CSA 2012 Washington DC Virginia Maryland CSA: feeding our souls

Become a part of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

you can click here for a 2012 CSA application

By joining the Dragonfly Farms CSA, members will take part in the support of local agriculture and contribute to the operation of our small farms. Premium shareholders will not only enjoy the benefits of locally-produced fruits and vegetables, but also, direct from the farm fresh flowers, artisanal bread, fresh sausage, artisanal cheese, local Maryland honey, fresh roasted, fair-trade gourmet coffee, authentic slow-fermented wine vinegar, local fresh chickens, farm-raised turkeys, and farm fresh eggs from humanely-treated hens.

Without your support, local farms would not be able to maintain the high costs of sustainable and natural farming. At Dragonfly Farms, we practice integrated pest management and natural farming that does not pollute our environment with excessive pesticides-organic or otherwise. And yes, even organic farming permits chemical use. Here, we prefer to spray with a variety of herbs and compost teas, utilize companion planting, row covers, natural soil enrichment, rain recovery, and rotate our crops every year. We also wood ash and natural fertilizers to maintain balance in our soil.

Members can choose from one of three plans:

1-Traditional: fruit & vegetables

2-Mini Premium: fruit & vegetables, fresh bread, eggs, cut flowers

3-Premium: fruit & vegetables, wine vinegar, honey, sausage,

cheese, chickens, turkeys, gourmet coffee, and organic herbal teas

All plans include weekly shares of fresh, quality products

that are wholesome, tasty, and locally-produced.

We guarantee you will receive a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Some of these items come from our network of reliable, conscientious

producers and local farmers. All of what we grow is produced naturally

and chemical-free, far superior to organic methods with 100% nutrition.

Major benefits of Dragonfly Farms CSA:

* enjoy a variety of wholesome, fresh, locally-grown vegetables

* taste fresh-picked fruit direct from the grower

* experience beautiful, long-lasting, pesticide-free, fresh-cut flowers

* access some of the most nutritious and healthy produce in the area

* save valuable time shopping for edibles

* support your local agricultural economy by patronizing farms directly

* become part of the slow food and green movements

* reduce your carbon imprint and its impact on the environment

2012 Dragonfly Farms CSA Membership Plans

Spring/Summer shares run 16 weeks: May 13-August 26

Fall shares run 10 weeks: September 2-November 4

Spring/Summer shares: $695
(fruit and vegetables only)

Spring/Summer Premium shares: $1595
(fruit, vegetables, and Premium items)

Spring/Summer/Fall Premium shares: $2695
(fruit, vegetables, and Premium items)

Fall shares: $495
(fruit and vegetables only)

Fall Premium shares: $1095
(fruit, vegetables, and Premium items)

Mini Premium Spring/Summer: add $295
(fruit, vegetables, bread, eggs, fresh flowers/dried flowers/fall mums)

Mini Premium Fall: add $175
(fruit, vegetables, bread, eggs, fresh flowers/dried flowers/fall mums)

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Our Premium and Mini Add-on plans are available at specific locations.
Please check our pickup/dropoff locations below for availability.
Premium members please contact us to make special pickup/dropoff arrangements.

you can download a 2012 CSA application here
remember to include a separate $25 check for your refundable crate

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CSA Summer Sampler

An introduction to our CSA for 4 weeks beginning in August.
Enjoy local fresh fruit and vegetables for a short period as a prelude to our Fall season.
Limited shares available; please sign up early.

Option A: $195 Traditional Fruit and Vegetables (plus $25 refundable crate fee $220)
Option B: $300 Mini Premium Sampler (plus $25 refundable crate fee $325)
Option C: $500 remium Sampler (plus $25 refundable crate fee $525)

download a 2012 CSA application

please write in "sampler" on your application and the option

Premium Items

~fresh cut flower bouquets and flower bunches every week until frost;

potted mums after frost

~gourmet slow-fermented wine vinegar

one bottle per season (1 for spring/summer, 1 for fall)

~fresh baked sliced loaf of artisanal bread each week

~local Maryland honey 1 lb every month

~locally-produced, fresh sausage 1 lb every month

~locally-roasted gourmet fair trade coffee 1 lb every month

~local artisanal cheese two 1/2 lb wedges every month

~local farm-raised eggs from humanely-treated hens

one dozen large brown every week

~Amish-raised turkey legs (12+ lbs) for Memorial Day

~Local, farm-raised chickens (4+ lbs) for Independence Day

~Local, farm-raised chickens (4+ lbs) for Labor Day

~Amish-raised turkeys (13+ lbs) for Thanksgiving

If you would like to signup for a Premium or Mini Premium share at a location not offering that plan, special arrangements can be made to accommodate you.
Please contact us for details.

Fruit & Vegetable Availability

Each year we grow a variety of herbs and specialty vegetables which we do not list because they can be sensitive to extreme weather conditions. Last season in addition to traditional varieties, we had colorful black and purple bell peppers, spicy Anaheim and cherry bomb peppers, purple heirloom beans, red Russian kale, sweet white corn for several weeks, and an entire season of juicy, ripe, delicious tomatoes!

