CSA Member Guide

Weather, Crop Availability, and the Risks of Farming

Early Morning Farm has been growing certified organic vegetables for our Community Supported Agriculture program since 1999. We have years of experience and are confident our operation is adequately staffed and equipped to produce and deliver enough food to satisfy the needs of our CSA program.

However, farming is a business with inherent risks: weather conditions, equipment failure, unforeseen pest and plant disease issues, and even occasionally, farmer error, can all negatively affect crop yields. While we at the farm will take all practical steps to mitigate these risks, we cannot reimburse, refund, or otherwise compensate for crop failures or low yields.

By becoming a member of our CSA program you are agreeing that these risks are included in CSA membership.

Refunds and Cancelations

Membership in our CSA is a commitment to purchase and receive vegetables for an entire growing season. We generally do not offer refunds or allow cancelations. However we will consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis for the following issues: Major loss of household income due to unexpected unemployment or disability, death or disaster, unexpected relocation, and unresolved customer service issues.

Payment Plans

We offer a payment plan that divides the cost of a CSA share into five equal payments. The first payment is due when you sign-up. If you register of renew before March your second payment will not be due until March 1^st. After that your next three payments will be due on the first day of the following three months. If you register after March 1^st, then your first payment will be due upon sign-up and your next four payments on the first day of each of the following four months.

Our payment plan is intended to help members manage the cost of a share but it is not a “pay-as-you-go” plan. Membership in our CSA is a commitment to purchase and receive vegetables for an entire growing season. When you sign-up and choose the payment plan option you are expected to make all five payments.

Member Accounts

When you sign-up an online member card is created for you with your share options, your pick-up location, and the balance on your account. You can view your account, edit your contact information, make payments, renew your share for next season, and even change your pick-up location by logging in with the email and password you created when you first signed-up. If you don’t remember your password or registered in person at a pick-up location a new password can be automatically sent you your email.

Switching Pick-up Locations - Boxed Share Locations

You may change your pick-up location; however, there is a 3 day hold on all changes. This means if you want to change we need to know by Sunday at Midnight. Any change you make will stay in effect until you change it back. For example, you want to pick-up your share in Homer instead of Lansing; log on by Monday at midnight and change your pick-up location from Lansing to Homer. If you want this to be just a one-time change, then you have to log on again after your Thursday pick-up but before Monday at midnight and change your pick-up location again.

Changing from Boxed Share to Farmers’ Market (or visa-versa)

You may decide that you would rather pick-up a boxed share instead of a Farmers’ Market share (or visa-versa). This is will work under the following conditions:

We still need the change to be made by midnight on Monday
The Shares must be equivalent in value. If you are a Two Adult household and have been picking up a Small Boxed Share you will have to pay to upgrade to a Two Adult Farmers’ Market share so that the share matches the number of adults in your household. Likewise, if you are a Single Adult with a Farmers’ Market share and you switch to boxed share pick-up, you will be assigned a Small Boxed Share unless you upgrade.

Sending Someone in Your Place to Pick-up Your Share

If you are unavailable to pick your share up we encourage you to send someone in your place. For Boxed Share locations, please give your substitute thorough instructions. Make sure they know where and when the pick-up location is, and that they need to check your name off on the sign-in sheet and take only the box size listed next to your name.

For the Farmers’ Market share just have your substitute ask us for directions at market and let us know that they are picking up instead of you.

Prorated Shares

Beginning of the Season: If you know in advance of the season that you will be unable to pick-up your share for more than four weeks during the season then we can pro-rate your share. Pre-season prorated shares are not eligible for any discounts other than the reduced rate and you must contact us in person to set up a prorated share.

After the Beginning of the Season: After the delivery season has begun you can still sign-up for a share. The sign-up software will automatically calculate the number of weeks and charge accordingly. After the season begins we add $1/week to the share prices, and there are no discounts available.