 · Is everything organically grown? · How and when do I pick up my weekly share? · What if I cannot come on my regular pick-up day? · How much food is in a share? · What is the exchange program? · Can you tell me about being a member of a Vollmecke co-op group? · How many times will I be asked to pick up at the farm as a member of a co-op site? · Do I need to pay for my share all at one time? · May I come with my family to see and participate in the activities at the farm? · What are the Farm Rules for visitors? · May I volunteer to help at the farm? · May I harvest some crops for myself? · Are there special events for the members? Is everything organically grown? We grow all of our vegetables without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified organisms, or sewage sludge. We use crop rotation, cover crops and compost extensively to enrich our soil so it will support a teeming soil biology that, in turn, supports healthy plants. We describe our growing as natural. In our orchards, we practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management), choosing to apply cultural techniques where possible rather than sprays. When we find it necessary to spray, materials are selected on the basis of safety and minimal impact to the environment. At this time, we have chosen not to seek organic certification. Being “certified organic” would not change our growing practices in any way; it would, however, mean a tremendous amount of paperwork and the cost of the certification process would add significantly to our membership price. We prefer not to do that. We feel the trust in, knowledge of, and access to the farmers who grow your food makes certification unnecessary. Why pay for something you don’t need? Unlike the grocery store, if you have questions about our growing practices, just ask us directly. And you can come to the farm to see exactly where and how your food is grown. We’ll show you LIVE soil, a rare sight these days! 
How and when do I pick up my weekly share? When you complete your Share Pledge form, you will be asked to select the location and day when you will pick up your weekly share. Here are the details: Vollmecke Farm Location Come to the farm on the day of the week that you select, either Tuesday or Friday. On Fridays, we suggest that you bring your own box or container for ease of collecting your pre-harvested produce. You will pack your own share by choosing from the bulk container. A chalk board will list the week’s produce and the amount of each item that will comprise your full share. A few crops will be designated as PYO (Pick-Your-Own), such as cut flowers, blackberries and red raspberries. If your pick-up day is Tuesday, your share will be awaiting you, pre-packed in its plastic share box. We re-use these boxes, so you’ll need to return the empty box the following week when you pick up your share. Other Pick-Up Locations If you will be picking up your share at one of our other locations, you will find your weekly share awaiting you, pre-packed in its plastic share box. We re-use these boxes, so you’ll need to return the empty box when you pick up your share the following week. What if I cannot come on my regular pick-up day? Harvesting takes place according to the number of members expected on a given day. If you cannot come, send an authorized friend or relative and make sure they know about pick-up time and procedures. If you miss a week, your share will not be wasted. It will be donated along with our regular food donations to one of a number of shelters we work with. Last year, we donated more than 1½ tons of food to local shelters in Chester County. How much food is in a share? A share is a generous amount of produce for two adults who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables or a quantity sufficient for the needs of two adults with one or two young children. If you have a large family or do a lot of entertaining, you may want to consider purchasing an additional share. You may also harvest some larger amounts of certain crops when available. Some single people or individuals who travel often find that a full share is a little too much for their needs. In this case, we suggest splitting a share with a friend or neighbor or, if asked, we will try to team you up with someone with a similar situation. Remember, too, that if you feel a share is more than you can eat in a week, you can always freeze portions and have them available for the wintertime. Here is a typical example of what might be included in a week’s share during different times of the season: Note: Quantities are approximate and may vary from week to week Typical Early Season Share:
Typical Mid-Season Share:
Typical Late Season Share:
Remember: Farming is both dynamic and unpredictable. Extreme weather conditions such as late or early frost, too much or too little rain, rain at the wrong time or a hail storm, may interfere or alter crop quality and availability. Being a CSA member means sharing in the risks as well as the bounty. Nevertheless, be assured that even in the most challenging of years, we will provide you with your share of the harvest.
What is the exchange program? A “swap box” is provided at each pick-up site. This gives you the ability to customize your share according to your own personal preferences. For example, you might trade your cabbage for spinach, or trade a bunch of beets for an extra melon. Can you tell me about being a member of a Vollmecke co-op group? All of our co-op group members are participants in this new "food community." Each one needs to work willingly with their host to fill all the farm pick-up dates to make sure member shares get from the farm to their pick-up site on time. Some members' schedules might be more flexible than others, so they generously offer to visit the farm additional times during the season for the pick-up. Benefits of picking up the group's shares is the chance to pick-your-own raspberries, blackberries or peas, and a chance to cut your own bouquet of flowers as part of the member share. Another benefit of a farm visit is that the members can choose to purchase from the array of natural farm products we have available, like local beef, cheese, yogurt, honey, fruit butters and apple sauces. If it becomes challenging for the group to fill each pick-up date, members might opt to pool some funds and hire someone to pick up the group’s shares at the farm that week. Sometimes it’s necessary to get creative and think "outside the box."
How many times will I be asked to pick up at the farm as a member of a co-op site?
If your group has 16 members, most members will only have to pick up at the farm once. Some members will make the trip twice. If a membership share is split, each split partner will be expected to take a turn. It is up to the group to decide who might come once and who might do the group pick-up twice. Do I need to pay for my share all at one time?
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