Fast Facts

• We offer pickup times at the farm twice a week — Tuesdays and Fridays from  2-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. -4 p.m.

• Shares come in two sizes. A small share generally consists of 5-6 units of vegetables and is recommended for two people. A large share consists of the same vegetables but is twice as large (10-12 units) and is recommended for four people.

• You can choose the working member discount when you purchase your CSA share. Your household’s work hours apply to the farm as well.

What is a CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture is a method of food distribution that links customers directly to the farmer. Customers pay up front to purchase a “share” of the farm before the growing season starts. This provides farmers with cash to pay for seeds and supplies, and guarantees a market for the produce.

What makes our CSA program unique?

We grow food for and with the community on our two farm sites in Northwest Philly while also providing farm jobs in the city for new and beginning farmers. We also offer experiential, outdoor learning opportunities for Saul High School students at our Henry Got Crops site. 

Weavers Way working members and CSA work shares play a huge role in supporting our Farm Team’s efforts to grow lots of food and get it to surrounding communities.  We collaborate with interested Saul teachers in the food science, horticulture, and animal science departments so that our fields can serve as an outdoor classroom for Saul students. The nonprofit Food Moxie (formerly Weavers Way Community Programs) facilitates an additional farm and food-based education curriculum.

By buying a share in the CSA, you are supporting a unique model of participatory community agriculture, jobs for new and beginning farmers, and on-farm education for Saul students and everyone else who participates in our farms. At the same time, you share the risks and benefits of small-scale, local agriculture.

During the season, shareholders come to the farm once a week to collect their share of that week’s harvest. They gain an understanding of seasonality and an appreciation for a wide range of vegetables.

Buying a CSA share and being a Weavers Way member are separate but related. You do not need to be a member of Weavers Way to be a CSA shareholder, but both memberships offer a working member discount. In addition, your CSA work hours can count toward fulfilling your Co-op working member hours.

FAQs

How do I get my share?
We offer pickup times at the farm three times a week — Tuesdays and Fridays from 2-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. We do not offer delivery; we wouldn’t want you to miss out on a weekly visit to the farm!

We will have the vegetables ready for you, laid out on a table, like at a farmers market. Small signs will explain how much of each vegetable to take. Shareholders provide their own bags and containers. There will always be a CSA volunteer on duty to help you with your pickup.

How big will a share be?
Shares come in two sizes. A small share generally consists of 5-6 units of vegetables and is recommended for two people. A large share consists of the same vegetables but is twice as large (10-12 units) and is recommended for four people. A unit is similar to what you would typically buy at a grocery store — for instance, one unit could be a bunch of carrots or a head of lettuce.

I’m a Weavers Way member. Does my discount count toward my share?
If you are a current working member, you can choose the working member discount when you purchase your CSA share. Your household’s work hours apply to the farm as well, so if you have hours to work, you can always sign up for shifts at the farm.

I go on vacation in the summer. What do I do if I miss my pickup day?
You are always welcome to send a friend or family member to get your share. Please be sure to give your replacement a quick rundown of what to expect (where to park, when to arrive, how to sign in, what to bring, etc.). All CSA members are welcome to follow us on Facebook, and you can use that page to see if another member will switch pickup days with you. Or you can request that we donate your share, and it will be sent home with a happy Saul High School student.

I’ve heard people get weird produce in CSAs like rutabagas and dandelion greens. What if I don’t like what’s in my share?
That’s part of the fun! We send out a weekly newsletter letting you know what will be in your share, complete with recipes. We also host workshops on canning so you can save your abundance of tomatoes for winter. If you still don’t want your rutabagas, we offer a swap box at the end of the pickup table where you can trade an item one-for-one.

Because we distribute everything we harvest, we cannot let shareholders substitute their favorite items for ones they like less from the bins on the pickup table. We calculate how many carrots you can take by dividing the total number of carrots that we have by the total number of shareholders. So if someone takes extra carrots, someone else will get less.

Please explain the You-Pick crops.
We have a weekly list of crops that you can pick yourself. Pick-your-own crops are fun! We want to encourage you to check out the fields, meet other CSA members, and experience the harvest for yourself.  We put a lot of time and resources into maintaining our beautiful, productive you-pick section.  For this reason, we ask CSA members to pay what they can to help support this awesome area of the farm. Details are in the signup form.

I signed up for the 5%-off working share. How can I fulfill my four-hour work commitment?
If you signed up for a working share extraordinaire or are a Weavers Way or a Saul staff member or a student, you do not need to fulfill these four hours.

You can sign up for a work shift on our online work calendar with your shareholder number at members.weaversway.coop.