FAQS - Click any question to see the answer below:

What does CSA stand for?

What is the Chelsea CSA?

How many people does one share feed?

What if I do not need a full share?

What are the goals of the Chelsea CSA?

Why is the Hudson Guild sponsoring the CSA?

How much does a vegetable share cost?

How much does an optional fruit share cost?

How may I order honey and maple syrup during the produce season?

How may I order meat, poultry, eggs and cheese year round?

Why are there different payment levels?

Why do I have to pay before the growing season?

How long is the season?

Where and when can I pick up the vegetables and fruit?

Is there a risk involved when becoming a member of the CSA?

How can I pay for my share?

What if none of these payment plans are good for me?

What will happen if one week I cannot pick up my share?

What is expected of CSA members?

What types of events will the members have the option to participate in?

How do I join the CSA?

Who do I call if I have a question?

Who created your wonderful web site?

What does CSA stand for?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.

What is the Chelsea CSA?

The Chelsea CSA brings fresh, organic vegetables to the Chelsea area through a partnership between Stoneledge Farm in South Cairo, NY and members of the Chelsea community, with support from the Hudson Guild, a non-profit Settlement House serving the Chelsea community since 1895. The Kavakos family of Stoneledge Farm sells shares in their harvest. People buy shares at a variety of fee levels. CSA's work to pay the farmer before the growing season, when possible. In exchange for investing in the harvest, members will receive vegetables at the Hudson Guild from mid-June through mid-November. People who join the Chelsea CSA must commit to the length of the entire season even if they pay in installments throughout the season.

How many people does one share feed?

Typically, each week's share consists of 8-12 types of vegetables, enough to feed a family of 2-3 people depending on how many vegetables are in your diet.

What if I do not need a full share?

We encourage people to find their own share partners. To help potential share partners meet we've set up a google discussion page. Please send an email to ajconn298@hotmail.com to access the page.

What are the goals of the Chelsea CSA?

The Chelsea CSA is striving to provide affordable, nutritious, organic vegetables to the Chelsea community at a convenient location, while supporting a small New York farmer.

Why is the Hudson Guild sponsoring the CSA?

The Hudson Guild is committed to strengthening and building community, both within our walls and in the broader Chelsea community. The Hudson Guild sees the Chelsea CSA as a great opportunity to strengthen community. We are asking CSA members to contribute money and/or their time to help offset the costs of running the CSA.

How much does a vegetable share cost?

Chelsea CSA has three levels of payments for vegetable shares. You must commit to six hours of volunteer work over the course of the season to participate in our volunteer-run cooperative.

Standard Share: You will pay $520 per share, an average of $21.60 per week over the twenty-four week season.

Discount Share - Qualifications for discount shares are: Tax return showing annual household income of less that $30,000, resident of Elliot Chelsea Houses, food stamps (EBT), disability card, unemployment check, TANAF, and Americore volunteers. You will pay $390 per share, an average of $16.25 per week over the twenty-four week season. Discount shares must be pre-approved . To arrange income verification email: chelseacsa@yahoo.com or call our voicemail at: 212-760-9878.

Sponsor Share: To help make the Chelsea CSA accessible to people with lower incomes and to help defray the cost of running the CSA, you pay a minimum of $580 per share.

How much does an optional fruit share cost?

Chelesa CSA has three levels of payment for the twenty-week fruit share option. You must have a vegetable share and put in two additional volunteer hours during the season.

Note that the fruit is grown on farms using low-spray, rather than strictly organic techniques. We understand this is due in part to the expense of organic certification and in part to NYS agricultural policies.

Standard Share: You will pay $250 for the season, $12.50 per week for some of the freshest fruit you will ever taste!

Discounted Share: You will pay $200 if you meet the qualifications for a discount vegetable share (see above). That's $10 per week for seasonal fruit such as currants, grapes, raspberries, plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and apples.

Sponsor Share: You will pay $280 per share, enjoying freshly picked fruit while supporting Chelsea CSA's committment to access across a wide spectrum of our mixed income community.

How may I order honey and maple syrup during the produce season?

Stoneledge Farm produces honey (well really it's the bees) and their neighbor, Bear Creak, produces maple syrup. We always have order forms with prices and quantities are available at distribution.

How may I order meat, poultry, eggs and cheese year round?

A group of upstate family farms make monthly deliveries to eligible Chelsea CSA shareholders.

How To Order - You must first sign a separate contract - contact Frances Tesser, Special Products Coordinator at frates101@gmail.com. You may then order any combination of the meats and cuts for each of the monthly delivery dates. The best way to order is by using the website. The first time you use the site you will be asked to set up a user profile, enter Chelsea CSA as your pick-up location. You can also print out their order form, or pick one up at distribution during the season. Mail your order in to the address on the form. Indicate the number (not the pounds) of packages of chickens, steaks, chops, legs, and ground meat you wish to have. Write any special requests at the bottom of the appropriate meat sections. For more information, send an email to nkdbrown@lewiswaitefarm.com.

Order deadlines are 5-6 days prior to delivery which allows other farms to coordinate with and deliver products to Lewis Waite Farm.

