2008
Busa Farm CSA
Community
Supported Agriculture
Land Community
Food
Health
2008 will be our fourth year with a CSA program. Community Supported
Agriculture is a way to keep small neighborhood family farms like ours in
business by supplementing our income during the slow and costly winter months.
Your money allows us to make bank payments, buy supplies and pay employees until
the spring and summer .
In the Northeast, most farms are coupled with
greenhouse operations to start vegetable plants and grow them on until the
weather warms enough for planting. Some plants are started as early as December
and January. Most others are seeded by February and grown on until planting in
April and May. Though 2008’s vegetables are months away, financing and
planning actually starts now for us.
In return for this pre season financial support,
members will receive a coupon book (Busa Bucks), which they can redeem for
fresh, chemical-free vegetables and herbs at our farm stand as well as
flowers and plants grown in our greenhouses. In addition, members may
pick certain designated vegetables from the fields and pay half price using Busa
Bucks. Most items are also available in the farm stand but this allows for
additional savings and a farm experience that is hard to come by. Members will
also receive an email newsletter informing them of various farm happenings, crop
availabilities and conditions, useful recipes, and other agricultural and
environmental news.
Advantages
over a box pick up CSA system are many. First, since we operate greenhouses and
grow our own vegetable and flower starter plants, members can begin
purchasing farm products like flowering hanging baskets, annuals, perennials,
pansies and vegetable plants as early as April. There are usually some greens
and herbs and lettuce available from the farm in May. Most CSAs start in early
June. Secondly, there will be no limits on amounts or types of vegetables
selected; members may come in any day during regular farm stand hours and
choose the vegetables they want. We feel this will avoid the possibility of
getting too much of some vegetables and not enough of others. Since there are no
designated pick up days you need not worry about missing your share if you go
away on vacation or are too busy on your scheduled day. You may stop in to pick
up a head of lettuce or tomatoes several times a week or take your time and do
more substantial shopping.
We pick every day on an as needed basis so our produce is always fresh,
clean and well presented. Something our family has taken pride in since 1920.
Our own pesticide free produce will be clearly marked in our farm stand and
separated from other conventional and organic vegetables and fruit that we
don't grow or are out of season. You may purchase those separately as well
as local eggs, hormone free milk and other farm products with regular currency at checkout.
Change for our own products will be made with lower denomination Busa Bucks. The
pick your own season will begin by mid June with peas and herbs and small
vegetables and continues on through the summer with beans, tomatoes, other
vegetables, herbs and flowers. It will be at least 15 weeks depending on the
weather and growing conditions. We do stay open all winter and supplement
good quality out of state produce with some items from our green house.
The cost for a share this year is 260.
For that you will receive 280
Busa Bucks, which is an 8%
discount. Our prices are fairly constant and competitive for local produce.
Slightly more than conventional vegetables from a supermarket chain but less
than certified Organic prices from Whole Foods for example. Though we are not
certified, our vegetables are grown in an organic and pesticide free manner and
we feel the equivalent to Organic produce.
We do not have smaller shares but two or more individuals or families may
join together to purchase a share .One person or family may be the principal
shareholder and distribute the coupons amongst the others. All parties will then
be able to purchase or pick.
We also have a work-share option where you may earn
shares in return for a committed number of hours doing farm work during the
spring or summer. Please email me about this option or more information about
the CSA
(Dennis Busa) (peterbu@rcn.com)
Check out the shopping chart
link for an example about how you might spend your coupons.
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Print and return this
part of the page with your Name address, phone number email address and check made
out to Busa Farm.
Mail to:
Busa
Farm c/o Dennis Busa 6
Westminster ave. Lexington Ma.02420,
or
Sign up or pay by credit card
at the farm stand anytime during the week.
reg share 260___________________
Name(s):_____________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________
phone :__________________________
email(s) : ___________________________________
Thank you for your interest and support
Dennis Busa ,Busa Farm
For more information and other questions about the farm e-mail Dennis Busa at peterbu@rcn.com or phone 781-862 0277
Busa Farm is located at 52 Lowell Street in Lexington, just past the
Arlington Reservoir.