Membership

Community-supported agriculture farms began in the early 1960s in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan as a response to concerns about food safety and the urbanization of agricultural land. Groups of consumers and farmers in Europe formed cooperative partnerships to fund farming and pay the true costs of ecologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Joining a CSA is a shared commitment between the consumer and the farmer providing some certainty to the farmer in the way of a secure market for our produce in the fickle world we know as farming. My goal at Happy Hollow Farm CSA is to provide the highest quality produce possible. I strive to offer the most organized and effective way for consumers to buy seasonally fresh food directly from a local farm.

The CSA is comprised of any and all individuals who choose to support the goals and aspirations of Happy Hollow Farm. As the farmer, I offer a certain number of “shares” to the public. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box of seasonal local certified organic produce each week throughout the farming season. The farmer and the consumer thus provide mutual support and share in the risks and benefits of food production. Families and individuals who join Happy Hollow Farm CSA will receive a share of produce every week during the growing season (mid-May thru the end of October). In exchange, members sign a contract for the season, agree to pay in advance, agreeing to be the farm’s customer for the entire season. Members will also help with some of the work of harvesting and distribution of the food. Both partners share in the risks and genuine rewards of small-scale farming: weather, insect damage, and bumper crops.

Liz Graznak is a Columbia native whose love of gardening and the outdoors is primarily the result of time spent outside with her grandparents as a child. It was in grad school at Cornell University that Liz discovered CSA farms and realized she too wanted to grow vegetables. After working on a number of different farms out east and in the Midwest Liz decided to move back to the Columbia area. She also realized that if she was ever going to be able to afford to purchase her own farm than she was going to have to have a “real” job for a while. After seven years of working at Superior Garden Center Liz & Katie were able to purchase Happy Hollow Farm. CSA farming has provided the opportunity to fulfill Liz’s long anticipated goal of growing beautiful, healthy food and sharing it with a community of people that share her enthusiasm and commitment to a local food system.

• Full Share: $925 for 25 weeks ($37 per week). This amount of produce is suitable for a single family which regularly eats a lot of vegetables and cooks at least 4-5 meals at home per week. Also appropriate for two households who do not eat a lot of vegetables and may want to split the vegetables in each week’s box.
• Partial Share: $700 for 25 weeks ($28 per week). Suitable for a two person household who do not eat vegetables with every meal or a single person who cooks most every meal and eats a lot of vegetables.
• Single Share: $575 for 25 weeks ($23 per week). This share will receive 5-7 different items each week and is an amount of produce suitable for a single person who cooks 3-4 days a week.
• Non-Working Share: For those members unable to complete the work-share portion of their membership, for $150 ($6 per week) more you may opt out of your farm work-share. Two distribution site work shifts are required.
• Extra-Work Share: For those members interested in joining the CSA but unable to afford the regular membership rates you may opt to work an additional 20 hours for a total of 5 – 4 hour shifts for $150 deduction off the original share price. All membership options also require working 2 – 2.5 hour shifts at the distribution site during the course of the 25 week season.
• Payment Plan: For those members unable to make one lump sum payment you have the option of splitting the amount into three equal payments. Please send one payment at the time of signing up and include 2 post dated checks when you mail your member sign-up form.The full amount for all membership levels must be received by May 15th, prior to the start of the season.
• Bulk Vegetable Purchases: Bulk quantities can also be purchased throughout the season for canning, freezing, and storage as the vegetables are available. Throughout the season the farmer will notify members when bulk quantities are available.

Join us for the 2012 winter CSA season beginning late October & running thru December. If you love greens & root vegetables then this is the season for you!! The winter CSA season will run for 8 weeks and includes delicious cool weather veggies such as Kale, Swiss Chard, root vegetables, various types of Head Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula and much more. There is no work requirement for the winter season. Share pick-up will be on Wednesday’s at a member’s house with the location to be determined closer to the time of the season.

