To become a member of the CSA simply send in the registration form with your payment. Pick up locations; price and payment options are on the form. (Detailed information is outlined below.) Within a month or so, you will receive a confirmation e-mail, and a month before the season starts, a Welcome letter with general information and a letter from the host (and the volunteer coordinator too) of your pick-up site.
Since farmers need to plan their seed purchases, planting, and labor needs long before the start of a season, CSA registration starts 4 months before the new season. Early Bird deadlines offer a discount to members in exchange for security for the farmer, and renewing members have preference until this deadline.
To confirm your registration, payment must be received; we cannot hold shares.
Season Details:
For the year round 2009 season:
- Pick up is on WEDNESDAYS
- Season runs from beginning of June to end of May
- Pick up time depends on your location. It is normally from early afternoon (noon, 1 or 2:00) to 8 pm or so.
- Share price is $1950 or with the Early Bird discount $1900 (average $37 per week) for a full year 52 week season
- Summer season, if available, will be early June to end of October for $850
- Registration deadline
- Early Bird deadline is February 15th
- deadline for the full year share is March 15th
- After March 15th, a 5 month Summer only season will be offered and full year registration will continue on a first-come first served basis until full. We like to finish registration at least a month before the season starts! If the CSA fills up, a wait list will be started.
The main pick up site is near downtown Bethesda at 4209 East-West Highway, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. (A 10 minute walk from the metro station)
There are also pick up sites planned for:
- Arlington, VA (509 North Kenmore Street, 22201, 703-528-5950)
- Washington Waldorf School (when school is not in session, they come to the Bethesda location)
- Takoma Park
To establish a new site, 20 members, a place and a coordinator are needed. Please contact us for more information.
Payment:
For payment, checks are preferred and may be a lump sum or may be broken into 3 or 5 payments, all included with your registration form (post-dated). For example, if you register by March 15th for the full year at $1,950 you may send 5 checks of $390 each dated 3/15, 5/15, 7/15, 9/15, 11/15. (Exact amounts for all the options are outlined on the Registration form.)
If you have difficulty paying according to this schedule, please contact us and we will look at options. Credit card is acccepted but we will pass a 3% fee on to you to avoid the other members from having to bear this. If a check bounces, we ask that you pay the bank fee, usually $8.
Please bear in mind it is your responsibility to pay the full fee and time spent tracking payments or reminding people to pay is time taken away from other important CSA duties. This is the reason for requesting the whole fee be included with the registration even if it is in post-dated checks.
Half Shares:
If you feel you cannot use a full share, you may split a share with a partner. See the FAQ section: If I only want half a share, what should I do?
As it says there, many CSA partnerships are formed between parent/child, co-workers and neighbors. It is best if you can make your own arrangements, but if you don't have someone to partner with, send in a registration form with half the payment noting that you are looking for a partner and at what location; and if someone appears in the same situation we will put you in contact with each other. Partnerships are private arrangements but please be sure to provide e-mail addresses of both parties so we may be in communication with everyone.
More Food?
If you want more than the weekly share, but not enough to buy two shares, you can order most of the dry goods (we call this special orders) and other extras from Spiritual Food from the New Millennium. Packages can be made and set aside for you in Bethesda or sent on the van to other locations. Actually, anyone can order for pick up in Bethesda or for shipment anywhere in the country via Fed Ex ground service, however only current CSA members can expect delivery on Wednesdays to their location. This includes milk (for members of the Essene Church of Peace) and special order eggs.
Payment:
For payment, checks are preferred and may be a lump sum or may be broken into 3 or 5 payments, all included with your registration form (post-dated). For example, if you register by March 15th for the full year at $1,950 you may send 5 checks of $390 each dated 3/15, 5/15, 7/15, 9/15, 11/15. (Exact amounts for all the options are outlined on the Registration form.)
If you have difficulty paying according to this schedule, please contact us and we will look at options. Credit card is acccepted but we will pass a 3% fee on to you to avoid the other members from having to bear this. If a check bounces, we ask that you pay the bank fee, usually $8.
Please bear in mind it is your responsibility to pay the full fee and time spent tracking payments or reminding people to pay is time taken away from other important CSA duties. This is the reason for requesting the whole fee be included with the registration even if it is in post-dated checks.
Half Shares:
If you feel you cannot use a full share, you may split a share with a partner. See the FAQ section: If I only want half a share, what should I do?
As it says there, many CSA partnerships are formed between parent/child, co-workers and neighbors. It is best if you can make your own arrangements, but if you don't have someone to partner with, send in a registration form with half the payment noting that you are looking for a partner and at what location; and if someone appears in the same situation we will put you in contact with each other. Partnerships are private arrangements but please be sure to provide e-mail addresses of both parties so we may be in communication with everyone.
More Food?
If you want more than the weekly share, but not enough to buy two shares, you can order most of the dry goods (we call this special orders) and other extras from Spiritual Food from the New Millennium. Packages can be made and set aside for you in Bethesda or sent on the van to other locations. Actually, anyone can order for pick up in Bethesda or for shipment anywhere in the country via Fed Ex ground service, however only current CSA members can expect delivery on Wednesdays to their location. This includes milk (for members of the Essene Church of Peace) and special order eggs.