Asparagus: May-June

Beans, bush: June-September

Beets: May, September-November

Broccoli: September-November

Cabbage: September-November

Cauliflower: September-November

Corn: July-October

Cucumbers: June-October

Collard Greens: September-November

Eggplant: July-October

Herbs: May-November

Kale: June-November

Lettuce & Salad Greens: May-June

Mustard Greens: September-November

Okra: July-September

Onions: May-June, September-November

Onions, green: May-June

Peas, sugar: May-June

Peas, snap, English: May-June

Peppers: June-October

Potatoes: July-November

Potatoes, sweet: September-November

Pumpkins: September-November

Radishes, red & white: May-June, October-November

Rhubarb: May

Spinach: May, October-November

Squash, summer: June-October

Squash, winter: September-November

Tomatoes: July-October

Tomatoes, cherry: July-October

Tomatoes, hothouse: May-June

Turnips: September-November

Turnip greens: September-November

Zucchini, green, yellow: June-October

Apples: several varieties, Summer-November

Blueberries: June-July

Blackberries: limited availability

Black Currants: limited availability

Cantaloupe: July-October

Cherries, sweet & sour: limited availability

Nectarines: July-September

Peaches: July-September

Pears: September-November

Plums: limited availability

Raspberries: limited availability

Strawberries: May-June

Grapes, table and wine: October

example of a weekly share

2012 CSA Membership Information

Missed weeks: any and all missed spring/summer weeks must be made up prior to the start of the fall season. All missed weeks in the fall must be made up prior to or on the last day of the fall season.

If there are several members in your area or neighborhood, we can arrange a special drop-off/pick-up for your street. The more members in one area, the greater the chance of scheduling a pick-up location there. We encourage farm pick-ups and collective pick-ups to conserve resources.

Crate rental fee: $25

There is a $25 charge for each plastic crate. Each weekly share will be distributed in these crates and members must return their empty crate in exchange for a full crate each week. If the crate is not returned, there is an additional fee of $25 which must be paid before or at the time of the next pickup or two crates must be returned at the following pickup. This fee will be refunded with the return of all crates at the end of the season provided the crate is returned and undamaged. If the shareholder does not exchange their crate for any week of the season and is issued another crate, there is an additional $25 crate rental fee.

If a crate is not returned by the member in a timely manner, shares will be distributed in plastic bags and the crate fee will not be returned.

If multiple crates are not returned by the member, then a share will be withheld for each crate that is not returned and the share cannot be made up.

Members may choose to bring their own bags, but the crate fee is still required.

Crate fees will be returned at the end of the season.

CSA Questions & Answers

What makes the Dragonfly Farms CSA different?

Dragonfly Farms offers a premium service CSA. We provide shareholder satisfaction with a wide variety of fresh, locally-produced fruits and vegetables. We draw from a network of local farmers and agricultural producers to provide wholesome, tasty, and minimally-processed food. Our CSA brings a wide range of food items closer to consumers who value the nutrition of their food, their time, and leisure.

Why do I have to pay in advance?

The following is indicative of some basic expenses that have to be paid 60-150 days before we harvest and deliver your weekly share: seed, fertilizer, irrigation, fuel, mulch, labor, utilities, taxes, packaging supplies, office supplies, delivery costs, licenses, permits, insurance, transportation costs, and to purchase items in advance. As a member of our CSA, you help share these costs. By becoming a shareholder in our 2012 CSA, you form a relationship with local farm producers, support sustainable farming, learn to cook and eat in-season, and help create a stable source of revenue for small agricultural producers.

What will my weekly share contain?

Typically, each share will consist of an average of 7-12 different items. Please see our Availability List for the different items that may be available for that period. All fruits and vegetables are fresh picked and packed in our reusable crates. The quantity will vary during the season and we cannot determine how much members will eat. We can give examples of what we will provide. It is up to each member to decide if their share will be adequate for their family.

Can I choose what will be in my share?

We can arrange substitutions when you sign up and we can make changes up until the time of delivery; but, we cannot guarantee the outcome of other crops with limited availability. We strive to provide our shareholders with not only quality and service but also the flexibility of our program to match their lifestyle.

What if I cannot pick-up my weekly share or miss a week?

Pick-ups are the responsibility of the shareholder. We will try to work with vacation and emergency situations. Please give us adequate advance notice if you will not be able to pick-up your weekly share. If you arrange for someone other than yourself to pick-up, you must notify us in advance.

If you miss a week, you may arrange to receive an additional crate or bulk box fruit or veggies in another week. All missed weeks must be made up before the end of the season. Members who sign up for spring/summer shares must make up their missed week before the end of the summer. We cannot carryover any missed week/shares into the fall.

Can I sign-up for a half share?

We do not offer half shares and we cannot make half share arrangements. If the weekly share is too much for your family, we suggest you contact a friend, family member, co-worker, or neighbor and make arrangements to split a share.

Why do fall shares cost more?

Fall shares contain both summer and fall fruit and vegetables. This increases the weight, volume, and variety each week.

One final note: we suggest that members prep and store their fruit and vegetables as soon as possible to get the most out of their weekly share. Our produce is not chemically processed and will not keep unless prepared for storage.

Drop-off/Pick-up Locations

*please note some locations may offer only the Traditional fruit and vegetable plan.

Premium shares and Mini Premium add-ons are not available.

St Luke's Church 1514 15th Street Washington DC

Wednesday: morning; Premium & Mini share drop off location

Harris Teeter Columbia* 8620 Guilford Road Columbia, MD

Wednesday: afternoon; only fruit & vegetable shares at this location

The Farm Mount Airy, MD

Friday: 4-6pm; Premium & Mini share drop off location

Columbia Heights Farm Market 1400 Park Road NW Washington DC

Saturday: 8-noon; Premium & Mini share drop off location

San Antonio Bar & Grill Brookland 3908 12th street NE Wash. DC