Subsidized CSA Shares Now Available

Thanks to a generous contribution from the Brighter Days Collective, Radix Farm is now offering subsidized half-price shares to qualifying low-income households.  We’re excited to extend the opportunity for folks to join who might not normally join a CSA and find it difficult to afford a full-price share.   Healthy, fresh, and local food for all is such a vital part of the movement for food justice and sustainability.  Thanks Brighter Days!!

Subsidized CSA shares are the same size as full-price shares and include all the same benefits as full-price membership; there will be no distinction once you become a member of the Farm.  Subsidized memberships are available at our Regular CSA pick up and at the Market CSA pick-ups (Market CSA at the $600 level ONLY).  There are a limited number of subsidized shares available, and they will be filled in the order in which we receive applications.  Please see the CSA Information page for details on the CSA options and instructions on how to join.  If you think you qualify for the low-income share, please check the chart below and then email us at radixfarm(at)gmail.com.

Regular CSA:   Full-price = $675.  Subsidized shares at half-price = $337
Market CSA:  Full-price = $600.  Subsidized shares at half-price = $300, (you will receive $630 in your farm debit account).

Anyone who qualifies for government assistance (WIC, EBT, or disability) is welcome to apply for a subsidized CSA share.  You are also eligible for a subsidized share if your total household income is equal to or below the amount indicated in the chart below. The definition of household is all the persons living with you with whom you share food.

Total number of people in your household	Combined income, less than
1	$20,665
2	$27,991
3	$35,317
4	$42,643
5	$49,969
6	$57,295
7	$64,621
8	$71,947

Now Accepting Applications for 2013 CSA Membership

Join Radix Farm for the   

2013 CSA Season

We are now accepting new members for the 2013 season.  Folks interested in becoming new members should fill out this 2013 Radix Farm CSA Membership Application (click to access form).   We will accept new members in the order in which we receive applications.  We will respond via email to let you know if  your preferred pick-up site is available. If  you are accepted, we’ll email you the complete Member Information Packet and Member Agreement.  You’ll have seven days to mail your payment and signed copy of the Member Agreement and secure your slot in the CSA.

2013 CSA Options

Radix Farm offers two distinct types of CSA pick-ups.  When you fill out your Membership Application, you must indicate  your preferred pick-up type and site from the list below.  Complete details on the CSA, membership, what is in a share, and more are available in the CSA INFORMATION tab above.

REGULAR CSA PICK UP
Traditional-type CSA wherein the Farm determines what members receive each week and distributes the share at a designated pick-up site.
Pick Up at St. Stephen’s Church
1525 Newton St., NW (at 16th St)
Tuesdays, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
22 weekly deliveries, late May – early November
$675 per share

MARKET CSA PICK UP 
Members join and pay upfront into a debit account, then shop at the the Radix Farm stand at one of our farmers markets, choosing what you want each week from what is available and your account is debited.

Pick Up at Petworth Community Market 
On 9th St., NW, at Georgia Ave (between Upshur St. and Taylor St.), DC
Fridays, 4:00pm – 8:00pm
May  - October
$425 or $600, (plus 6% or 10% bonus added to debit account)

Pick Up at  Ballston Farmers Market 
Welburn Square, 901 North Taylor St., Arlington, VA
Thursdays, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
May 2 – October 31
$425 or $600, (plus 6% or 10% bonus added to debit account)

 We hope you’ll join us for the 2013 season!!   

A few CSA shares left

csa memberships still available –  sign up today

We only have a few more CSA memberships available for the 2012 season, so sign up soon to get your share.   You can choose to pick-up your CSA share on Tuesday evenings at St. Stephens on 16th St. NW or on Fridays at the Petworth Farmers Market.  You’ll find more details in the CSA Information tab).

To apply for a 2012 CSA Membership:

1.  Fill out the online CSA Membership Application:    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHFBOElxVW5sUGN1UVZGdkFWRzhCa2c6MQ#gid=0

2. After we receive your Application, we will email to notify you if there is an opening at your preferred pick up site.  You’ll then have seven days to mail your payment and a signed copy of the Shareholder Agreement.

check it out,  radix farm is now on facebook

       Like us!  We’ll post more frequent but shorter updates on facebook, plus lots of photos, and let you know what we’ll bring to market each week.  We’ll still post photo essays, general updates about the farm, and information on how to join the CSA on the blog.  

