2013 CSA Shares Now Available!

2013 CSA Sign Up Form

Earthkeeper Farms and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

What is Community Supported Agriculture?
CSA is a model of farming in which people become members of the farm; pay a subscription fee, and receive a weekly share of the harvest. Members benefit by being intimately connected with their foods and gain peace of mind; they don't have to worry about toxic chemical sprays, genetically modified seeds, and environmentally harmful farming practices. You know where your food comes from: you have a personal relationship with the growers, and see first hand what goes into the food you enjoy. Not to mention you get a bunch of the freshest, tastiest, organically grown, local produce every week at a really good price!

The Weekly Share
A share includes a taste of all the crops that are ready on the farm, so you'll receive a different mix of vegetables every week. A full share is enough for a family to cook many side dishes and/or a few main entrees in a week, or enough to make up the majority of the meals for a vegetarian couple. A small share is enough for a couple or families that may not do as much cooking, or have members of the family that shy away from veggies, i.e. picky two year olds.  Each week’s distribution depends on what is ready, and how productive each crop is. For this reason, shares in June when less crops are ready, tend to be smaller than in August.

Full sample share:
2 lbs summer squash, 4 cucumbers, 1 bunch beets, 1 bok choi, 4 lbs red tomatoes, 2 lbs heirloom tomatoes, 1 bag baby lettuce, 1 lb onions, 3 green peppers, 4 oriental eggplant, .5lb edamame, basil, and one cantaloupe

Pick Up Locations
Please note that the prices are different at the different pick-up locations because each location runs for a different number of weeks.

Rockford Pick Up
At the Rockford Farmer’s Market
Saturdays from 8am to 12:30pm
June 1st through October 26th (22 weeks)
Full Share= $510
Small Share= $380

Joining the CSA
To join the CSA, return a completed 2013 CSA Sign Up Form and $100 deposit. Final payment is due May 1st. Members’ only obligation is the financial commitment to pay for the CSA share. There is no work required, no requirement to pick up the share every week, no requirment to work on the farm. Yet, in order to gain all the benefits of the CSA, members should try to visit the farm at least once during the season. By eating seasonal, local, clean food from a farm you know and people you trust, many people gain a deeper connection to the natural world and just may end up changing the world.

Click here to get your 2013 CSA Sign Up Form.

CSA Work Share

The CSA work share gives committed members the opportunity to work on the farm or at the farmers market every week in exchange for their CSA share. Our standard work share is 4 hours per week in exchange for a full share in the CSA.  This is a season long commitment.  There is a one month trial period at the start of the season.  If either party doesn’t think the work share is a good fit, we can part ways with no hard feelings.  Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for an application. 

Harvest Work Share: 

Friday Harvest:

Fridays, 8am to noon, every week -May 31 through October 25 (22 weeks)

Monday Harvest:

Mondays, 8am to noon, every week - June 17 through September 23 (15 weeks)

Position Requirement: Harvest is a quick paced, very physical job.  Harvesters should be able to bend or squat for long periods of time and lift and carry at least 40lbs.  The harvest needs to get done regardless of the weather. This means working in full-sun heat as well as cold, blowing wind and rain. And by the end of the season, you will surly get to experience both. 

Farmer Market Work Share: 

Rockford Farmer Market- 

Short shift every week: Saturdays, 6am to 10am, every week- June1 through October26

Long shift every other week: Saturdays, 6am to 2pm, every other week- June 1 through October 26 (scheduling arranged with other market workers)

Ada Farmers Market-

Short shift every week: 10:30am to 2:30pm, every week - June 18 through September 24

Position Requirements: Applicants should have retail or customer service experience.  A love of food and cooking, knowledge about different types of vegetables, and a passion of local, organic food are all useful.  We are looking for someone who is a “people person” with attention to detail.  Market workers will be helping to load and unload the truck, so the ability to lift heavy bins is required. 

Frequently Asked Questions on the CSA work share

What if I can’t make it one week?

If you are a harvester, it is best to try to find a friend to fill in for you. If you work at the farmers market, let us know early season and will try to schedule around any dates you will be unavailable. With either position, be sure to talk to Rachelle about any dates that you know you will be out of town.  If you are sick and unable to come, please just call and let us know. 

What if the weather is bad?

We harvest and go to market regardless of the weather.  The CSA members and market-goers will still be expecting their veggies.  So please show up for your shift no matter the weather.  Please dress for the weather. 

What if I only want a small share?

We can give you half the price of a full share to use as credit towards a small share in exchange for working half as much time. For example, you would only work two hours per week or four hours every other week, in exchange for $250 towards a on-farm share or $193 towards an Ada share.   

Can I bring my children?

Unfortunately, in most cases, it is not possible to have your children with you during the work share.  Kids are welcome to come out with their parents to volunteer, but unfortunately, not for the CSA work share. 

How do I sign up for the work share?

There is an application and on-farm interview.  If you get the position, there is a one month trial period at the start of the season. If either party doesn’t think the work share is a good fit, we can part ways with no hard feelings after the trial period.  

What if I don’t like the work or something comes up and I can’t keep working with the farm?

If you are unable to keep working with the farm, you can still be a member of the CSA. We can pro-rate the share price for the remaining weeks. 

My partner/husband/wife and I want to do the work share together. Can we come at the same times?

It is easier for the farm if you can take turns coming so that every week we have someone to help us with the harvest. But there is the possibility of making special arrangements.