Think Green-Think Local
In 2008, the Regional Food Bank initiated a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to generate revenue to underwrite farm expenses.
A CSA program creates a relationship between a farm and a community of supporters. Members contribute to the farm’s yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season’s harvest. In return, the farm provides a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. CSAs create a relationship between people, the food they eat, the land on which it is grown, and those who grow it. CSA members reap the rewards of abundant harvests, but also share the farm’s risk due to nature’s uncertainties. In addition to receiving locally grown, fresh, high quality vegetables each week during the harvest season, you will have the opportunity to participate in the Farm’s operation. Farm Manager Mark Weinheimer enjoys having members visit the farm to learn about agriculture or to roll up their sleeves and help with the day’s work! Your membership also supports the growing of fresh-from-the-farm produce for distribution to the hungry through member agencies of the Food Bank.
How the Patroon Land Farm CSA Works
- Members sign up to purchase a share by completing a registration form.
- Family Share $400/Individual Share $250 A family share is designed to feed a family of 3-4 and an individual share to feed a family of 1-2.
- Members will receive a weekly supply of fresh produce during the harvest season, approximately early July through late October.
- Members can pick up their weekly shares at the Farm in Knox, at the Regional Food Bank in Latham or another site designated by the Food Bank each Thursday.
- In addition to weekly shares, members will have the opportunity to pick their own allotment of certain crops such as string beans, cherry tomatoes and herbs.
- Unclaimed shares will be donated to the Food Bank.
Fertilizers and Pesticides
The Farm is working towards organic practices. A minimal amount of chemical fertilizers are currently being used because the nutrient levels in the soils would make strict organic production non viable. Nutrient levels are in the low to very low range. We are continuously applying OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) approved soil amendments and compost to rectify the problem to move toward transitioning soils to organic. Building soils for organic production is a long term proposition. While the transition goes forward, we expect to continue chemical fertilizer use in order to maintain production for the Food Bank at acceptable levels.
Pesticide use is restricted to OMRI approved materials and many crops receive no pesticide application at all. OMRI is a national nonprofit organization that determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production and processing.