• A Full Share $336 for 8 weeks ($42 per week). This size share typically contains 7-9 different vegetables and a total volume of about one paper grocery bag.
• A Partial Share $264 for 8 weeks ($33 per week). This size share typically contains the same number of different vegetables, but with only ½ – 2/3 the amount of each vegetable. For instance instead of 2 heads of lettuce you will get one head of lettuce and instead of 2 bunches of hakurei turnips you will receive one bunch.
• A Single Share $224 for 8 weeks ($28 per week). This size share is tailored to a single person or a couple that eats at home 3-4 nights a week. This size share typically contains 5-7 different items.

Certified organic egg shares are now available thru your HHF CSA membership. Add any size Egg Share to your weekly CSA share and it will be delivered weekly with your vegetables. If you’re wondering why our eggs are priced as they are, check out this great article by some fellow farming friends at Chert Hollow Farm.

Egg shares available include:
• 1/2 dozen eggs per week ($3.50/week)
• 1 dozen eggs per week ($6/week)
• 2 dozen eggs per week ($11/week)

Payment is made in addition to your CSA membership or on a bi-monthly basis. The payment schedule is on the Egg Share Member Sign-Up Form.

• A Full Share typically contains 7-9 different vegetables and a total volume of about 0.6-0.75 bushels per week (quantities are less the first few weeks of the season, and more during the peak of the growing season). During the peak of the season this is slightly more than the volume of a large paper grocery bag.
• A Partial Share typically contains the same number of different vegetables, but with only ½ – 2/3 the amount of each vegetable (quantities are less the first few weeks of the season, and more during the peak of the growing season). For instance instead of 2 heads of lettuce you will get one head of lettuce and instead of 8 tomatoes you may only receive 4 tomatoes.
• A Single Share is for members that are single or may not eat as many vegetables in a week as the Partial Share option. This membership option will receive 5-7 different items each week (quantities are less the first few weeks of the season, and more during the peak of the growing season).
• A Non-Working Share is for those members unable to complete the work-share portion of their membership. For $150 ($6 per week) more you may opt out of your work-share. This option requires no work on the farm and 2 distribution site work shifts.
• An Extra Work Share is also available for those members interested in joining the CSA but unable to afford the membership rates. This share option requires that you work 20 hours in addition to the required 12 hours. The additional work hours allows you to deduct $150 off the original share price. This membership option also requires you to work 2 distribution site work shifts.
• Egg Shares are also available and can be picked up weekly with your vegetable shares. Happy Hollow Farm hens are fed only certified organic grains and vegetable scraps from the farm. Although eggs will keep for months in your refrigerator (most eggs purchased at the grocery store are 2-3 months old by the time you buy them), the eggs you will be receiving are a couple weeks old at most. The hens are housed in a portable chicken coop and moved thru the vegetable fields in a timely fashion so as to provide nutrients to the soil and clean up insects & vegetable matter left after harvesting.

Choose an amount of vegetables that you will be comfortable preparing and eating over the entire season (25 weeks). Items are typically what you would purchase seasonally at the store or farmers market in order to make a meal. Liz is also very interested in trying different foods and will introduce members to new and interesting vegetables and varieties. Please call or email for help choosing the best option for you. The sample boxes below can help you decide which share option might work best for you:

Early June

Veggies	Single Share	Partial Share	Full Share
leaf lettuce (head)	1	1	2
arugula (bag)	0	½	1
swiss chard (bunch)	½	½	1
kale (bunch)	½	½	1
radish (bunch)	1	1	2
baby bok choi	0	1	2
hakurei turnips (bunch)	1	1	2
scallions (bunch)	½	½	1

August

Veggies	Single Share	Partial Share	Full Share
slicing tomatoes	2	4	8
cucumbers	1	2	3
red sweet peppers	0	1	2
cherry tomatoes	1 pint	1 quart	2 quarts
summer squash	1	2	4
zucchini	0	1	3
eggplant	1	2	4
garlic cloves	1	1	2
fresh basil (bunch)	½	1	2
scallions (bunch)	½	½	1
melon	0	1	1

The member signup form is on the Join Us page of the website. I currently limit the membership to the number I can feed from the farm and I accept members on a first come, first served basis.

