Cuttyhunk Island CSA
/We hope you all made it through the deep freeze unscathed. Thank you to those who filled out our survey. Your valuable input has helped us determine the best way to provide you with fresh organically grown produce and eggs this coming season.
We wanted to share more information with you about our farm, plans for the Summer and how you can secure your Island CSA share. First, our very sincere thanks to our friends Seth and Dorothy at Cuttyhunk Shellfish, The Lombards at the Island General Store and Sue and Jono at Cuttyhunk Ferry for their input and support.
About Our Farm:
Cluck & Trowel is the newest addition to the Farm Coasts’ local food scene in beautiful Westport, Mass. We are a small family farm raising pastured poultry for eggs as well as a variety of seasonal produce. We are committed to growing the highest quality food for your family and ours and are pursuing organic certification. Please visit our website for more information. www.cluckandtrowel.com
Our Plan for the 2016 Season:
Cluck & Trowel is offering their 2016 vegetable and/or egg CSA shares on the island of Cuttyhunk beginning late June through Labor Day weekend. (Please note that vegetable shares do not include eggs. Egg shares are purchased separately). We have completed our plans for the 2016 growing season based on a set number of Island CSA shares. In order to guarantee that you receive a selection of fresh, organically grown produce and/or eggs each week we strongly reccomend that you sign up for our Island CSA as soon as possible. Please visit the 'BUY NOW' page on our website for pricing to purchase your Island CSA Share.
We begin seeding in the green house later this week. Our goal is to operate a pop-up Island Farm Stand on Saturdays where CSA members can pick up their pre-purchased CSA shares and everyone on Island can shop the additional items we have available. Once our Island CSA shares are fulfilled, a limited supply of vegetables and (possibly) eggs will be available on a first come/first served basis at our pop-up Island Farm Stand each Saturday. After consulting the Lombards we have decided to offer local cream-top yogurt and cheese from our friends at Sweet and Salty Farm in Little Compton as we well as locally roasted coffee from Westport coffee guru, 1773 Roasters, in addition to our farm products at our pop-up Island Farm Stand.
You may be wondering:
What IS a CSA ?!?
CSA or 'Community Supported Agriculture' is a locally based economic model of agriculture and food distribution. CSA Members are individuals who have pledged to support a local farm, sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA members pay at the onset of the growing season (when the farms capital expenses are at their peak) for a share of the anticipated harvest; once harvesting begins, the CSA member receives weekly shares of produce and/or eggs. This model allows the farmer access to cash flow at a time when it is most crucial to establishing a healthy and productive growing season. CSA share fees are non-refundable. If you are unable to pick up your share on a given week you may assign someone else to retrieve it on your behalf.
What is a Share ?!?
A Share is a portion of the produce and/or eggs we harvest, each week. Egg Shares are available in half dozen, 1 dozen and 2 dozen sizes. Vegetable shares are available in 2 sizes: a full Share feeds 4-5 people. Each weekly share includes 8-11 items. A partial Share feeds 2-3 people. Each weekly share includes 6-8 items. Joining our CSA means purchasing a 'Share' in our farm and is your commitment to buy a portion of what we grow for a predetermined number of weeks at a set price. By making this commitment and paying before our season begins you allow us to better manage the largest capital expenses on the farm which come when there is little to no product available to sell. From January till June we invest in seeds, trays & pots, soil amendments, row cover, tools, chicks, feed, heat and light for the young chickens and seedlings as well as necessary infrastructure improvements, packaging and marketing materials. All before anything is harvested! Making the investment in a Cluck & Trowel CSA Share ensures that we are able to bring you the healthiest, hi-quality, freshest product possible.
We welcome any questions that you may have. Please do not hesitate to call or email us. We look forward to being your farmers.
Sarah, Kate and Massimo
Farmers | Co-Founders
Cluck & Trowel
508.542.0434