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Fair Share Farm

KC Food Circle Pledge (PDF)

Address:

18613 Downing Road
Kearney, Missouri 64060

Contact Information:

Tom Ruggieri & Rebecca Graff
Phone: 816-320-3763
E-mail: rebecca@fairsharefarm.com
Website: www.FairShareFarm.com

Picking strawberries at the farm

CSA Distribution Info:

Click a location for details.

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Number of shares offered in the 2010 season: 120

(There is currently a waiting list to join. In addition, of the 120 shares, 65 will be available for pickup at the in-city distribution location. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please contact the farmers.)

Length of season: 24 weeks (May 12 – October 23)

Share Structure:

  • Full (Approx. 7-9 items depending on time of season.) Share cost: $570 plus tax for 24 weeks. Annual Membership Fee: $25. Total: $595 (sliding scale: $475 – $715)
  • Shared (Same size as a full share. Cost, work and produce divided between 2 or more households by members themselves.) Share cost: Same as full share. Annual Membership Fee: $25 for each household. Total: depends on number of households participating
  • Partial (Approx 4-6 items, depending on time of season.) Share cost: $410 plus tax for 24 weeks. Annual Membership Fee: $25. Total: $435 (sliding scale: $315 – $555)

Payment Options:

$25 annual non-refundable membership fee. An initial $50 deposit is required to join. The deposit will hold your place until the Spring sign-up meeting and will then be applied to the cost of your share.

Membership costs are on a sliding scale: Members who cannot afford the share cost may pay at a lower rate. Likewise, those who want to pay more than their share cost will enable the farm to stay on budget while allowing the CSA to reach a wider diversity of community members.

“Veggie Vouchers” are also available which cover $100 of the share cost for those in need. To request a Veggie Voucher, contact Tom or Rebecca. The share may be paid in full at Spring sign-up or in increments, with the entire balance being due by the end of July.

Bulk and special orders are paid for separately when ordered.

What can shareholders expect in their share?

Every week the share of produce will be different depending on the season. We grow what has proven to grow well on our farm and taste good. We love heirloom tomatoes for their flavor and dependability, but we also grow hybrid varieties. Every share has an option of fresh or dried herbs.

Here are examples of what a full-size share might look like:

  • Spring: green peas (sugarsnap or snow), baby beets w/greens, green onions, carrots w/tops, lettuce, kohlrabi, radishes, chives
  • Summer: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or okra, melons, cucumbers, onions, green beans, summer squash/zucchini, basil, corn
  • Fall: lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, swiss chard, carrots, potatoes, garlic, dill

Rebecca and Tom have a great blog (http://fairsharenews.blogspot.com/) which they update regularly with farm and share info, recipes, food use/preservation tips, etc.

Lettuce!

What makes Fair Share Farm unique:

Each shareholding household contributes to the CSA organization through either 8 – 12 hours of working at the farm or by assisting with the administration of our CSA via our Core Group. The farm shifts take place on either Wednesday or Saturday mornings (8 am – noon) and includes harvesting, washing, and packing that day’s CSA shares with the farmers. Several shifts can be satisfied in one morning, depending on the number of participants a household brings. Members will schedule these shifts at the Spring Sign-Up meeting. Members will schedule their shifts at the sign-up in April.

Fair Share Farm is unique in being the first CSA in the Kansas City area to create and utilize a “Core Group” of shareholders. Core Group members take care of duties such as running the Spring Sign-Up meeting, coordinating the farm work schedule, coordinating weekly off-farm distributions, planning social events (i.e., the harvest dinner), etc. Voluntary participation in the Core Group is open to any member. Work on the Core Group replaces the farm work requirement.

Fair Share Farm shareholders will again have the opportunity to purchase shares of other local food products to supplement our vegetables, which are picked up at the shareholder’s regular distribution day/time:

  • Meat &/or Egg shares: contact Parker Farms at parkerfarms@peoplepc.com
  • Bread shares: contact Bread of Life Bakery at breadoflifeorganics@yahoo.com
  • With luck for our new hives of bees, honey will be available hopefully be available this year (contact Tom & Rebecca for details)

Full-time and volunteer apprenticeships are arranged through Growing Growers. Volunteers are always welcome (please arrange your visit ahead of time).

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