Happy Spring!

Kristin

New Member Sign Up Begins Today

Get ready for fresh veggies . . . it’s time to sign-up for the Radix Farm CSA. 

CSA time is officially here.  The kale and collard seedlings look beautiful and healthy in the greenhouse, last week we seeded carrots in the field, and we’ll plant three varieties of potatoes this week.  Share deliveries and market days are just around the corner.     

In addition to our regular CSA pick-up on Tuesdays in Mt.Pleasant/Colombia Heights, this year Radix Farm will be vending at the Petworth Community Farmers Market on Friday evenings and offering a new type of CSA pick-up at the Market. 

How to Sign Up

Shares will be sold in the order in which we receive applications. As of Tuesday, March 13th, we have roughly 11 shares available for Tuesday pick-up and 2 shares available for the Friday Market pick-up.

To apply for a 2012 CSA Membership:

1.  Fill out the online CSA Membership Application:    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHFBOElxVW5sUGN1UVZGdkFWRzhCa2c6MQ#gid=0  

2. After we receive your Application, we will email to notify you if there is an opening  in the CSA at your preferred pick up site.  You’ll then have seven days to mail your payment and a signed copy of the Shareholder Agreement.  (After seven days, your slot will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.) 

2012 CSA Options  

REGULAR CSA PICK-UP

Tuesdays, at St. Stephens Church

1525 Newton St NW (at 16^th St) in the parking lot.  Pick-up from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.   22 weekly deliveries, late May – early November. $675 per share

OR

MARKET CSA PICK-UP

Fridays, at the Petworth Community Market

On 9th St. NW, at Georgia Ave, between Upshur and Taylor St.  Pick-up from 4:00pm – 8:00pm.  Early May - October 26.  $425 or $625, debit style

CSA Details

Regular CSA Pick-Up:  Tuesdays

Members pick-up the weekly share between 5:30pm and 7:00pm in the parking lot of St. Stephens Church.   The price for 2012 Regular CSA Shares is $675 for 22 weeks of produce (including delivery).  The 22 weekly deliveries will occur within a 24-week period between late May and mid November. Two weeks within this time frame will be “off” weeks with no share.   Radix Farm does not offer half shares.  If you think a full share would be too large, we suggest you alternate weeks with another household.

See CSA Information  for more details on the Regular CSA Pick-Up.

Market CSA Pick-Up: Fridays

The Petworth Farmers Market CSA Pick-Up is a debit style system, where members begin a discounted debit account with the farm and shop for produce at the Radix Farm stand at the Petworth Farmers Market during market hours (4pm – 8pm) each Friday using your account credit. This style allows the customer maximum flexibility. 


You can choose from two payment options:

a) Pay $425 now, receive a 6% Discount.  Your season starts with $450 in your Radix Farm Debit Account.

b) Pay $625 now, receive a 10% Discount.  Your season starts with $688 in your Radix Farm Debit Account.

See  CSA Information  for more details on how the Market Style Pick-Up works.  

Feel free to call or email with any questions.  

Looking forward to an exciting season, 

- Kristin

Returning Member CSA Sign-Up in Progress. Almost Time for New Member Applications.

Last year’s Radix Farm CSA members have until March 12^th to renew their membership. We’ll then know how many new CSA slots are available for 2012.   We don’t expect to have more than 20 openings, so be sure to look over the CSA options below and sign up quickly when the new member application period begins.

New CSA memberships for the 2012 season will be available on or about March 15th, at which time memberships will be sold in the order in which we receive applications.  We’ll post the CSA Membership Application online later next week.

2012 Radix Farm CSA 

There are a few big changes coming to Radix Farm this year.  I’m happy to announce that Radix will be attending the Petworth Community Farmers Market on Friday evenings and will be offering a new type of CSA pick-up at the Market.  Unfortunately, attending the Petworth Market on Friday means that we will have to cancel the Friday CSA delivery to the Capitol Hill neighborhood.  We will continue to deliver shares to St. Stephens Church on Tuesday evenings and hope to be back in Capitol Hill in the future.