For those shareholders that feel a full share of produce is too much food for them, you are welcome to initiate splitting a box with a friend or neighbor. This responsibility is entirely up to you, however, to determine who you are splitting the box with and how you will split up the produce. I will send weekly newsletters to both shareholders and keep the contact information of both shareholders involved in the box splitting. I would strongly recommend that one shareholder pick up the share each week and then at one of the shareholder’s homes the division of the box actually occur. This will eliminate any potential confusion at the pick-up site. Unfortunately, I cannot help with linking two potential shareholders for a box sharing. I have enough in managing the farm to keep track of.

Full, Partial & Single Share levels:

2 Farm Shifts are 4 hours each (8 AM – Noon) for a total of 8 hours. To be fulfilled on either Wednesday or Saturday mornings during the 25 week CSA season.

All members of Happy Hollow Farm fulfill a small work requirement as part of their CSA membership. Work may include; harvesting produce from the fields, washing, packing boxes, and assisting with other farm chores as time permits. Harvesting takes place in any and all weather.

Work on the farm can be dirty, sweaty, hot, wet and a few days a year absolutely perfect. Because of these conditions it is necessary to bring and/or wear: close toed shoes, hats, sunscreen, gloves, possibly rain gear (jacket, pants, boots), plenty of water and a smile.

Members do have the option of buying out of their work requirement for an additional $150 for the 25 week summer season. Another option is to work 20 hours in addition to the hours required for each membership option. The extra work allows for you to deduct $150 from each of the CSA membership options. Please see the Membership Options question for more information.

A note about children: I highly encourage parents to bring their children to the farm. However, a work shift cannot be satisfied by anyone under the age of 12 years old. Children under 12 years of age must be supervised by an adult at all times and this cannot be the person who is satisfying the work requirement. This is a working farm and could potentially be dangerous to unsupervised young ones.

• Wear durable clothing that you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
• Bring two to three pairs of shoes: one pair of sturdy work boots or shoes, rubber boots for early morning dew or rainy conditions and one pair of comfortable shoes to change into once your shift is complete.
• Wear layers of clothing and plan ahead for inclement weather.
• Bring a rain coat (and pants if you have them) for washing vegetables or for the days when harvesting must happen in the rain.
• Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat (that will stay on in the wind)… These are absolute musts.
• Bring work gloves if you prefer to wear them or your hands are prone to blisters.
• Absolutely don’t forget a water bottle! I have wonderful well water if you run out of your own.

Full, Partial & Single Share levels:

2 Distribution Shifts of 2.5 hours each (4pm – 6:30pm on Wednesday or 8:30am – 11:00am on Sunday, distribution days)

All members of Happy Hollow Farm, as part of their membership in the CSA, fulfill time helping at the distribution sites. Each membership works 2 distribution shifts during the course of the 25 week season to assist with distributing boxes and answering potential questions that members may have.

Distribution Site Duties
4pm – 6:30pm Wednesday OR 9am – 11:30am Sunday
• Help unload and set up the share boxes
• Do not take a box yourself unless it is your regularly scheduled distribution day
• Greet each member as they arrive
• Complete checklist:
• Check off member’s name once they pick up their box
• Use checklist to verify member is picking up a single, partial, or full share
• Place a check by any member’s name who does NOT return a box from the previous week
• Store returned boxes and burlap sacks
• Stack boxes in an out-of-the way place
• Lay the burlap sacks flat in a stack to dry
• Place burlap sacks on top of boxes before leaving the site
• Call members who have not arrived by 6:15pm or 11:15am to verify whether they’re coming. If they are not coming leave a note or notify the drop site host so they can take care of the extra share?

Distribution locations for the 2012 season:
Wednesday – 4pm-6:30pm at a members house off Old Highway 63 South near Stephens Stables & the Columbia Country Club.
Sunday – 9am-11:30am at the Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market in the Wabash Bush Station parking lot downtown.
At the April Meet & Greet: members will meet the pick up site-hosts, receive directions to the 2 pick up locations, confirm your farm work shifts and distribution shifts and go over other details about CSA membership.

