2021 Fall CSA

Dear 2021 Farm Sol CSA Members,

Summer is winding down and we’re feeling pretty romantic about the dreamy months ahead when we’ll get to rest our muscles, begin pouring through a pile of new farm-related literature, fantasize over seed orders, and spend some quality time… sleeping. But summer’s not over yet! Enter left, this new idea called the Farm Sol Fall CSA! Read on for an updated delivery option and a special invitation for Week 15 pick-up!

HEY WHAT’S THIS

When you signed up for our CSA this year, we promised to keep feeding you until the end of the growing season so long as we had boxes for everyone, and we based our pricing on a 15 week minimum goal. Well, despite some of the poor growing setbacks this year (drought, hail, frosts), it’s looking like we may just have a beautiful fall. This is optimistic news, if you’re into eating fresh vegetables until winter forces otherwise. While tomatoes are finally winding down, our kale, chard, and other hearty greens are staying strong, and we plan to continue with herbs, onions, celery, potatoes, and mushrooms! Eggs may also be used to round out produce box target values during the Fall Share.

Most farms run their CSAs with a firm weekly cutoff to keep the work for income exchange reasonable and predictable. If we were more market savvy, we would have realized that many summer CSAs also offer an additional fall CSA option in years of good weather. But, as you know, this was our first year with the CSA model - so this year we’re all learning together. There have been some growing pains, like balancing our desire to generously share good food with the need to build a business that is sustainable… you know, so we can keep doing this sort of thing. From a market value analysis (more details in our letter next week), here’s where we are all sitting at Week 14 of the 2021 CSA:

CSA	Customer Value	Share Price	Target Box Value
2021 Farm	$728	600	40
2021 Half	$341	300	20

This season’s CSA is not over yet - as mentioned above, this table reflects market-price values provided by Week 14 of the 15 week minimum goal in 2021. We structure in extra value as a thank-you and repayment of our perception of “accrued interest” in your up front payment, so these values feel fairly close to our provider targets. It has been fun sharing the bounty!

Next year, we plan to grow our business to a point that will allow us to both live and work on farm during the entire growing season. In transitioning from one to two full-time dedicated farmers - the 2021 Fall CSA includes an option for donations as way to jump start next year’s plans, trial the system of delivery to a drop-site, and ensure we can get seeds in the ground next spring.

HOW IT WORKS

You’ve already paid for the season that’s ongoing, and we are dedicated to continue providing you fresh produce until the frost stops us. However, the weather shift is inspiring a natural point in time to try out some new things. We’ve outlined several options for you to consider by next week, Week 15. At box pick-up on farm next week, we will ask you to fill out a survey and disclose your plans to continue (or not) receiving produce boxes for an additional 3 weeks. This will help us plan for the weeks moving forward. Please note that 2021 Egg Shares were always scheduled to end at Week 15, but can be re-instated by request to cover the Fall Share period (3 weeks) for $15.

Option 1:

Continue business as usual. After all, this is what we all signed up for! You will continue to pick up your produce box on farm weekly until the season ends (3 weeks beyond Week 15) This is an anticipated value of $60. If you are able, a donation supporting season continuation is appreciated, but no pressure. See “Suggested Donation” to explore options.

Option 2:

Participate in our drop site experiment! You will collect your Week 15 produce box on farm. After Week 15, pick up your weekly produce box at a drop site in West Duluth until the season ends (anticipated 3 weeks beyond Week 15) . As this is a personal address, exact location will be shared upon order. Pick-up window remains the same: Thursdays from 4-6pm. Option 2 costs $70, which covers the minimum produce value of $60 plus a transportation fee.

If you are interested in the delivery option, Venmo John (@John-Lencowski), pay through our website (farmsol.online/CSA), or bring cash to the Week 15 on-farm pick-up.

Option 3:

You’re sitting satisfied with veg and need time to finish cleaning out your fridge this fall. We know schedules shift in the fall, so we understand! If you choose to proceed with this option, we’ll consider Week 15 your final pick-up of the season. Thank you!

Suggested Donation:

We have made some simplified options available through the website that we think fairly reflects the cost of upcoming boxes ($60), but we also have included a customizable option to donate a customer-decided value. All donations go toward start-up costs next year and are appreciated in any amount.

If you are interested in this option, Venmo John (@John-Lencowski), donate through our website (farmsol.online/CSA, navigate to “Fall Share” and “Your Choice Donation”), or bring cash to an on farm pick-up.

A SPECIAL THING FOR WEEK 15:

We’re hoping everyone has time in their schedules to join us at the tail end of the regular pick-up window for a potluck next week! Feel free to bring a dish and a few beverages to share - bottles begin opening at 6 and hangout goes until 8, when we need to put the chickens to bed. John’s parents (our 2021 weed management crew with the mostest) will be joining us and bringing some delicious snacks. We couldn’t have done it without them this year and are excited to co-launch some exciting plans for next year! We look forward to hanging out with you, sharing summer highlights, and celebrating the meeting of some of our first year CSA goals.

Can’t make it for hangout? We’ll still have Shares available for pick-up during the regular 4-6pm window. We will have surveys for you to complete regarding your experience with the CSA this year and your plans for produce continuation this fall. We will also be sharing a more detailed letter about our season from the farmers’ perspective, an update with plans for next year, more finalized plans for an October On-Farm Movie Night, and fliers we would love your help sharing with folks who may be interested in joining the 2022 CSA.

Eat well and see you next week!

Your Farmers,

John and Kelly