Community Supported Agriculture
How do I join the Many Hands CSA?
If you'd like to learn more about the various options and pick up locations for shares, please follow this link. Once you have decided to join, you can fill out a form and send it in here.
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
Historically, CSA was established to more directly connect farmers and consumers; get money up front to farmers when they really need it; get consumers the freshest possible produce; and take a little bit of the risk out of farming with a guaranteed market. We have been running a CSA since 1992 on our farm. Upon receipt of your reservation and deposit, we will send a confirmation. Is cash flow a problem? Contact us for alternate payment schedules (but realize that we cannot provide food beyond what has been paid for).
Philosophy
We have always believed in an integrated growing system that includes livestock, vegetable, fruit, and flower crops. Our animals and plants benefit from this relationship and the farm fertility is more independently sustainable. After five years of priority focus on the highest possible fertility in our fields, our soil "bank account is full" and we are raising nutrient dense crops. Specifically, the taste of our produce is unbeatable, its "shelf life" is extended, color and texture are stronger and yields are way up. We have doubled our gross income in the past five years on the same amount of land. We have accomplished this by taking soil tests two times per year and amending with minerals both in dry format and micronized in foliars and drenches. Additionally we use mycorrhizal and biological sprays, seasonally appropriate cover crops, mulches of hay and leaves, careful animal rotations, minimal tillage, and thoughtful crop rotations. In 2012 we are initiating worm composting strategies to add to our fertility protocol.
We use certified organic seed where possible and favor open pollinated seeds over hybrids because of a higher capability for plants of open pollinated varieties to grow strong rooting systems and thus enhance their genetic potential. In 2012, we plan to save more than just our potato and garlic seeds. We will try our hand at saving tomato, pepper, pea, bean and other seeds, so that we can improve our stock. We never use treated or GMO seeds.
How do I know this CSA food is Organic?
Many Hands Organic Farm was certified organic by NOFA/Mass, the Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter, from 1987 to 2000 and by NOFA/Mass Organic Certification from 2001-2003. The NOFA/Mass Certification Program changed its name to Baystate Organic Certifiers in 2004; we are presently certified by them. We are happy to explain our practices and answer your questions about how your food is grown - just send us an email. Go to the NOFA/Mass website at www.nofamass.org to become part of a community of folks who support organic agriculture and true sustainability in our volatile times.
In the produce department, besides our vegetable, fruit, and flower shares (see our shares page), we sell garlic seed, garlic braids and flowers for weddings and events. We also sell a wide array of fruits and vegetables to Living Earth Natural Foods Store (in Worcester), the Barre Farmers Market, the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA and other local businesses.
