About Growing Home’s CSA Program:
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a farming model that directly links consumers and farmers. CSA members receive a weekly share of the farm’s harvest: picked vine-ripe just hours before delivery, local, 100% USDA certified organic produce, are invited to participate in our harvest celebration, and are given periodic opportunities to u-pick berries and other crops
In return, members take on some of the financial risk inherent in agriculture by making an up-front payment at the beginning of the growing season, allowing the farm to take more risks. The Growing Home CSA Program is unique in that all profits from the program are put back into our job training program for impoverished Chicagoans.
Registration for Growing Home’s 2012 CSA Program is available now online.
In 2012, we are introducing an individual-size share in summer and fall to better suit smaller households. We are also extending the spring and fall CSA shares to five weeks each, and we are adding a new summer pick up site in Bucktown (2225 N. Leavitt).
Spring:
The spring share is one size only: a 5/9th bushel box (about the size of a large brown paper bag full to the brim with vegetables) containing between 8 and 14 different items.
When: 5 weeks long, from the week of May 7th though the week of June 4th.
Where: Choose from one of four pick up sites:
-Joliet Junior College Greenhouses in Joliet on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm- 6pm.
-The Les Brown Memorial Farm in Marseilles on Friday afternoons from 2pm- 5pm.
-Logan Square (3042 N Sawyer) on Saturday mornings 9am- 11am.
-Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Saturday mornings from 8am- 12pm.
What: USDA certified organic greens, hearty perennial herbs, asparagus, arugula, bok choy, garlic greens, baby lettuces, spinach, as well as, early summer herbs, like sage, chives, and peppermint, and more.
Summer:
In summer you have the choice between a full share, which is a 5/9th bushel box (about the size of a large brown paper bag full to the brim with vegetables) containing between 9 and 14 different items; or an individual share, which is a tote bag full of veggies and is about 2/3rds the size of our full share.
When: 15 weeks long, from the week of June 11th through the week of September 17th.
Where: Choose from one of nine pick up sites.
-Joliet Junior College Greenhouses in Joliet on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm- 6pm.
-The Les Brown Memorial Farm in Marseilles on Friday afternoons from 2pm- 5pm.
-Logan Square (3042 N Sawyer) on Saturday mornings 9am- 11am.
-Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Saturday mornings from 8am- 12pm.
-Growing Home’s administrative office in Lakeview on Wednesdays from 4pm- 6pm.
-St. Gertrude’s Church in Uptown on Wednesday evenings from 5pm- 7pm.
-Lake Street Church in Evanston on Wednesday evenings from 5:30pm- 7:30pm.
-Bucktown (2225 N. Leavitt) on Wednesday afternoons (time TBD).
What: USDA certified organic carrots, broccoli, potatoes, zucchini, summer squash, onions, cabbage, garlic, swiss chard, cucumbers, eggplant, green and purple beans, peas, early winter squash, bell peppers, tomatoes (a wide variety of heirloom types), as well as, a full range of herbs, including large “pesto bunches” of basil, and more. Additionally, the summer share will feature blueberries from Moss Fennel Farms.
Fall:
In fall you again have the choice between a full share or an individual share.
When: 5 weeks long, starting the week of September 24th through the week of October 22nd.
Where: Choose from one of four pick up sites.
-Joliet Junior College Greenhouses in Joliet on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm- 6pm.
-The Les Brown Memorial Farm in Marseilles on Friday afternoons from 2pm- 5pm.
-Logan Square (3042 N Sawyer) on Saturday mornings 9am- 11am.
-Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Saturday mornings from 8am- 12pm.
What: USDA certified organic arugula, spinach, bok choy, green beans, hard-shelled squash like butternut and acorn, beets, turnips, lettuces, as well as, late season herbs, peppers, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, kohlrabi, and onions, and more. Additionally, the fall share will feature apples from Earth First Farm.
All the above described fruit and vegetables are subject to weather, as is the nature of any CSA program.
To register visit our online registration form now.
Full-season discount: Members who sign up for all three seasons of shares receive $25 off of the total cost of their share. This discount is reflected in the online registration form pricing.
Scholarships: Thanks to our generous supporters we have a limited number of CSA program scholarships available for individuals for whom the regular price would be a hardship. To apply for a scholarship please download and complete this application and email it to Melissa Maciejewski. If you have questions please give us a call at 773-549-1336.
Bike delivery: To have your share delivered directly to you please contact loaded bikes. They work with us, and several other Chicago area CSA programs, to deliver fresh food shares directly to your home–in a convenient and low impact way. The service is completely through loaded bikes so if you’re interested in this option make sure to be in touch with them directly!