Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

CSA is a direct partnership between the consumer and the farmer. The CSA member buys a share of the farm at the beginning of a growing season. In exchange, the farmer grows exceptionally high quality vegetables, herbs and fruit. Every week, the produce is picked and immediately delivered to local drop-off sites, where members pick up their shares. This arrangement is ecologically sound because it reduces the long-distance trucking involved in much of today's produce delivery. In addition, all the produce is organically grown; this method of growing food is healthier and more environmentally sustainable for the consumer, agricultural worker, and the land itself.

At Johnson's Backyard Garden our CSA service includes:

• A weekly harvest share of vegetables, fruits, herbs and greens at competitive prices.
• An informative newsletter that includes recipes and details about how to store and handle your produce. It has articles about the ongoing work at the farm and updates on what will be coming up.
• Prompt phone or email response to your questions or comments.
• An open house at our home and farm so you can see where your food is grown and meet the people who produce it.

Box Contents
Each week the bushel-sized vegetable boxes are filled with on average 8-12 seasonal, organically grown vegetables, fruits and herbs. This Fall a few of the items we plan to harvest include; heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, green beans, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, arugula, winter squash, basil, potatoes, onions, green garlic, lemon grass, okra, beets, chard, mustard, and several varieties of kale. We also are cooperating with another local grower to include organic apples. Members receive a wide variety of foods harvested at their peak of freshness, ripeness, flavor, vitamin and mineral content. The box contents change over the course of the season, and we grow over 100 different varieties of vegetables. Our farm is located only five miles east of Downtown Austin and we grow many varieties that are not found in grocery stores because the produce is picked fresh and does not have to be shipped long distances. We consider a Share to be sufficient for a family of four for one week. A vegetarian family who rarely eats out will need more than the weekend gourmet; so some families split a share with another family, others get two shares.

Box Additions
Free-range farm eggs and organic whole bean or ground coffee may also be added to your delivery.

CSA Membership Includes
In the Spring and Fall of each year we also have an open house at our home and farm so you can see where your food is grown and meet the people who produce it. We also send out a periodic newsletter that includes recipes and details about how to store and handle your produce. It has topical articles about the ongoing work at the farm and updates on what will be coming up.