CSA Options

By joining Radix Farm’s CSA, you get more than just a box of veggies dropped off on a porch.   Our CSA pick-ups are farmers market style – our produce is beautifully displayed and you select the items that you want from within the weekly guidelines.  You can connect with the farmer each week and meet and chat with other members at the pick-up site.  You can choose from two pick-up options and locations:  Regular CSA Pick-Up or Market CSA Pick-Up.

Regular CSA Pick-Up

Pick-up at St. Stephens Church, 1525 Newton St NW (at 16th St).  On Tuesdays between 5:30pm – 7:00pm, beginning late May through early November.  22 weekly deliveries.  $675 per share

OR

Market CSA Pick-Up

Pick-up at the Petworth Community Farmers Market, 9th St. NW, at Georgia Ave and between Upshur and Taylor St.  On Fridays, from 4:00pm – 8:00pm, May – October 26,  approximately 24 weeks.  Either $425 or $625, debit system.

 Details about each option is available in the CSA Information tab.

Supporting Local Agriculture 

And, though I’m sure many of you know why it’s great to join a CSA, here is a little refresher. 

Joining and supporting a CSA has many direct benefits to the customer, such as a steady supply of pesticide free, local, and healthy food, the opportunity to try new and unique vegetables, a connection to the land and the people who produce your food, and fresh produce (picked the same day) delivered to your neighborhood.  But there are additional benefits that reach well beyond the individual customer or farmer. Each person that chooses to join a CSA and/or to eat organic, fresh, local food is also choosing to support farmland conservation, to sustain alternatives to synthetic agriculture systems, to strengthen local food security, to uphold the genetic diversity of seed stock, and to increase the viability and sustainability of farming.  Our eating choices are one of our biggest overall influences on the planet, so make your food choices count. 

Thank you for supporting local and organic agriculture in whatever ways you can.  

- Farmer Kristin

Mini-greenhouse Up, CSA Sales Start Soon

CSA Update

Thanks to everyone who has expressed interest in the CSA for the 2012 season.  If you haven’t already, be sure to email radixfarm(at)gmail.com to get on the notification list.  There are now about fifty folks on the list (and likely only 10-20 openings), so keep your eye out for emails from Radix Farm over the next few weeks with instructions on how to join.

* Last year’s members – you will automatically receive renewal information and you have first choice to rejoin for 2012. *

CSA Sign-Up

I am in the process of determining  farmers market days and CSA drop off days for the 2012 season.  I  hope to finalize the seasonal schedule by March 2.  If so, then sales to returning CSA members will begin on March 5.  Returning members will have roughly a week to rejoin, and then membership will open to new members on approximately March 15.  Radix Farm will deliver shares to Columbia Heights and Petworth.  Final details on drop off sites and pick-up procedures will be posted here and emailed in early March.   See the CSA: General Information tab for more info.

Farm Happenings

I felt super accomplished this week when I finished building the greenhouse-within-a-greenhouse.  Instead of heating the entire greenhouse, I can now focus on only heating the mini-greenhouse and save lots of energy.  To help the seeds germinate, I’ll start the seed trays inside the mini-house where it’s nice and warm.  Some seeds, like cucumbers and tomatoes, germinate best at a toasty 85 degrees.  Then, after the little green shoots pop up through the soil, I’ll move them out to the larger space to grow on until they’re ready to transplant.  Also, if a cold snap comes, I can tuck the most sensitive seedlings back into the mini-house for the night.  Here’s a brief look at the project . . .

Getting started with my helper, Sprout.     The basic structure is up and ready for the hoops and plastic.

         

I bent electrical conduit for the top hoop supports.  Then I affixed the plastic with staples around the perimeter and used velcro for the door and window.  Inside there are shelves to hold lots of seedling trays, a fan, and a space heater connected to a thermostat.  Now I’m ready to start seeding.

                          

Outside, the garlic peaks through the straw mulch, growing strong.  And the first trays of the season – onions in the greenhouse.

