One Woman Farm CSA and How it Works.

CSA simply stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  This is how it works.  A One Woman Farm "share-holder" pays in full for a membership or “share” in the farm before the harvest distributions begin in June 2013.   For 23 consecutive weeks, weather permitting, each member receives a share of the farm’s weekly harvest.  In this form of direct, mutually beneficial farmer-to-consumer relationship, both the farmer and One Woman Farm members share in the bounty, as well as the risks, associated with farming. 

The benefits of OWF CSA membership are plentiful and various.  In return for your commitment to and interest in the farm, One Woman Farm is committed to providing you and your family with your local source of high quality organically grown fresh vegetables at a good value. With your subscription, you will be joining the One Woman Farm community of like-minded "share-holders" actively sharing and participating in the support of local organically grown produce. 

One Woman Farm CSA members are invited to attend farm tours in addition to both on-farm and off-farm seasonal dinners held at local partnering restaurants in Pittsburgh that showcase OWF produce.  

*There are several pickup options available*

• One Woman Farm located at 5857 Valencia Road Gibsonia, PA 15044.
• 
  
• Squirrel Hill, Wexford, Allison Park, and Mt. Lebanon pickup location are growing in a neighborhood near you!  Please contact the farm if you are interested in pickup at any of these New! locations.

• East Liberty farmers market on Monday afternoons from 3:30 - 7:30 pm.

How much does a CSA subscription cost?

Weekly Vegetable CSA         $550   (23 weeks)
Bi-Weekly Vegetable CSA     $325   (12 weeks)

*The subscription cost can be paid in full or through installments due by June 15th.*

*A $100.00 deposit is required to reserve a membership.*

For how long will the goodness last?
The subscription is for 23 consecutive weeks weather permitting.  Pick-up will begin in mid-June and will continue up until mid-late November.

On what day will I pick up?
The harvest pick-up day at the farm will be determined closer to the beginning of the season.  A window of weekly pick-up time will be made; ie. 3:30 – 6:30 once a week, the same day every week.   A family member, friend, or neighbor can pick up for you as long as s/he arrives during the window of pick-up time on the normal day of pick up.

How much will I receive every week?
One Woman Farm CSA members receive 6-10+ vegetable items in a share.  This usually turns into  2 large vegetarian meals for a family per week or sides for the entire week.
 
Don’t think you can eat it all? 
Bi-weekly shares are available for $325 and can be picked up every other week at the farm or East Liberty farmers market attended by One Woman Farm.  You also have the option to "Share a Share" with a friend or colleague at the office to split the subscription cost and pick-up responsibility!

Interested in a work share?
Commit to 35 hours of harvesting/washing/weeding or 50 hours of helping at the East Liberty farmers market and take $100.00 off of the entire subscription cost.  This is an excellent opportunity to get out, do some good work, and become more connected with the farm and seasonal rhythms that feed you.  If interested in the workshare program, please contact Margaret for further details and workshare availability.  

Have questions?  Please contact the farm at your convenience!

• Yes! I want to sign up for the following membership(s):

   

• Weekly Vegetable CSA $550 (23 weeks)

• Bi-Weekly Vegetable CSA $325 (11 weeks)

• Yes! I will pick up at the following location:

• One Woman Farm - Friday afternoons

• East Liberty farmers market - Monday afternoons

________________________________________________________________

Name(s)

________________________________________________________________

Address

________________________________________________________________

Phone(s)

________________________________________________________________

Email

How did you hear about One Woman Farm?

Please return this form with your $100 deposit check to:

One Woman Farm,

PO Box 17

Bradford Woods, PA 15015

For more information please contact:

Margaret Schlass

(c) (412)913.7709

onewomanfarm@gmail.com

• One Woman Farm will deliver the weekly CSA vegetables in easily unpackable crates and will also supply all of the distribution materials for the season: tables, white boards, tableclothes, check lists, etc.  
• It will be the responsibility of the distribution site to unpack and arrange the weekly vegetables on the provided tables for when OWF CSA members arrive to pickup.  
• OWF CSA members will simply walk down the self-serve line and personally pick out the week's items.
• The distribution host/facilitators need not arrange everyone's share for them!  
• At the end of the scheduled pickup time, the host is responsible for stacking up the empty crates and breaking down tables.
•  In exchange for the host's responsibility and commitment to the distribution location, s/he will receive a full OWF CSA vegetable share for the entire season.

This is the perfect opportunity to get involved with One Woman Farm and have OWF deliver to you! at your favorite place of worship, gathering, or recreation!

Apprentice and Internship Positions Available for 2013 Season

One Woman Farm will accept three full time farm apprentices and two part-time interns for the 2013 growing season.  Apprentices and interns at One Woman Farm will have the unique opportunity to work closely with the main farmer and participate in the day-to-day tasks of a fully functioning diversified farm. 

