CSA Registration & Member Agreement

Agreement between CSA Member (that's you!) and Santa Cruz Permaculture, Inc. (CSA Farm)
640 Cabrillo Hwy
Pescadero, CA 94060
(831) 216-8208‬
info.santacruzpermaculture@gmail.com

We, the farm, wish to provide you with fresh, local, seasonal food for 25 weeks between May/June and November, 2024; and you, the member, wish to receive a portion of our harvest. This agreement outlines our shared commitments to that relationship.

1. Our Agreement.
   Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship between our farm and you as our customer. Rather than simply purchasing food, our customers become “members” of this CSA farm who receive a portion of the farm’s harvest. Our CSA runs for 25 weeks, from late May or early June to mid-late November. Members are responsible for showing up at their chosen pickup location from the list above each week to pick up your share of freshly harvested produce. You will generally receive 6-8 items of vegetables/fruits. Your produce box will be equivalent to a grocery bag of produce, with extra produce as available during peak season. Detailed information regarding pick-up is discussed below in Section 3. Variety and quantity may vary as described below in Section 2.


2. Growing Practices.
   The farm is not currently certified organic, but we are in the process of becoming so with the aim of being certified before the end of the 2024 season. The farm has been certified organic under the previous farm manager for over 20 years. We use only organic growing practices. This means our produce is grown without using conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
   
   As we move toward no-till practices, we currently integrate compost, worm castings, cover crops, and beneficials to regenerate the soil, increase resilience, and build biodiversity. For more information about our production please ask. We’d be happy to tell you more.


3. Our Shared Risk.
   We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. The quantity of produce, however, may vary from week-to-week or month-to-month due to extreme weather, insects, or other production factors despite our best efforts. By joining our CSA, you are agreeing to share the risk of crop failure with us and other members. In the unlikely event of a crop failure, our procedure is as follows:
   
   If only a small portion of crops fail, we compensate for the failed crops by filling your share with other crops grown on the farm that are ready for harvest at that time. We may cover for a crop loss by buying in from other local farmers with similar growing methods. This may not be a feasible option for all crops because of cost or widespread failure.


4. Our Shared Bounty.
   In addition to our CSA, our farm sells to farmers markets, restaurants, and wholesale distributors. We segregate our production for the CSA by allocating separate plantings to the CSA. When production of our CSA segregated crops are especially abundant, we pack as much as possible into your share. However, we don’t want to overwhelm our members or deliver so much produce that it goes to waste. When we feel that members have received enough of certain crops, we handle the surplus by selling it at the farmers market/to our restaurant buyers/etc. Please note that we produce some items exclusively for our other outlets. You may see our products at the farmers market that you will not receive in your CSA share.


5. Picking Up Your Share.
   You are responsible for picking up your share each week from your pickup site. You should have selected a site in the first section above. You are responsible for observing our pickup site rules, which are as follows:
   1. Pick up your share within the timeframe stated. Although we deliver high-quality produce to the site, it will decline quickly if not picked up in time.
   2. Be respectful of our drop site hosts’ property.
   3. Follow additional rules posted at your drop site regarding parking/use of certain entrances/boxes. etc.
   
   If you cannot pick up your share, you must arrange for someone else to pick it up for you. You are responsible for explaining the pickup location and procedures to your substitute. If you wish to change your pickup site, you must give us 7 business days notice by email: info.santacruzpermaculture@gmail.com.
   
   Shares that are not retrieved within the pickup time will be donated to a charity or food pantry, donated to the drop site host, or donated to another group. We take the safety of your food seriously and follow safe food handling practices. For your added protection, wash all produce before eating and put frozen products in the freezer as soon as possible.


6. Member Fees.
   By selling membership in advance of the growing season, CSA reduces the burden of up-front costs for the farmer. Your membership fees provide us with money to purchase seed and equipment before the season starts, and we appreciate your commitment.


7. Communicating with Us.
   The best way to communicate with us is via email or text. Our email is info.santacruzpermaculture@gmail.com and our phone number for texts is 831-216-8208. The best times to reach us are during business hours Monday - Friday. We will do our best to respond as soon as possible, but please understand that we spend most of our time in the field growing your food and not at our desk.
   
   Please contact us with any news of the following: changes to your email address, changes to your pickup location, problems with your pickup, or dissatisfaction with your share. We will communicate with you by email, text, or phone. When you sign up, you will be added to our distribution list. Please read your email from us. We depend on being able to communicate important information such as necessary changes to your distribution schedule or to our farm events. Every week, we will email a newsletter, giving you information about the crops in your share that week, recipe ideas, or other farm related news. By signing below, I agree to having purchased the CSA membership share. I understand that, although unlikely, the farm may change parts of this agreement related to production and distribution from time to time. I understand that they will contact me via email in advance of any changes to this agreement.