BUSA FARM  CSA  PRODUCE and PICK YOUR OWN List

For 2008 Season

We call our vegetables Busa Farm Fresh. It is our pledge to grow and produce food crops in a safe and environmentally responsible way. We promise that no highly toxic synthetic  or carcinogenic chemicals are used on our vegetables. The edible fruit and leafy greens and lettuce are essentially pesticide free. From time to time seedlings or young transplants may need to be protected from certain insects or diseases .If necessary we use Bio-natural products and organic treatments recommended by the the USDA for Organic Farming. We try to keep insect and diseases to a minimum with crop rotation and disease resistant varieties. We use plastic mulch and hand weeding to control weeds and both organic and liquid fertilizers through drip irrigation to avoid run-off of chemicals into the environment.

Corn is the only product grown in the traditional manner  but using  the Integrated Pest Management system (I.P.M.)   approved by the State Department of agriculture with limited and carefully timed spraying. The corn is grown at  separate locations on rented land miles away from the vegetable farm

The PICK YOUR OWN portion of the share is an opportunity for additional savings. During any visit to the farm, members may pick available crops from the field and return to the stand and pay 1/2 price with Busa Bucks .One does not need to pick to redeem the coupons. Vegetables available for pick your own will also be for sale in the farm stand at full price. The vegetables available for pick your own will vary weekly depending on maturity, growing conditions, scheduling and weather. The following list is an approximation of what should be available but by no means a guarantee. Yield and quality can vary greatly from crop to crop. Lettuce and greens that grow lush and beautifully in the spring, early summer, and fall can suffer greatly in the midsummer heat. Tomatoes and squash will not be as plentiful and flavorful during cool rainy periods etc. We do feel there should be enough variety, qualityand quantity available during the season to make the pick your own portion monetarily worthwhile, educational and fun.

Transplants from Busa Greenhouse for planting: vegetable seedlings, multiple varieties of tomatoes, herbs, annual flowers, perennials & geraniums.        Starting in April Through August (not PYO)

Lettuce: iceberg, romaine, Boston, red and green leaf, salad bowl,  Batavian, dandelion, chicory, escarole and radicchio.   Greens: spinach, Swiss chard, dandelion (cicoria), kales, collards, mustard, turnip, tatsoi, mizzuna, mibuna, arrugula,                                                            May thru November   

Brassicas: cabbage, broccoli, broccoli-rabe               June thru October

     cauliflower, Brussels sprouts.    late fall  

Herbs: thyme, chives, mint, sage, arrugula, basil, parsley, dill, rosemary, cilantro.        June thru October  

Peas: English, sugar snap, snow.                                   June & July

Beans: green, wax, Kentucky wonder, Roma, shell, French and Italian pole.  edamame.    July thru September 

Root vegetables: beets, turnips, radishes.           June thru October  (carrots not PYO because too difficult to dig)

Cucumbers:  regular & pickling.                                    Mid-July thru September                       

Summer squashes: zucchini, summer, patty pan, cousa           Mid-July thru September

Tomatoes: many types from modern hybrids to cherries, plums and heirlooms.                       Mid-July to October

 Peppers: Bell, Italian, St Nicola, many hots, jalepeno,  chiles, habaneros etc.                      Mid-July to October

  Eggplant: round, long, oriental, green, lavender,Sicilian, little fingers, white.                               Mid-July to October

  Flowers: field grown zinnias, snap dragons, sunflowers and other cut flowers.                July to October  

     Other  vegetables grown on conservation land and not available for pick your own

Winter squashes: acorn and butternut                        August thru October

Sweet corn: bicolor, yellow and white.                                               Mid-July to October