It is hard to believe that the Winter Solstice has already happened and Christmas is right around the corner! It is even harder to believe that is has been almost three months since our CSA ended, and close to two months since I cleaned up the garden and seeded a cover crop. Cover crop? Yeah, I think I got that in to late and the early snows and cold weather didn’t help.

So how was our first year as beginning farmers you ask? It was incredible! Our little farm produced a lot of food, 4000 lbs or more, on about 4000 s.f. of growing space. We fed 25 CSA members, provided a variety of produce to the Mountain People’s Co-op, and the Savory Cafe in Nederland, and a little bit to Zamparelli’s Restaurant down the road from the farm. We also sold a modest amount at our farm stand.  

Throughout the season, I compared our weekly totals to some other CSA, all being larger than us, and I found that one the average, we gave our CSA members a similar amount of produce as these larger farms.  I also noticed that we actually gave a wide variety than some farms… and was shocked to hear some farms don’t even share tomatoes, peppers and other “high dollar” items with their CSA members!

We had several CSA members who had been with a larger, well known CSA in previous years, and they all said that our CSA did a much better job of providing a wider selection of produce and in general appreciated our more personal approach. We were not only flattered to hear this great feedback, but humbled. It has also been great to see such a high renewal rate for our 2010 CSA season! A huge thanks to all of you who rushed to renew and play for 2010! We look forward to serving you, and doing even better in our second year.

All of our CSA members were sent an “annual report” which completely documented our expenses and income. (and our start-up expenses far exceded our income, but we are hopeful we can make the farm financially sustainable.) We have not seen other farms doing this, but we did want to have complete transparency for our “share holders.”

Since we had a CSA member who seemed unclear of the concept of, and expectations of a CSA, I’d like to go over that.  A CSA member purchases a “Share” in the harvest, and share the risks & the bounty.  Farms which offer CSA’s also grow additional food to be sold elsewhere to help offset the costs of running the farm.  Additional sales go to farm stand, farmers market, as well as wholesale outlets like restaurants & grocery stores.  Every farm I know of in Colorado (and I know of many), sell to various outlets like this.  From the smallest urban multi-plot farms to the largest CSA farms.

All that said, we first harvest for our CSA members, and provide a box of food which we feel is appropriate for the share size.  The amounts for each item was decided on by looking at what other CSA’s provide their members, and from feedback from our own CSA members.  During the peak of the season many members told us they had a hard time eating everything before the next pickup day!  Once we have given our members their weekly box, additional harvest are sold as mentioned above to help offset our costs.

That is the year-end wrap up, and we look forward to serving you again in 2010!  Once again, a huge thanks to all who have supported us!

-Jim