CSA Member Agreement
Drafted By: A. Bryan Endres,* Megan Galey,** and Rachel Armstrong***
With edits particular to our farm by Julia Slocum
Table of Contents
Introduction
1
Section 1. Introducing Our CSA Farm
A. Becoming a Part of Lacewing Acres' CSA
B. Our Growing Practices
C. The Products We Expect for 2013
2
2
2
3
Section 2. Our Shared Commitments
A. Sharing in the Risk of Crop Failure
B. Sharing in the Reward of Crop Surplus
3
3
3
Section 3. Share Deliveries
4
Section 4. Communicating with Us
4
Section 5. Member Fees
Membership Agreement Form (to be printed and submitted with payment to address below)
4
5
Farm Mailing Contact Info:
Lacewing Acres
206 Apple Place
Ames, IA 50010
515.231.0957 (c)
lacewingacres@gmail.com
Introduction
This Membership Agreement was prepared to serve the needs of CSA farmers and the CSA members for a
comprehensive agreement that protects both parties and improves communication between farmer and member.
It has been edited to include information pertaining specifically to Lacewing Acres. Thank you for taking the
time to read through this before signing up for Lacewing Acres’ CSA!
*
Associate Professor of Agricultural Law, University of Illinois, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics.
Legal Research Associate, University of Illinois, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics
***
Legal Research Associate, University of Illinois, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics; Executive Director, Farm
Commons, Inc.
2013 CSA Membership Agreement, 12/16/12
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**
Section 1. Introducing Our CSA Farm
A. Becoming a Part of Our Farm
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 18 weeks, from June 12th to October 9th of 2013. Members are responsible for receiving your share of freshly
harvested produce each Wednesday afternoon/evening at your home at a pre-determined location. You will generally receive 4-6
bunches or bags of vegetables each week with less towards the very beginning of the season and more during the peak and final weeks
of deliveries. Detailed information regarding deliveries is discussed below in Section 3. Variety and quantity may vary as described
below in Section 2.
B. Our Growing Practices
The farm is not currently pursuing any certifications, such as Certified Naturally Grown or USDA Certified Organic, but we use
organic methods and have outlined some of our specific practices on the “Methods” page of the website
(www.lacewingacres.com/the-farm/methods). We would be happy to discuss our practices with you at any time.
C. The Products We Expect for 2013
The chart below outlines some of the produce we hope to deliver and when you may see them in your share. This chart is based on our
best estimate, but of course weather, pests, and other events will affect actual production.
Month
Harvested
June to July
August to
October
Expected Crops
Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Lettuce and Mixed Greens, Spinach, Kale, Swiss
Chard, Radishes, Turnips, Sweet/snap peas, Strawberries, Green Onions/Scallions, Fresh Herbs, Summer
Squash, Cucumbers, Kohlrabi, and more!
Tomatoes & Cherry Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Peppers, Eggplant, Potatoes, Garlic, Storage Onions, Winter
Squash, Summer Squash, Cucumbers, Spinach, Broccoli, Cutting Celery, Rutabaga, Potatoes, Sweet
Potatoes, Melons, and more!
Section 2. Our Shared Commitments
A. Sharing in the Risk of Crop Failure
We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. The quantity of produce, however, may vary from weekto-week/month-to-month/season-to-season 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. If a large portion of crops fail, we may not be able to deliver any product in some weeks.
We may cover for a crop loss by buying in from other local farmers with a similar philosophy as our farm. However, this may not
be a feasible option for all crops because of cost or widespread failure. We may also cover for a crop loss by including fresh,
homemade baked goods or preserves from our farm or other producers.
Ensuring that our members receive the value of a full share over the season is a top priority for our farm.
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B. Sharing in the Reward of Crop Surplus
In addition to our CSA, our farm plans to sell to a farmers market, restaurants, grocery stores, caterers and buying clubs. Although
production is not segregated, our CSA receives priority. When production of our crops is 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 through other outlets.
Please note that we produce some items exclusively for our other outlets. You may see our products at the farmers market or in the
grocery store that you will not receive in your CSA share. If you see a product that you would like to see in your share in the future,
please provide that feedback in the on-going online survey or by sending us an email.
Section 3. Share Deliveries
You are responsible for receiving your share each week at your home. You do not need to be at home at the time of delivery – a predetermined drop off spot will be arranged prior to the start of the season (on a porch, inside a garage door, in a cooler on the patio,
etc.). Please ensure there is a clear path to the agreed upon drop spot. If you will be out of town for a week, you may arrange for
someone else to pick up your box at your home, or you may contact the farm to have the produce donated to Food at First or other
local social service agencies. Missed boxes will not be refunded. Members are responsible for returning their box each week by
leaving the empty box at the designated drop spot. Please be sure to return your boxes as they are sanitized and re-used each week of
the season.
