This is our seventh season in Custer, WI growing produce. We are excited to focus on creating a more intimate community program with fewer members and greater opportunities to build relationships. When you join our CSA program, you become a member of our farm. In exchange for your support of our farm, we produce fresh, high quality vegetables and herbs to available weekly June through October
How We Grow
We promote soil fertility through careful crop rotation, extensive use of cover crops, and the addition of nutrient-rich compost to our growing beds. We use drip irrigation to conserve water and protect against the risk of drought. We use 3 high tunnels (passive greenhouses) to increase the quality and yield of high value crops while protecting them from inclement weather and extending the harvest season. We plant and maintain pollinator and beneficial insect habitat to promote a healthy farm ecology and buffer against the risk of pests. Our growing practices respect the farm as a complex system. We strive to learn new lessons and make new improvements with each growing season.
We are certified organic! We use 100% certified organic & non-GMO seeds and inputs, and use no chemical fertilizers, no herbicides, and no pesticides (not even those permitted by USDA organic standards).
What We Grow
We grow dozens of varieties of vegetables and herbs. A full list of the varieties we plan to grow for the 2022 season can be found in the data section under Seed Order and Production Plans.
We strive to balance familiar and unfamiliar vegetables. Some member favorites that we try to have frequently include: carrots, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and peppers. We also grow tasty but less familiar vegetables for you to try, like celeriac, golden beets, salad turnips, and chard.
Participating in our CSA program is a great way to learn about incorporating more vegetables into your weekly cooking routine. We love to cook and eat the vegetables we grow, and will always include recipes and serving suggestions with each share and in an archive on our website.
Seasonality Of Shares
The beauty of the CSA program is that you will find different produce available each week! The first weeks of the season will include lots of greens and roots that thrive in the cooler spring whether. You will see an evolution in the diversity of produce each week, starting with fewer items in the early season and progressing to the larger and heavier offerings of midsummer and fall.
Risk & Reward
When you join our CSA program you agree to share in both the bounty and risks of the farm. We are committed to providing delicious, high quality vegetables to our members each week of the season. However, each farming season comes with uncertainties. Extreme weather events, pest infestations, and crop diseases are all risks to any farming venture. It is possible that one of these issues could influence the quantity of vegetables we are able to distribute to members. If this is ever the case, we are committed to communicating fully with our members about the situation. We design our farming system with a focus on diversity and resiliency in order to reduce the impact and likelihood of crop failures in any given year.
On the other hand, when we do well, you do well. When you become a member, you provide the financial support we need to get the season started. At the end of a good year your investment has provided a stable foundation for our next season. The financial stability of the farm allows us to continue to provide high quality food to nourish your household.
Cancellations/Refunds
In general, we do not allow cancellations or refunds for CSA shares. By signing up for a share, you are making a commitment to Rising Sand Organics for the growing season. We are willing to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis, please contact us to discuss further.
Communication
We believe that a healthy CSA community is founded on clear communication, and hope to develop relationships with each of our members.
We have chosen to make all of our planning, budgeting, and record-keeping documents for the farm available on our website as a way to share the inner workings of the farm with anyone who is interested. As a CSA member, we encourage you to explore our website, ask us questions, and give us feedback about your experiences with our vegetables and CSA program. If you would like to visit the farm, call or email to set up a time.
How To Sign Up
To sign-up: go out our CSA Sign-up Page!
Picking Up Your Share
This year you will pick up your share by coming to one of our two farmers market stands and selecting your produce. You will receive an email each week on Thursday or Friday detailing what we expect to have at market at reminding you to stop by and stock up. Specific market dates will be emailed as the season approaches.
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