Frenchy and I just joined the Kilpatrick Family Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. For $600, we will be getting about $25 worth of produce a week, for thirty weeks, to supplement our backyard garden veggies. We will pick up our shares on Saturdays starting in June at the Saratoga Farmers' Market. Micro-shares are also available for those who don't need a full share. Pickup is available at the Queensbury (Monday 3-6pm) and Granville (Tuesday 3-6pm) Farmers' Market as well. Spring shares (4 weeks) cost $70 and winter shares (December thru April) cost $375.

The CSA model is one of the best ways to localize our food production and distribution methods. OK, so we'll still have to go to the supermarket to get avocados and bananas, but we'll get fresh greens and root vegetables that last much longer than the organic produce that has to travel hundreds or thousands of miles then sit in a warehouse or refrigerated warehouse before we get to "pick" it. With higher fuel costs seemingly inevitable, costs for transportation will increase and be passed on to either the consumer or all tax payers (in the form of a government subsidy). Local food production is one of the best defenses against the volatility of food supply and pricing.

Michael and Philip Kilpatrick have one of the best naturally-produced stands at the winter farmers' market on Woodlawn in Saratoga Springs, and they have always expressed exuberance and willingness to share information about farming and gardening. Their CSA joins Denison Farms to provide county residents with fresh grown produce on a weekly basis.

Here are the details of their program as taken from their brochure:

Kilpatrick Family Farm
CSA

Kilpatrick Family Farm
9778 St. Rt. 22
Middle Granville, NY 12849
(518) 642-4713
stihl441@gmail.com (new email address)

ABOUT THE KILPATRICK FAMILY FARM

Kilpatrick Family Farm was founded in 2001 by brothers Michael and Philip Kilpatrick. The farm has rapidly grown over the years as we have learned how to produce quality produce in ever-increasing quantites. This spring (2008) we will be entering our fifth year of commercial production. Besides our CSA we supply produce for restaurants, and Farmers' Markets in Saratoga, Queensbury, Granville, and Rutland (VT).

We challenge ourselves to grow a wide variety of quality produce. We especially grow great greens (salad mix, head lettuce, spinach, mesclun, arugula, Swiss chard, etc.). Tomatoes are another specialty which we grow in greenhouses (20 varieties of heirloms, cherries, and, of course, beefsteaks). High-quality root crops (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, etc.) are also some of our favorites.

WHAT DOES ORGANIC MEAN TO US?

We go above and beyond the National Organic Standards. We are Certified Naturally Grown by an organization which allows small farms to become certified without the high cost and regulations of the National Organic Program. We pledge not to use chemical insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, or Genetically Modified seeds. We are inspected once a year by our farmer peers and our customers. We feel that the land is a gift from God and we need to continually strive for its improvement.

ABOUT THE CSA

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture in which members purchase a share of the harvest and join in the risks and benefits of the season. Prepayment makes it easier for the farmer to pay for supplies in the spring. Because of commitment made, members enjoy a discount off market prices (in our case it is about 15%).

How Does Our CSA Work?

We want to make it as easy as possible for you and cater to your eating habits. Each week we will specify a few items, but you will get to choose the rest of your share from what is on our farmers' market table. Because KFF puts great cost and effort into being the first to market with several crops; therefore the CSA may not include early tomatoes or other items some weeks.

Can We See the Farm?

We believe that customer inspection is the best form of inspection. Therefore we are tentatively planning a CSA member tour for the summer.

Newsletter

During the growing season we will be publishing a short e-mail newsletter which will contain info about what has been happening on the farm, and recipes.

SHARE OPTIONS

• FULL SEASON SHARE - NEW! Why grow so much great produce in May and November and not offer it in our CSA? FULL CSA now runs from May to November! (30 weeks) Same share size as last year. - $600
• REGULAR SHARE Same share we offered last year, we just added two weeks in October. Runs from June to October (22 weeks). For those piking up at our Queensbury Market or who want to keep their share the same as last year. - $475
• MICRO SHARE For a single person or a veggie-lite couple. Running June to October, it contains half the items in a regular share - $275
• SPRING SHARE Allows reular share holders to enjoy spring produce. Runs for the month of May (4 weeks). Can only be purchased in conjunction with another share. - $70
• WINTER SHARE Keep natural, local produce coming year round. Share will run from December to April - $375

MISSED SHARES

We realized that everyone needs a break; let us know the week before that you will be missing a share and we will let you pick up double the week after.

PICK UP SCHEDULE

We are offering three locations for CSA pickup:

• Saratoga Saturday Farmers' Market: pickup 9am-1pm (year round)
• Saratoga Wednesday Farmers' Market: pickup 3pm-6pm (May thru October)
• Granville Farmers' Market: pickup on Tuesday afternoons 3pm-6pm (June thru October)
• Queensbury Farmers' Market: pickup on Monday afternoons 3pm-6pm (May thru October)

HOW BIG IS A SHARE?

A regular share is enough to feed a family of four or a vegetarian couple.

WHAT'S IN SEASON?

The share will always have some salad greens - lettuce, salad mix or spinach. Here's an idea of what other things you can expect during the different months.

• May - Turnips, shallots, rhubarb, spinach, mesclun, shoots, fiddleheads, braising mix
• June - Scallions, beets, Swiss chard, cucumbers, radishes, snap peas, broccoli, arugula, sweet turnips, rhubarb, strawberries
• July - Tomatoes, summer squash, and flowers start coming in now in addition to the above
• August - Heirloom toatoes, basil, peppers, watermelon, sweet onions, corn, cantaloupe
• September - We now usually have everything from summer and start having fall crops-broccoli, potatoes, fall carrots, storage onions, turnips, sweet potatoes, and raspberries
• October - Full fall bounty: frosted Brussels sprouts, storage tomatoes, potatoes, winter squash, shallots, celery, leeks, lots of hardy greens and much, much more
• November - Similar to October with frost sweetened kale, wonderful gold ball turnips, braising mix, carrots, mesclun and baby spinach

On Farm U-Pick

This is an addition to the CSA for 2008 in which CSA members will be invited to the farm at specified times to harvest extra produce for preservation. Tomatoes, basil, cherry tomatoes, beans, peas, pumpkins, and raspberries may be available at various times during the season. Common sense quantity limits will apply.