These tasks include:

• Greenhouse seeding and maintenance
• Field transplanting
• Crop maintenance, cultivation, weeding
• Harvesting, washing, packing produce
• Presentation and marketing of produce at farmers market
• Presentation of weekly CSA vegetables at farm for farm members
• Farm equipment maintenance
• Participating in all other crop-related tasks

The OWF apprentices will receive weekly produce, monthly modest stipend (dependant on qualifications), optional off-farm housing, and experiential mind food in addition to an arena to cultivate practical skills that will last a lifetime.  The 3 full-time apprenticeship positions will begin in April and will continue throughout late October/early November to fully encompass the farm’s seasonal rhythms, harvests, and projects although different start and end dates may be accommodated.

One Woman Farm internships are  a 20-hour a week commitment and can be designed to meet the specific educational goals and interests of the applicant. OWF interns will receive university credits (where applicable) and weekly vegetable share. The intersnhip positions will be best filled by applicants living in/or around the Pittsburgh area as room and board is not provided.

**College students that are unable to commit to a full season, but are interested in completing a summer internship at OWF are invited to apply!  Please contact Margaret for further details.**

• A self-starter rockstar with a Can-Do positive mental attitude
• Disciplined, responsible, flexible, and independent
• Excellent communication skills and great sense of humor
  
• Ability to take direction, problem solve, and work well in a team environment
  
• A valid driver's license and ability to lift 50 pounds
• Ability to do physical manual work of farming and interest in learning about farming and food

"Working at One Woman Farm was a wonderful and satisfying experience. I was able to further my farming knowledge by participating in and observing the inner workings of a successful small scale organic farm. Duties included seeding, transplanting, cultivating, mulching, irrigating, weeding, staking, composting, harvesting, packing, presenting, selling and delivering produce. Working with Margaret was a breath of fresh air as she is dedicated to her craft, motivated, experienced, educated, exuberant, engaging and eager to share her knowledge."

                                         -- Liz Monk, 2011 OWF Apprentice

  A workshare is a special arrangement between the farm and One Woman Farm CSA members who commit to and complete 40 hours of farm work OR 50 hours of farmers market help and in turn receive a $100.00 discount on their total membership cost. 

There are two types of workshare opportunities at OWF: the farm workshare and the East Liberty farmers market workshare.

The Farm Workshare:

• a minimumof 35 hours 
  
• tasks can include washing and packing produce, weeding, and transplanting at OWF.  
  
• This is an excellent opportunity for One Woman Farm members who have an interest in gaining a greater understanding of where and how their food is created.  
  

The East Liberty Farmers Market Workshare:

• takes place on Monday market from 2:30 - 6:30 pm
  
• a minimum of 50 hours
• tasks include assisting in setting up display, organizing and gathering OWF CSA members weekly farm share, making sales, and helping to tear down at the end of the market. 
  
•  A sales people-person is best suited for the farmers market workshare.  
  

*If interested please contact Margaret for further details and workshare availability.*

"I never did anything on a farm before helping with the workshare.  I did a lot of weeding and I really liked eating the food that we helped with.  But, the best part was working with Margaret - she's really fun." 

                                       --William Arnold (14 years old)

"I joined OWF so that my family could try fresh vegetables that we had never eaten fore  and to expose my teenage son to a "farm" experience similiar to ones I had while growing up.  I chose a workshare because it was a great opportunity for my son to learn firsthand what it was like to your own food and to spend time working together.  It was worth every drop of sweat.  As a bonus, we learned more about CSAs and made a great new friend in Margaret.  We're looking forward to this year's produce and to weeding a few more rows of beets, kohlrabi, carrots, lettuce.."                      

                                       --Lori Liller Arnold

Volunteer Opportunities at One Woman Farm

Volunteer opportunities are granted on an individual basis to those with varying skills levels ranging from novice to seasoned farm volunteer who express a sincere interest in gaining hands-on work experience on a diversified farm.  If you are interested in volunteering at One Woman Farm, please feel free to contact Margaret.

During the 2009 season, One Woman Farm participated in the Oakland farmers market.  It was an exciting and successful experience for the farm and it was our pleasure to see many of the smiling familiar faces of the farm's devoted farmers market customers this past year at the new location of the East Liberty farmers market held on Monday afternoons and evenings from 3:30 to 7:30 pm at Penn Circle North East Liberty, PA 15206.  One Woman farm is again pleased to attend the East Liberty farmers market  in the upcoming 2013 season!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Photo courtesy of the Oakland Business Improvement District

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/farmers-encounter-strange-start-to-the-growing-season-639711/

OWF in the Trib:

http://www.yournorthhills.com/northhillsnews/article/one-woman-one-farm-one-great-life

East Liberty Farmers Market article:

http://yumpittsburgh.com/?p=642

ModCloth Blog featuring OWF:

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010-03-15-celebrating-womens-history-month-with-margaret-of-one-woman-farm

Interview at East Liberty farmers market by Randy from the pittsburghfoodscence.blogspot.com:

The farm's newest tractor arrived today at the farm.

An International 656 is the name.  Tillage is the game.