Gildrien Farm

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and we think it's one of the best models for doing just what it says - creating a community to support local agriculture. A CSA is a little bit like a farm subscription. You sign up early in the season  and then pick up your share of fresh vegetables every week at the farm.

We grow a wide variety vegetables for each part of the season, so that you're never stuck with a box full of turnips and nothing else. Our intention is to provide as much of your diet as possible. In addition, we grow special varieties that you might not see in the grocery store or even the farmer's market. We are committed to farming in the most responsible and sustainable way possible. We avoid the use of chemicals, and when they are necessary, we only use those approved for organic production. Most of our pest and weed control is done through crop rotation, careful management, and "mechanical control" - which means by hand!

You'll see several different kinds of vegetables each week. The specific varieties and proportions will shift with the seasons, so that your share always reflects what's freshest and most delicious on the farm. In the past we've grown lettuce, peas, kale, chard, scallions, herbs, beets, radishes, potatoes, green beans, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, tat soi, onions, tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, winter squash, celeriac, and pears. We're always experimenting and trying new things, so expect a few surprises! We'll give you some recipes, as well - all that fresh produce can be overwhelming!

There are some pictures of previous shares on our photos page.

For 2012, we are offering two share sizes. Please note that the range of how many people each share will feed is an estimate only; each family's eating habits are different. If you'd like help figuring out which share would be best for you, please get in touch. The 2012 CSA will run for 20 weeks, with pickups at the farm, from early June through October.

Small - 1-2  people: $350
Large - 2-4 people: $500

We prefer to receive payment in full upon sign-up; however, we do have a payment plan available upon request. Please call (802) 989-7223 or email us for details.

You may also be interested in Vermont Farm Share, a program of NOFA Vermont. In the Farm Share program, income-eligible Vermonters receive up to a 50% subsidy in the cost of their share, which is paid by community contributions. You can find more information and an application at the NOFA Vermont website; just specify Gildrien Farm on your form to be matched with us.

Farm Share is funded by donations from the community; if you would like to make a donation to Vermont Farm Share, write a check directly to NOFA (with Gildrien Farm Farm Share in the memo), and send it to PO Box 697, Richmond, VT 05477.  (Writing your check to NOFA will make your contribution tax-deductible.) You can also make donations to Farm Share online. Feel free to call us with any questions - 989-7223.

Easy! Just call or email and then send us a check! You can also sign up via our secure, verified Paypal account. However, we prefer doing it by phone and check for two reasons: One, we like to know who our customers are and have a chance to answer any questions you might have. Two, Paypal takes about 3% of each sale we make, which does add up over the course of the season. If you choose to sign up via Paypal (you can use your credit card), please include your name, address, email, and phone number in the "instructions to seller" box which will come up when you're ready to pay. That way we can get in touch if we need to before the season starts. Thanks!