ESA FAQ

What's an ESA?

We're pioneering a concept! It stands for Employee Supported Agriculture.

Community Supported Agriculture is when a group of folks pay a farmer in advance of the growing season and get a share of the harvest throughout the year for their investment. We're borrowing a bit of that term but we're all the growers, suppliers, investors and harvesters. Only REI Store 34 employees can participate as volunteers and share holders.

Just a note about the name: Volunteer and employee Ward Morrison brilliantly came up with it. The first two letters in WEe are capitalized intentionally to represent that we are all in this together. The second e is to extend the word to focus on how little we are. 34 is our store number.

How do I become a part of it?

You have to be an employee of REI store #34 Bailey's Crossroads to be a share holder (get some of the vegetables). You can contact Ronnie and she'll get you started (weefarm34@gmail.com). Showing up for an event is a good beginning. You can donate money, supplies, volunteer work hours or a combination. Spring 2018 shares will be for sale at the start of our expansion Kickstarter campaign. This campaign starts December 1, 2018. The spring share will run October 22 until January 30, 2018. Seedlings will be available Spring 2018. We have logo stickers and magnets for sale to support the cause as well.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the season and the length of the share. We have environmental factors and growing pains that will potentially change how we do things in 2018 and the share holders will be asked to fill out a survey at the end of the season to better inform this cost. Email weefarm34@gmail.com to ask about prices if you're an REI Bailey's Crossroads employee!

How much produce will I get if I buy a share?

The summer 2017 share was about 1lb of a variety of produce every week. The fall/winter 2018 share was a pint of sprouts and quart of greens every week but ended early due to freezing temperatures. We have been adding sustainably foraged, wild food and home cooked products from our talented group and so far share holders seem to be having fun. All of this depends on us and our willingness to participate. The more we share, the more we get.