What is a CSA?
CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, is a program where the local farmer offers customers fresh-picked produce weekly. The customer purchases a “share” of the season’s harvest in advance. Essentially, the customer is buying a “share” of the produce and then the farmer provides the shareholder with farm fresh, locally grown produce all season long. A full share typically provides a week’s worth of vegetables for a family of four.
How does it work at Oxen Hill Farm?
During the growing season, shareholders come to the farm to pick up their bag of vegetables once a week. You will get a mix of whatever is being harvested that particular week. A list of possible products is listed under the 'Products' tab at the top of this page. The produce will change as the harvest season changes. Together, the farmer and the shareholder, take on the risk of the harvest as well as the benefits. For example, if there is little or no rain one week, you may not receive a huge supply of products. Alternatively, if growing conditions are superb, you will receive excess supply.
Why become a part of a CSA?
Becoming a member of a local farm CSA operation is an investment for your family to participate in fresh locally grown vegetable production. As farmers, the Oxen Hill production team is dedicated to continuing a sustainable production system that combines traditional and organic production practices to deliver an abundant supply of produce for you, our members.
But in addition to the benefit of ‘knowing your farmer’ and exactly where you food comes from, there is a strong financial incentive to purchasing product directly from the producer. When you purchase food and products from farm stands, farmers’ markets, or any direct production source you are cutting out the exorbitant margins that the ‘middleman’ retailers can often put onto farm products. So, you are saving yourself money as well as returning a fair margin for the farmer.
While 2009 was one of the toughest growing seasons in recent history, Oxen Hill Farm worked to deliver its members a bountiful harvest of fresh produce and flowers. The value of a share at Oxen Hill Farm is clear. In 2009, members received 19 weeks of fresh produce at retail value of ~$700, a value well above the cost of membership.
How do I become a shareholder?
Check out the CSA Agreement link at the top of this page, or call Sheri Mandirola at (860) 214-5104 for more information or to sign up for the 2012 growing season (June – mid October).
Oxen Hill Farm is owned and operated by the B. Harrison Griffin Family, Carol and Harrison Griffin, Jonathan and Lisa Griffin, Paul and Sheri Mandirola and Sarah-Jean Griffin. The Griffin Family has farmed in both East Granby and Suffield, Connecticut since 1647.