We take the safety of your food seriously. Please read the Food Safety page on the website (www.lacewingacres.com/thefarm/methods/food-safety). A food-safe disinfecting solution such as Tsunami© may be used to treat particular crops more vulnerable
to contamination, such as mixed greens, leaf spinach and lettuces. For your added protection, always wash all produce before eating.
Section 4. Communicating with Us
The best way to communicate with us is via email at lacewingacres@gmail.com. For more urgent issues you are welcome to call
Julia’s cell at 515-231-0957, **please note that I am still living in 1998 with an archaic phone plan that does not receive text
messaging**. I will do my best to respond as soon as possible, but please understand that I spend most of my time in the field
growing your food (or at my part time job) and not at my desk. Please be sure to contact me with any news of the following: changes
to your postal or email address, problems with your delivery, or dissatisfaction with your share.
If you’re happy about anything regarding the share, we’d love to hear that, too! It’s great to post happy, enthusiastic member notes &
quotes at the farm for encouragement on those hot, muggy and cold, drizzly days. : )
We will request permission prior to using any quotes or testimonials in any of our marketing materials.
We will communicate with you by email. When you sign up, you will be added to our CSA Members list. Please read the emails from
us. We depend on being able to communicate important information such as necessary changes to your delivery schedule or to our
farm events. Every week, we will email an update giving you information about the crops coming in that week’s share, as well as what
we anticipate having at the farmers market, recipe ideas, or other farm related news.
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Section 5. 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. At this time
we only offer one share size – a “full share” typically contains 4-6 items each week and is designed for two a-bit-above-averageveggie-eating adults, as a supplement for a larger household, or for individuals with interest and time for eating locally all season,
with surplus for putting up for the winter months. Please circle your correct payment based on the postmark date of this agreement
form.
Share price if postmarked Before January 1st
$300
X _____ (# of shares) = _______
Share price if postmarked After January 1st
$325
X _____ (# of shares) = _______
Total Payment Due: ______
If you are interested in making your share payment in installments, please email
lacewingacres@gmail.com to discuss and make a personalized payment schedule.
If you are paying the membership fee upfront, please enclose a check for your total amount due, made payable to Lacewing Acres
with this signed agreement form. If you have discussed and made a personalized payment schedule with the farm, please enclose the
agreed upon number of checks, dated according to the agreed upon payment schedule with this signed agreement form. By submitting
this agreement form you are agreeing to pay the membership fee for the share you indicated above.
All payments are non-refundable as funds are used for purchasing seeds, supplies and equipment prior to the start of the growing
season. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please let us know prior to submitting the Membership Agreement
Form and payments!
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Membership Agreement for 2013
Please print this page and submit with payment to:
Lacewing Acres
206 Apple Place
Ames, IA 50010
Member Contact Information:
Name: _________________________________
Address: _______________________________
City, State: _____________________________
ZIP: ___________________________________
Phone Number: __________________________
Email: _________________________________
If intending to split your share with another household, please
include their names and contact information as well:
Name: _________________________________
Address: _______________________________
City, State: _____________________________
ZIP: ___________________________________
Phone Number: __________________________
Email: _________________________________
If you are purchasing a share as a gift for a friend or family member, please let us know so that we make sure we are
sending communications to the right individual!
The individual/household(s) receiving the share will need to sign this Membership Agreement Form, as it contains
important information pertaining to their participation in Lacewing’s CSA.
We, the farm, wish to provide you with fresh, local, seasonal food and you, the member, wish to receive a portion of our harvest. This
agreement outlines our shared commitments to that relationship.
By signing below, I agree to terms outlined in this form and I agree to purchase the membership share indicated below. I have
included my payment (or first installment, as arranged with the farm) with this Membership Agreement Form. .
Share price if postmarked Before January 1st
$300
X _____ (# of shares) = _______
Share price if postmarked After January 1st
$325
X _____ (# of shares) = _______
*This should match the chart in Section 5.
Total Payment Due: _________
I understand that all payments are non-refundable, as funds are used for purchasing seeds, supplies and equipment prior to the start of
the growing season. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please let us know prior to submitting the Membership
Agreement Form and payments!
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 the farm will contact me via email in advance of any changes to this agreement.
Name (please print): ____________________________________________ Date: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________________
2013 CSA Membership Agreement, 12/16/12
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