All CSA administration is done by a volunteer group of members who take on specific administrative jobs for the year and attend a few meetings each season. Core Group jobs include distribution coordination, member in-reach, farm work scheduling, planning social events, and coordinating the core group meetings. The CORE group of members (maximum of 5 this year) will administer behind the scenes operations of the CSA and advise the farmer on the desires and thoughts of the membership. Voluntary participation in the Core Group is open to any member. Work on the core group replaces the farm work requirement.

The farm has many hazards for adults and children. Please observe all safety guidelines and instructions given to you by the farmer during your work shift.

• I highly encourage you to bring children to the farm. However, in my experience small children tend to lose interest in farm tasks rather quickly, and the attention span for farm work of 10-14 year olds is variable.
• Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times. This should not be the person performing the work shift.
• Children may not enter any of the farm buildings (barn, greenhouse, coolers, packing areas, etc. unless supervised by an adult at all times. Hazards include moving equipment, sharp tools, and supplies such as fertilizers, oil, gas, etc. are common around the farm.
• Do not touch or climb on any farm vehicles (tractors, mowers, wagons, etc.) or stand in between vehicles attached to wagons or implements.
• Many farm tools are very sharp. You may only handle farm tools after you have been properly instructed how to do so by the farmer.
• Listen to your body and resist the urge to overexert yourself. If you are feeling poorly, please tell the farmer immediately.

If you cannot pick up a scheduled delivery, you have three options:
1. Have a friend pick it up for you (the best option!)
2. Contact the farmer 3 days in advance to reschedule for the other pick-up day of the same week. If you usually pick up Sunday, you would pick up the Wednesday before, and if you pick up on Wednesday you would pick up the following Sunday. This change means you go to a different distribution site and is limited to three times per season per membership.
3. Loose your share for that week. We cannot hold produce over until the next week.

Unfortunately I do not currently offer any other delivery services other than to the official drop off sites in Columbia. This is a symptom of my belief in providing healthy, fresh and local produce to my community. I am very happy to offer on-farm pick up for shareholders that live within close proximity to the farm. Please make a note of your wish to arrange for on-farm pick-up on your CSA sign-up form.For those who are still too far away to receive our vegetables or if we are sold out and you would like to try another CSA in the area, I recommend you visit the following web sites that focus on matching people to CSAs in their immediate area:

• http://www.LocalHarvest.org
• http://www.csacenter.org
• http://www.sare.org/csa/index.htm
• http://www.greenpeople.org/listingshow.cfm

I highly encourage CSA shareholders to visit the farm. After all this is the place that will be providing you and your family with a large portion of the food you will be eating for 25 weeks of the year. Please remember, however, this is a working farm and I am a very busy woman! If you are interested in visiting the farm please call or e-mail me in advance so we can set up a time to meet and I will be happy to give you a tour.

I try to distribute all of the produce each week as evenly as possible to the shareholders. As the produce is harvested and washed it is separated by size. This allows me to balance the quantity of all the vegetables going into each share. For example, two small heads of lettuce will be included in a share instead of one large head of lettuce.

The quality of your vegetables is determined by a variety of factors. At the farm, I go to great lengths to optimize the variables that are controllable. Almost everything delivered in the boxes is harvested within 24 hours of you receiving the boxes. I harvest as early in the day as possible and immediately bring the vegetables into the shaded washing area. Those vegetables that respond best to a cold-water bath are then washed and moved into coolers for storage. There are a few crops such as onions and potatoes, which will store longer if not rinsed.

Once your veggies are delivered it is up to you to continue preserving their quality. To keep your produce as fresh as possible, pick up as early as you can on your delivery day. I use cedar crates covered with wet burlap sacks, which help hold the cool moist temperatures of the produce, however, the delivery site does not have refrigeration, so the sooner you pick up the better. During the heat of the summer the freshness and quality of your produce can quickly go down hill so once you get home store your various vegetables properly.

Despite my every effort there will sometimes be crops that do not do well due to weather, pests, etc. If there are certain crops which do not do well they will not be included in your shares and I will make sure to let you know in the newsletter.

In no way do I feel it acceptable to put less than the highest quality produce in your share. Try as hard as I may you might receive something that you are not happy with. If you are not satisfied with the quality of the produce you have received than please contact me and I will make every effort to rectify the situation.

