Come Join Us!
In response to the pandemic, each share is now pre-boxed at Stoneledge Farm. If you are interested in joining the CSA for the first time, be sure to read all the membership information below. Feel free to contact us at info@chelseacsa.org if you have any questions about registration.
The Chelsea CSA is committed to being a mixed income CSA. This is accomplished through a three-tiered membership structure in which people buy whole or half shares at Sponsor, Standard, and Discount levels. Prices for a Vegetable Share in the 2024 season (June 11th to November 5th) are:
• Standard: $725 – The basic membership level (just $26 per week!), 8-12 types of organic produce per week, perfect for 2-4 people
• Sponsor: $825 – Generous members who opt for this share help support our discount program, making healthy food available to all our neighbors!
• Discount: $625 – Discount shares are standard share size and are available with documentation of any of the following: proof of NYCHA residence, SNAP (EBT), household income of less than $30,000, disability card, unemployment check, TANAF, or current AmeriCorps volunteers. We offer flexible payment options for this membership. Contact us to register for this kind of share.
• Small Share: $511 – This share includes 4-6 types of organic produce and is a better choice for 1-2 people.
• Autunn Vegetable Share: $405 - This share’s first distribution date is September 5th
• Half-Price Work Shares: We offer a half-price share (Standard or Discount depending on eligibility) to anyone willing to commit to 2 hours of volunteer work per week at distribution. You must be available to work first shift from 3:30-5:30 pm on Tuesdays weekly and must be able to lift share boxes. Reach out to us if you are interested!
Optional shares
In addition to a vegetable share, members may add one or more optional shares which are delivered to distribution every week. These shares can be added when registering for the vegetable share or can be added to your account later through the farm’s website.
• Fruit Share: Fruit season runs for 20 weeks. The fruit is not organic; it is grown by a group of local farmers with low-spray practices - $304. Autumn Fruit Share - $195.
• Mushroom Share: The Mushroom Share is delivered every week, 22 deliveries, one variety of mushroom per week. Mushrooms are grown by Bulich Mushroom Farm, one of the last remaining family-run mushroom farms in New York State. The Mushrooms are raised naturally but are not certified organic. This is priced at $192.
• Coffee Share: A Coffee Share is a set number of pounds of coffee delivered monthly during the CSA season. All of the coffee is organic, fair trade, grown on small family coffee farms, and locally roasted before delivery. This is priced at $147.
• Dry Bean Share: The Dry Bean Share is delivered the first CSA delivery of each month during the CSA season for a total of 6 bean deliveries per season, with a rotation of three bean types. This is priced at $144
Payment
Payment is made on the farm’s website with credit card or check, all at once or in installments. Payments are not refundable. EBT/SNAP benefits payments may be accepted in 2023 (will be confirmed near season start).
Mandatory Work Hours
Chelsea CSA is a completely volunteer run program of Penn South Social Services. A group of active members, called “The Core Group” coordinate membership, distribution, staffing/tracking, finances and member communications. All CSA members must complete 2-hour mandatory work shifts at distribution. Over the course of the season, members must commit to a total of 2 shifts for a vegetable share and and one additional shift for a fruit share. Note that in light of the pandemic, special accommodations can be made for anyone in a high risk group.
Are half shares available?
In a typical season, a share is adequate for a family of 2-3 people, depending on the amount of vegetables in their diet. To accommodate members who want to receive a half share we will adopt the online registration procedure as described below.
Find a share partner and register together!
Members will be responsible for finding their own share partners. When two people have agreed to be share partners, one will register as the primary shareholder, register for a sponsor, standard, or discount vegetable share and list the other as a share partner. There are several payment options online and the share partners will work out between themselves how to pay the farmer for their share(s). Share partners are also responsible for fulfilling the mandatory work hours associated with their share(s). If you cannot find as share partner, reach out to us; we may be able to help.
We suggest that share partners pick up on alternating weeks with dates to be agreed upon between the partners in advance.
Other Products
In additional to season-long shares, as a member of the CSA you can special order honey, maple syrup, coffee and other products from the farm through the farm’s Marketplace.
Our Members Pitch In
The Chelsea CSA is entirely volunteer-run. To keep it running smoothly, members must commit to the entire season and are expected to contribute a few hours of time each season.
Vegetable share members must contribute a minimum of four hours of their time over the course of the twenty-four week season. Fruit share members must contribute an additional two hours to help us manage this additional offering.
Most shareholders participate by covering two or three two-hour shifts at distribution. Distribution shift times are 3:30 PM -5:30PM and 5:30PM – 7:30PM.
Members must sign up for volunteer shifts with their account on SignUp.