Upper Meadows Farm12 Pollara LaneMontague, NJ 07827 telephone: (973) 293-8171 email: leonard@uppermeadowsfarm.com |
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MEADOWS FARM CSA one located at Upper Meadows Farm in Montague NJ[serving members who live in Pike & Wayne Counties in Pa., Sussex County in NJ, and Orange County in NY], one serving the Hells' Kitchen/Clinton neighborhood [Manhattan NYC, Hudson County NJ] in NYC, one located in Verona in Essex County, NJ [serving members in Essex County, Eastern Morris County and Passaic County], one location hosted by Ashley Farm in Flanders,NJ [serving Morris County, Southern Sussex County,and Warren County], and one located in the Lake Mohawk section of Sparta, NJ [serving Morris County, northern Passaic County and Southern Sussex County. We are joined together in
our commitment to eating good, fresh food, and in the desire to connect,
or reconnect, to our food, the earth, the seasons, and the farmers who
we entrust to nourish us. We are a growing community, organized by Len
Pollara and a volunteer group of people who are interested in cultivating
and growing this relationship. We are networking with Just Food, a NYC
based non-profit organization that promotes economic, environmental, and
social justice through local sustainable food systems. We value your ideas,
input, vision and commitment. We have committed to participate in our
CSA and through our nurture help it flourish and grow. Also, since we are growing the food to be eaten, if you need more in your share please let us know because there is always someone who prefers less. It all balances in the aggregate. Premium
Executive Share- designed to meet the needs of the professional
on the go. This gourmet share is ideal for a person who loves to cook
(or their personal chef) and yet their schedule allows little time to
cook as well as few opportunities to eat at home each week. Each month
this shareholder will receive a basket with all of the condiments and
necessary recipe items not produced on farm but sourced by our team of
culinary expert shoppers. Then, each week a basket of fresh vegetables,
herbs and fruit will be available at one of our distribution locations.
We will include that week's menu and the recipes to make all of the menu
items. All items in the basket will be readied for final preparation and
cooking. The basic share is designed for four meals for a couple. A four
person option is available. You may also elect to purchase the wine
pairings selected by our two sommeliers for each weekly menu. Recipes
and menu will reflect the seasonally available fresh vegetables from the
farm. Wild caught fish and, our organically raised meats may also be purchased
from the farm, on a first come first served basis, for those members seeking
animal protein. There are a very limited number of Premium Executive Shares
available so be certain to reserve yours now. Share prices for 2009: $500 Deposit $120 weekly Credit card on file Premium Executive $595 Family $425 Individual $425 Half
Early bird* Bonuses are as follows: For all memberships (renewal or new) who pay in full during the month of November Upper Meadows Farm will provide $50 worth of coupons good towards the purchase of any and all farm products. For all memberships (renewal or new) who pay in full during the month of December Upper Meadows Farm will provide $25 worth of coupons good towards the purchase of any and all farm products. All memberships purchased after January 1, 2009 will require the full amount. New
subscriptions are available on a first come, first served basis.
*Please Note: Credit card orders made through Local Harvest.org are not eligible for Early bird Bonuses due to the additional processing fee we pay for the service. Early orders are preferred and greatly appreciated! If you have questions please feel free to ask your distribution coordinator or contact the farm. !!!We are happy to accommodate Members who need to make unique financial arrangements. Please contact us early. Let us know what your needs are and we'll be glad to work with you on an individual basis !!! Food
Stamp authorization for NJ and NY is available; please ask if
you are interested in this payment option. DISTRIBUTION
DETAILS:
We do not place large quantities of material in cold storage and then portion it out. Everything is FRESH! This is why we need to maintain active communication with all members. Please review the sections of the Agreement and Introduction pages that refer to distribution. IN NEW JERSEY ASHLEY
FARM
IN NYC in the HELL'S
KITCHEN NEIGHBORHOOD
IN NEW JERSEY Sparta Please confirm distribution details with your local distribution coordinator! Coordinator_NYC_UMF_CSA@uppermeadowsfarm.com
To join, please read the CSA Agreement Terms [View CSA AgreementTerms] in their entirety. You must then read, complete, sign and submit the CSA Agreement [View/Print CSA Agreement]
To
Pay by Check
follow the instructions as requested above and include your check
made out to Upper Meadows Farm CSA.Your registration will be complete
when both payment and your signed CSA Agreement are received on farm. Mail to: To Pay By Credit Card , follow the instructions as requested above and then follow this link. Your registration will be complete when both payment and your signed CSA Agreement are received on farm. Mail to:
To Pay in Cash follow the instructions requested above and call [570-228-8368] or email Leonard to schedule a time that we can meet to complete our transaction. Your registration will be complete when both payment and your signed CSA Agreement are received on farm.
