sometimes more when we're experiencing an abundance of produce in the fields. This is usually enough to provide a family of 3+ with the majority of vegetables needed per week. A half-share is great for 1-2 people. A sample share from the height of season might include: Spring Mix Lettuce (6 oz), Carrots (1 lb), Spinach (8 oz), Cherry Tomatoes (1 pint), 2-3 Cucumbers, Kale (1 bunch), and Peppers (1 lb)
Do I have to take every veggie home? Many weeks you'll be given choices between similar vegetables. For example, many weeks you can take either Kale, Collards, OR Swiss Chard. We try not to overwhelm you with many of the same type of veggie! You can also simply not take a vegetable home if you know you won't eat them.
Can I pickup at both locations over the season? Yes! Try to give us a heads up so we know to look for you on a day that isn't your "default" location, but we harvest everything on Mondays so you won't catch us by surprise if you show up on a different pickup day.
Do I have to pay it all up front? We now offer the option to spread the payments out over 6 months!
What if I'm out of town on a pickup week? Feel free to have a friend or other family come pick up in your place!