The 2022 Wabi Sabi CSA Member Agreement
Farm Contact Information:
Wabi Sabi Farm
10743 NW 142nd Street
Granger, Iowa
515-745-9951
We, the farm, wish to provide you with fresh, local, seasonal food and you, the member, wish to receive a portion of our harvest. This agreement outlines our shared commitments to that relationship.
Section 1. Introducing Our CSA Farm
A. Becoming a Part of Our Farm
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship between our farm and you as our customer. Rather than simply purchasing food, our customers become “members” of this CSA farm who receive a portion of the farm’s harvest. Our CSA runs for 18 weeks (Full Share) or 9 weeks (Half/Bi-weekly Share), from approximately May to September. Members are responsible for showing up at their designated pick-up location during their assigned weeks and times to pick up your share. Detailed information regarding pick-up is discussed below in Section 3. Variety and quantity may vary as described below in Section 2.
B. Our Growing Practices
The farm is USDA Certified Organic AND REAL Organic Certified. To learn more about the USDA Certified Organic Requirements click here. To learn more about the REAL Organic Certified Program click here.
C. The Products We Expect for [2022]
Please see our Produce Availability Graph. This chart is based on our best estimate, but of course weather, pests, and other events will affect actual production.
Section 2. Our Shared Commitments
A. Sharing in the Risk of Crop Failure
We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. The quantity of produce, however, may vary from week to week due to extreme weather, insects, or other production factors despite our best efforts. By joining our CSA, you are agreeing to share the risk of crop failure with us and other members. In the unlikely event of a crop failure, our procedure is as follows: If only a small portion of crops fail, we compensate for the failed crops by filling your share with other crops grown on the farm that are ready for harvest at that time. If a large portion of crops fail, we may not be able to deliver any product in some weeks.
B. Sharing in the Reward of Crop Surplus
In addition to our CSA, our farm sells at the Des Moines Farmers’ Market, local Des Moines area restaurants and to individuals through our online store. Although production is not segregated, our CSA receives top priority. After filling our CSA share with the week’s harvest first, the remainder is sold to our other markets.
Section 3. Picking Up Shares
You are responsible for picking up your share each week/bi-weekly from your drop site.
You are responsible for observing our drop site rules, which are as follows:
- Bring your own bag and leave the box at the site.
- Pick up your share within the timeframe stated. Although we deliver high-quality produce to the site, it will decline quickly if not picked up in time.
- Be respectful of our drop site hosts’ property.
- Follow additional rules posted at your drop site regarding [parking/use of certain entrances/boxes].
If you cannot pick-up your share, you must arrange for someone else to pick it up for you. You are responsible for explaining the pick-up location and procedures to your substitute. If you wish to change your drop site, you must notify the Farm by email no later than the day before your designated pick-up day. Shares that are not retrieved within the pick-up time will be donated to the drop site hosts to distribute however they see fit. Please do not ring the door bell of your site host asking to retrieve your share after the designated pick up time.
We take the safety of your food seriously. For your added protection, wash all produce before eating and put frozen products in the freezer as soon as possible.
Section 4. Member Fees
By selling membership in advance of the growing season, CSA reduces the burden of up-front costs for the farmer. Your membership fees provide us with money to purchase seed and equipment before the season starts, and we appreciate your commitment. All payments are non-refundable.
Section 5. Communicating With Us
The best way to communicate with us is via email or phone (for immediate things). Our email is: farmerben@wabisabi-farm.com and the phone number is 515-745-9951. We will do our best to respond as soon as possible, but please understand that we spend most of our time in the field growing your food and not at our desk. Please contact us with any news of the following: changes to your postal or email address, changes to your drop-site location, problems with your drop-site, or dissatisfaction with your share.
We will communicate with you by email. When you sign up, you will be added to our distribution list. Please read your email from us. We depend on being able to communicate important information such as necessary changes to your distribution schedule or to our farm events. Every week, we will email an newsletter giving you information about the crops available that week, recipe ideas, other farm related news and possibly some bad vegetable puns.
By signing up through Localline (our software provider), I agree to purchase the membership share indicated in Section 4. I understand that, although unlikely, the farm may change parts of this agreement related to production and distribution from time to time. I understand that they will contact me via email in advance of any changes to this agreement.