Non-Veggie Season Distribution Winter and spring deliveries are once a month on the third Tuesday of each month. Please note the delivery address on order confirmation and invoice emails!

Filling Your Order - If there is a question or problem filling an order, the appropriate farm contacts you to discuss your special requests or to offer substitutions if certain items are not available. If you have specific questions, please call or email the appropriate farm. To know how much you owe, the lamb, kid, chicken, pork and beef packages must be weighed. Each of the farms is a separate business, so each must calculate their total and then they will add your total for you. The farms will notify you of the total amount of your order by email.

Picking Up Your Order - Don't forget that the chicken, lamb and 'beef and pork together' may be delivered in separate packages. If you ordered all three, check to make sure you pick up all three types of meats. Pickup is once per month, at the distribution site during the 24-week produce season and at the the home of a member during the rest of the year. The meat is delivered frozen, so bring an insulated bag if you have one or plan to go straight home to your freezer. Please bring a check made out to Lewis Waite Farm for the total of your meat order. There will be a printed spreadsheet at the pickup site showing everyone's total and you may receive an email with the amounts shown also. Pick up a new paper order form for next month if you do not use email!

In-Season Distribution Mid-June to mid-November deliveries are at Hudson Guild Elliott Center on the third Tuesday of each month.

Order/Delivery Dates for Special Products:

Delivery Date: 3/24/2009 Order Due By: 3/19/09
Delivery Date: 4/21/2009 Order Due By: 4/16/09
Delivery Date: 5/19/2009 Order Due By: 5/14/09

Why are there different payment levels?

In an effort to make the CSA available to everyone in Chelsea, we have developed different payment levels. Upper-income members are asked to pay more to subsidize the cost for those who cannot afford as much.

Why do I have to pay before the growing season?

By paying the Kavakos' upfront, they can purchase seeds, equipment and the other things that they need to run their farm without having to take out high interest loans. They can then devote their energy to sustainable farming practices.

How long is the season?

This answer depends on when Stoneledge Farm's harvest begins. The Kavakos' expect to begin delivering the vegetables in mid-June and to continue delivering through to Thanksgiving, which is about 24 weeks. The shares will be delivered each week throughout this time period.

Where and when can I pick up the vegetables and fruit?

Stoneledge Farm delivers both vegetables and fruit on Tuesdays during the CSA season with pick-up from 4 pm to 7 pm at Hudson Guild (located in Chelsea) in the Elliot Center facility, located at 441 West 26 Street (between Ninth and Tenth Avenues).

Is there a risk involved when becoming a member of the CSA?

There is a risk involved in farming and by joining the CSA members share in that risk. Since farming is directly related to changing weather conditions, certain items that you may want may not be available. If for example there is a very rainy season, certain crops will do well, and others will not. On the whole, members will get a wide variety of vegetables in plentiful amounts.

How can I pay for my share?

There are three payment options available to members, as indicated on our registration form:

Pay the entire fee at time of joining.
Make several payments as presented on the membership contract. Since we try to get payments to the farmer before the harvest, we would like all the payments by June 1st.
People who qualify for discounted shares may make a down payment and then make payments in Food Stamps, cash or checks into the Low Income Fund every two weeks over the course of the season according to a pre-established payment schedule.

Payments made are not refundable. People may arrange to have other people take on their membership and repay them for previous payments.

What if none of these payment plans are good for me?

If you feel that none of these plans will work for you, we ask that you call us and tell us your situation. We will try to design a plan that will work for you.

What will happen if one week I cannot pick up my share?

You have a few options to choose from if you cannot pick up your share. First, you may ask someone else to pick up the share. If this is what is best for you, we ask that you call us prior to the pick-up and tell us who will be picking up your share. Second, you may tell us that you will not be using the share that week and we will donate your share. Donated shares will most likely go to a local soup kitchen.

What is expected of CSA members?

Members are expected to keep up with payments in a timely manner as well as commit to the entire season. Vegetable share members must contribute a minimum of 6 hours of their time throughout the twenty-four week season. Optional fruit share members contribute an additional two hours to help us manage this additional offering. Most shareholders help out by covering three two-hour shifts at distribution. People often volunteer additional hours to help with activities including cooking demos, potluck dinners or the annual farm visit. Those who order meat, poultry or eggs must discuss volunteer requirements with the Special Products Coordinator.

What types of events will the members have the option to participate in?

Members will have opportunities to participate in cooking demonstrations, potlucks and trips to Stoneledge Farm. Members will also receive a newsletter with recipes, cooking tips and farm updates.

How do I join the CSA?

Registration for the Chelsea CSA 2010 is online only. The registration will be closed and available for current members in good standing until December 15th. On the 16th an e-mail will be sent to everyone that signed up on the Waiting List during 2009. They will then have until the end of December to register. On January 1 the registration will be opened to new members.

Who do I call if I have a question?

You may contact the Chelsea CSA at 212 760-9878 or via e-mail at chelseacsa@yahoo.com.

Who created your wonderful web site?

This website is generously donated by Mike Truese Creations, who have given of their talents and time in designing, developing and maintaining this site for the Chelsea CSA since 2003.

Need a great website? Call Mike Truese Creations today at 1.201.434.3730 and ask for Mike Truese.