Join the Chelsea CSA

The Chelsea CSA is committed to being a mixed income CSA. This is accomplished through a three tiered membership structure in which people buy whole or half shares at Sponsor, Standard, and Discount levels. Prices for a Vegetable Share in the 2013 season are:

• Sponsor shares: $595 – These shares include a small administrative fee that directly defers the cost of our discount program. We thank our sponsor share holders for their support in making our mission possible. Direct donations are also accepted to help with our discount share program.
• Standard shares: $540 – Standard shares are the middle price point and the bulk of our membership.
• Discount shares: $400 – Discount shares are available with documentation of any of the following: proof of residence at Elliot Chelsea Houses, food stamps (EBT), tax return showing annual household income of less that $30,000, disability card, unemployment check, TANAF, and current AmeriCorps volunteers. Discount shares must be pre-approved and cannot be registered online. To arrange income verification and pre-approval please contact the core group at moc.o1368922497ohay@1368922497ascae1368922497slehc1368922497 or 212-760-9878.

Optional shares
In addition to a vegetable share, members may add one or more optional shares which are delivered to distribution with the vegetables. These shares can be added when registering for the vegetable share or can be added to your account later through the farm’s website.

• Fruit Share: Fruit season runs for 20 weeks, the fruit is not organic; however is provided by local farmers with low spray practices.  A three tiered structure applies here as well: sponsor $290, standard $260, discount $200.
• Mushroom Share: The Mushroom Share is delivered every week, 24 deliveries, one variety of mushroom per week. The Mushrooms are raised naturally but are not certified organic.
• Coffee Share: A Coffee Share is a set number of pounds of coffee delivered monthly during the CSA season. All of the coffee is organic, fair trade, grown on small family coffee farms, and locally roasted before delivery.

Payment
Payments can be made by credit card, check and electronic check. Members may pay in full, 4 installments or extended payment plan. We also accept SNAP card payments. Invoices are not sent out, so please mark your payment due dates on your calendar. Payments are not refundable.

Mandatory Work Hours
Chelsea CSA is a completely volunteer run program of Hudson Guild. A group of active members, called “The Core Group” coordinate membership, distribution, staffing/tracking, finances and newsletter production. All CSA members must complete mandatory work hours at distribution. Over the course of the season, members must commit to a total of 4 hours for a vegetable share and and additional 2 hours for a fruit share. Other ways to meet the requirement are: low income outreach, special event coordinator, farm trip organizer, potluck organizer and supporting community building efforts of Hudson Guild. Please email us at moc.o1368922497ohay@1368922497ascae1368922497slehc1368922497 to arrange alternative ways to meet this requirement.

Are half shares available?
In a typical season, a share is adequate for a family of 2-3 people, depending on the amount of vegetables in their diet. To accommodate members who want to receive a half share we will adopt the online registration procedure as described below.

Find a share partner and register together
Members will be responsible for finding their own share partners. When two people have agreed to be share partners, one will register as the primary shareholder, register for a sponsor, standard, or discount vegetable share and list the other as a share partner. There are several payment options online and the share partners will work out between themselves how to pay the farmer for their share(s). Share partners are also responsible for fulfilling the mandatory work hours associated with their share(s). If you cannot find as share partner, email us at moc.o1368922497ohay@1368922497ascae1368922497slehc1368922497, we may be able to help.

Half shares at distribution
At distribution, the first share partner to arrive is responsible for dividing the share, labeling a bag with the second partner’s name, and leaving it at the sign-in desk.

Other Products

In additional to season-long shares, as a member of the CSA you can special order honey, maple syrup, coffee and other products from the farm through the farm’s Marketplace. You can also order meat, poultry, eggs and cheeses from a variety of upstate farms through our Special Products coordinator. These special products are available by special order only.