                         

Getting excited for the season.  Hope you are too,

Farmer Kristin

Volunteer Day and Farmers Market

Volunteer Day Saturday, July 9

Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend at Radix Farm.  Come on out and volunteer on Saturday and help with weeding, transplanting, and harvesting.    Volunteer hours for July 9 are from 9:00am  to 12:00pm (please arrive at 8:45am to get set up).  Volunteers can take home veggies in exchange for the day’s labor.  To sign-up, email Kristin at radixfarm(at)gmail.com.

Radix Farm Produce Available at the New South West Waterfront Market

Radix Farm is selling produce through the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture at the
SW Waterfront Farmer’s Market at the Wharf every Thursday this summer from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The market is located at the corner of Water and 7th Street SW, just a short walk from the SW Waterfront Metro and the Maine Avenue Fish Market.  Radix Farm’s produce is for sale at the stand with produce from Arcadia Farms and a few of DC’s urban farms.   The Wharf also hosts stands with prepared foods, baked goods, charcuterie and is the only market in DC to sell beer.  Check it out (and mention you’re looking for Radix’s produce).

Glimpses of the CSA Pick-Up

The pick-ups are one of my favorite parts of farming, giving me the chance to meet and chat with members.  What a great crew of members this year!

Here’s Jean, so happy with his kohlrabi

Members bagging their shares at the Mt. Pleasant pick-up.

Happy Eating!

– Kristin

One Share Available

Membership Update

The CSA is now full.  Thanks for all of your inquiries.  If you are intersted in signing up for the 2012 season, email radixfarm(at)gmail.com and you’ll receive membership information this winter.  Thanks!

Tuesday’s delivery to Mt.Pleasant was a success – perfect attendance by the members and a sizeable share including kale, lettuce, chard, garlic scallions, kohlrabi or radishes, and seedlings.   It was a pleasure meeting everyone at the pick-up!!

CSA is full for 2011

Membership Update

Thanks to everyone who signed up for a CSA share with Radix Farm.  We have sold all the shares (40 members this year!) and are no longer accepting new members for the 2011 CSA season.   If you would like to receive notification about next year’s CSA, email radixfarm(at)gmail.com and we’ll send you sign-up information next winter.

Crop Update

The potato crop looks amazing this year.  With 900 row feet planted, if all goes well, you can expect delicious and tender white, pink, and blue potatoes throughout the season.

Potato Plants

Over the past week or so, we transplanted the first round of tomatoes.  After months of being babied in the greenhouse, I hardened them off for a week or two outside, and they are now adapting nicely to their new environment.  Round two will be planted in about two weeks.

Tomato Plants

And in other exciting news – After much research and deliberation, I have finally purchased a new Grillo 107d walk-behind, or two-wheel, tractor.   Manufactured in Italy, Grillo tractors, along with BCS, are the machines of choice for many farms under 5 acres.   They can run over 40 different implements.  So far I have the tiller attachment and the rotary plow, and someday I hope to get a flail mower.   Ready for the most exciting part?  The tractor runs on biodiesel! Hooray for no gas guzzling.  And Sprout seems to like it too.

Grillo Walk-Behind Tractor and Sprout

SHARE UPDATE

There are only three more CSA memberships available for the Friday pick-up in Capitol Hill - so send your enrollment forms in soon to secure your space (see  below for sign-up details).  The Mt. Pleasant CSA pick-up site is now full and we are not accepting any new members for this season;  a big thanks to all my returning members and welcome to new members!  

Anyone who would like to be notified when shares go on sale for the 2012 season should email radixfarm(at)gmail.com and ask to be added to the 2012 notification list.

Field Update

I am pleased to report that the spring planting is going smoothly.  The deer and groundhogs have been kind to the collards, kale and cabbage seedlings, the sugar snap peas have sprouted, and the deep green garlic leaves are popping through the field of mulch, just waiting to send up their scapes in June.

The past week of near perfect weather gave me many opportunities to transplant young chard and lettuce seedlings and tractor about, incorporating cover crops to get the fields ready for future planting.   The tomatoes will be planted into what was a patch of hairy vetch, a cover crop planted for its nitrogen fixing capabilities and beneficial effects on succeeding crops.  Hopefully you can come to the farm sometime this season to see all the cover crops and food crops in action.