Registration will be confirmed when we have your payment and your completed CSA Agreement on farm.
OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS: !!!We are happy to accommodate Members who need to make unique financial arrangements. Please contact us early. Let us know what your needs are and we'll be glad to work with you on an individual basis !!!
About the 4 hours I need to Volunteer A strong commitment to community is vital to sustainability. There are other CSA groups that do not require any volunteer time of their members. I believe that is a choice that results in less of a connection with the land and people that grow the food. The origin of CSA was in Japan during the mid-1960s and is known as Teikei. Literally, 'putting the farmers face on the food'. The two models of CSA in the USA today are a 'shareholder' model and a 'subscription' model. The shareholder model is consumer driven with the 'core group' organizing members and hiring a farmer. The subscription model is farmer driven with the farmer organizing the group and making the majority of the decisions. Upper Meadows Farm CSA is a combination of both. Len began the CSA which certainly follows the subscription model but has worked diligently to empower the members to take possession of their roles and participate in the decision making process. One way to make this transition is to involve members directly. Requiring that members commit to volunteer time has proven a very successful path for members to become more involved in the production of their food earlier on in the process. This does not mean that members all must trek to the farm and work in the field although we strongly urge members to visit the farm to see where their food is grown. Farming for a CSA is a very complex system that involves all of the demands of a small business and those of a farm as well as the rigors of contending with the variability of nature in addition to addressing the very human aspects of providing nutritious healthful food for people. We encourage members to participate at any and all stages of the process especially where they feel the most valuable. 4 Hours per share for the entire season is really a token obligation. The practical reality is that we have members who donate as much as 20 hours per week and others who find ways to avoid meeting their commitment. Within this full spectrum of involvement we have found that once members do their volunteer time the vast majority are more engaged and interested in doing more. The social and food values of our CSA then become more precious as each member evolves a stronger commitment to community. That 'food centered' community then becomes a more valuable part of members CSA experience. Volunteering has included working on farm, helping at distribution, information management, record keeping, promoting the CSA, representing the group at conferences and meetings, advocating for CSA and organic agriculture, as well as other activities that enhance and strengthen community. Finally, one of the most valuable aspects of the volunteer experience is working towards a common goal with a group of like minded individuals and sharing the richness of the experience from an exciting event to an exciting taste.
One concern of mine has always been that certified organic produce is available to folks at all socioeconomic levels, rather than a de facto exclusive purchase. Simply, I believe that all people have a right to healthy, high quality, good food. To live this reality, I have allowed members to make payments over time. This practice is contrary to the financial model of CSA which seeks advance payment to provide base funds and thus enable more accurate budget planning and more efficient use of funds to optimize operation of the farm. In 2006, the Hell's Kitchen Distribution Group applied for and received grant funds from the 'Citizens for Better New York Neighborhoods' for $600 seed money to establish a no interest Revolving Loan Fund. With the donations of many like minded members the fund has since grown considerably. This fund established an in-house mechanism that allows, 'the farm', to be paid the full share amount when a loan recipient joins. A contract setting out the terms is drawn up, signed and notarized after which a check is remitted to the farm. The loan is then repaid within one year, at no interest, on a schedule determined by the borrowing member. Funds are available on a first come first served basis. As the loans are repaid, the funds are made available to other loan applicants who may borrow from the fund. Using the fund requires the minimum deposit for each share. The Revolving Loan Fund is not available to Premium Executive Shareholders. All terms of membership apply to shares purchased through use of the Revolving Loan Fund. My hope is that members who choose to and can, donate to this fund. Together we can increase the impact of our socially responsible CSA by practicing this act of inclusion. Please help us grow our community in this way.
Member meetings are held in
the off season to acquaint people with our CSA. We hold regular
meetings in Manhattan, on farm, at Ashley Farm and in West Orange. Member
meetings generally begin in February.
Verona Essex County, NJ Meetings are at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit located at 36 Gould St. one block off Bloomfield Ave in the community room.
Sparta Southern Sussex County, Morris County, Northwest Passaic County Please call or e-mail for directions.
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