This is one of the beauties of joining a CSA. The wide variety of produce you will receive throughout the season provide you with the opportunity to try things you may not be familiar with. The very seasonality of growing vegetables in mid-Missouri assures you that if there are some things you don’t like, no worries, you won’t get them for too many weeks. Try new recipes or give those things to other CSA members, friends or neighbors.

Members receive an abundance and diversity of vegetables throughout the 25 week growing season. You should be ready to regularly prepare vegetables and to occasionally eat something unfamiliar. We work hard to help members prepare and enjoy their produce:

• Our newsletters include useful cooking suggestions and tasty, practical recipes.
• On our website you can search past newsletters for recipes using a variety of different vegetables.
• Download our Vegetable Preservation Chart.
• For help with planning meals, members can choose to receive the weekly newsletter via email forecasting the vegetables which will be in their box each week.
• From Asparagus To Zucchini Cookbook
  This cookbook published and distributed by the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (MACSAC). Contact Happy Hollow Farm if you are interested in purchasing a copy of this cookbook. For $20 it will be a great resource for any member or veggie loving person that is excited to try new and different ways of preparing your produce!

My first experience with Community Supported Agriculture was as a member of a CSA farm while in grad school. I was hooked; you could say I had found my calling. But I didn’t know the first thing about farming! So, I attended a few organic farming conferences in upstate New York and everyone I talked to said I should intern on a few farms before venturing out on my own. I’m VERY thankful that I listened to their suggestions! I learned an enormous amount and am certain saved myself countless mistakes, time & money by working with other farmers.
When hiring interns/apprentices farming experience is definitely not the first thing I look for; what I do want are a willingness to work hard, learn what I have to teach and all the while enjoy what you’re doing! Most people figure out very quickly that they aren’t happy doing the physical work day in and day out if farming is not truly their own shared long term goal. My goal with providing an internship opportunity is to teach as much as I know about all aspects of farming from greenhouse work, in the field planting & weeding, planning/scheduling/organizing, bugs & diseases, equipment repair & maintenance, construction skills (when applicable), and everything else in between. While simultaneously working, working, working (in all weather) and having fun and enjoying the work while we do it.
An apprenticeship with Happy Hollow Farm will provide a great experience on a certified organic vegetable farm as well as an extensive learning opportunity for new farmers wanting to get their hands dirty and experience the good, the bad, the ugly & the immense rewards of organic farming.

APPRENTICESHIP DETAILS
Spring/Summer/Fall Season: April 1st thru the end of October. The Summer CSA season runs for 25 weeks. Start time depends greatly on the weather and how early I can get into the fields; however, I start seeding in the greenhouse in mid-February with the goal of distributing the first shares the second week of May.
Fall/Winter Season: October 1st thru the end of April. The winter CSA season runs for 8 weeks and the winter farmer’s market season runs thru the entire winter season.
Work Hours: 8:00- 5:00 Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 7:30- 3:30 Wed. & Sat. (with a 1 hour lunch each day). These hours are a rough estimate as there are always days where we work longer or cut off early. This is NOT like any other job you’ve had. It is very weather dependent and if we have another year like 2010 I have to take advantage of every farmable dry moment there is. One lunch each week (probably on Thurs.) will be potluck style and shared with all people on the farm that day.
Stipend & Housing & Food: $400/month, housing provided (near the farm) and a Single Share membership in the CSA.
Scheduled class time: As this is an apprenticeship position there will be a one hour scheduled class time each week and a book about farming that will be used as a semi-texbook (the farm will provide the book).

If you are interested in an apprenticeship opportunity at Happy Hollow Farm please submit a cover letter including:

• Why you are interested in an apprenticeship on Happy Hollow Farm
• What you hope to learn during your time spent at Happy Hollow Farm
• List your previous farming experiences, if any
• If you have any previous commitments during the specified work dates

Please mail your cover letter and a copy of your resume to:
Liz Graznak
Happy Hollow Farm, LLC
17199 Happy Hollow Road
Jamestown, MO 65046