Blue Door Farm

Farm Address:

Kansas City, Kansas

Contact Information:

Laura Christensen

Phone: (816) 805-0362

E-mail: bluedoorfarm@gmail.com

(Laura Christensen)

CSA Distribution Info:

Click on a location for details.

Share Structure:

• Full: $250 per session (approximately 5 – 7 items per week)
• Partial: $150 per session (approximately 4 – 6 items per week)

Share cost is due at time of sign-up.

Payment plans are available on an individual basis; contact Laura for details.

Length Of Season:

Blue Door Farm’s CSA is divided into two 10-week sessions:

• Session 1: May – July
• Session 2: July – October

15 shares will be offered for each session.

Besides the two summer sessions mentioned above, Laura is considering doing a third session (fall into winter) through the use of high tunnels, depending on demand. Likely crops for this third session would be leafy greens, storage potatoes, leeks, garlic, winter squash, and root vegetables. Contact Laura if you are interested in such a late-year session.

What can shareholders expect in their share?

Along with veggies, members will receive a weekly e-mail note with information about the farm and what is going on with the farm that week. CSA members are encouraged to share recipes and ideas with one another. In addition to Blue Door-grown veggies, 2010 shares may also include sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and/or green beans from select area organic/sustainable farms partnering with Blue Door Farm. (Blue Doors limited space makes it difficult to grow these crops).

When our crazy climate allows, peaches and apples grown at the farm will be included in the shares. I also produce organic vegetable and flower transplants, and am happy to offer those to CSA shareholders, along with advice on gardening!

(a hoophouse at Blue Door Farm)

What makes the Blue Door Farm CSA unique:

I have been farming for four years in total, working two years as an apprentice in the Growing Growers program. This is my third year of running a CSA. Blue Door Farm’s organic certification is pending, and I use organic methods including amendments approved for use by certified organic growers.

Although CSA members aren’t required to do work shifts at the farm, I encourage my shareholders to join me at the farm for lunch and work-day once or twice during the course of the season. This allows shareholders to see where and how your food is grown, and helps me get through a few big labor-intensive periods. CSA volunteers are welcome to take home extra veggies and “seconds” on the days they volunteer. Likely work days for 2010: onion planting in March; mulch-laying and planting in April; harvesting and weeding in June and July; fall crop planting in August and September. Work days will be scheduled in advance; contact Laura for details.

Full-time and volunteer apprenticeships are arranged through Growing Growers — I am offering one apprenticeship position this year. Volunteers are always welcome (please arrange your visit ahead of time).