HIP HIP HOORAY.
We are officially 1 month out from starting seedlings (like the picture above from last year)! Holy buckets did this winter go fast (but also slow…so slow)!
We’re thrilled at the response we’ve received from new and returning members in joining our 2015 season and can’t wait for the continued sign-ups. Thank you!
With that said, I thought it may help to break down what buying a share in February means. Getting membership early in the game can be a big problem for many new CSAs and I wanted to explain why it’s crucial for sign-ups now versus in May or June.
> Why do you sell shares so early? In order to provide fresh, local veggies by the end of June/early July we need to start growing early. Many of your favorite vegetables like onions and celery require extra days to germinate and grow to survive once transplanted in the field. North Dakota has a relatively short growing season so it’s even more vital that we start growing early. It’s hard to imagine growing food in North Dakota when there is still snow on the ground, but it’s happening!
> Why pay now when I won’t receive anything for months? Similar to the above, but because we’re a new farm and we recently moved the farm, we’re in need of a greenhouse (spot for greenhouse pictured above). In order to start seedlings as I mentioned before, we need a warm, sunny place to get food growing. This week Jonathon will be placing the order for all the materials needed for our new greenhouse (small, but efficient is the name of the game!). Then once they arrive, we’ll construct the building as quickly as possible. We have the funding needed to buy those materials, but not much more and once the greenhouse is constructed we need the seeds to start planting!
February also brings the planning and purchasing phase of the season. We’re currently working on our plot map for the new fields. Having one CSA season under our belt gives a baseline for quantities planted to get the yields we need to provide abundance to each and every one of our members.
In one sentence: When you buy a share in February, you’re paying for seeds, the seedlings they become and the greenhouse to grow them in. Not to mention our labor for the construction and growing. Ok, that was two sentences, but who’s counting…
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