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"CSA" stands for Community-Supported Agriculture and is a partnership between a local farm and a neighborhood community. "The CSA farmer sells shares in her/his farm’s upcoming harvest to individuals, families or institutions. The share price goes toward the cost of growing and distributing a season’s worth of produce and paying the farmer a living wage. Each week, from June through November, the CSA farmer delivers the week’s share to a neighborhood distribution site in NYC—usually a community center or house of worship. Members collect their food at their neighborhood sites. Typically, each week’s share consists of 7-10 types of vegetables, enough for a family of 2-3 people." – from JustFood.org.

The GWCSA supports the Garden of Eve Farm of Riverhead, NY, a sustainable, certified-organic farm. Garden of Eve uses earth-friendly methods to farm in an environmentally sustainable way. With every yearly membership, the GWCSA helps stabilize the farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing in advance a share of the season's harvest. We help the farm cover up-front costs of seed and labor when it’s needed most, at the beginning of the season before the crops come in. In return, members benefit in the bounty and the healthy lifestyle related to having a personal connection to a local organic farm. The farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season—otherwise known as the "weekly share." In practical terms, by having membership in our CSA, you are helping our farmers, Chris & Eve, maintain and sustain a local organic farm, of which there are currently only four on Long Island. The farm sets the CSA share prices and the share amounts and contents. The CSA coordinates member signup and payments to the farm, and oversees the distribution of goods we are given by the farm to our members. The CSA is an independent organization, separate from the farm.

GWCSA members receive 100% locally grown food that is produced in an environmentally sustainable way; much of this food is organic. The eggs are from chickens that are free-range, grass-fed, and fed without hormones or antibiotics. The fruit is organic whenever possible; however, much of the fruit is non-organic as it is low-spray (grown with the lowest amount of spray and fertilizer possible to maintain a marketable production of the crop). The vegetables and flowers are organic.

We offer vegetable, fruit, egg, and flower share options. You can sign up for full shares (pick up on a weekly basis) or half shares (pick up on a biweekly basis).

• Organic Vegetable share: Members receive a diverse selection of organic, in-season, fresh vegetables and herbs. The vegetables are grown with no synthetic herbicides, fertilizers, or pesticides, and are picked the day before for freshness. You’ll taste the difference! The vegetable share comes from the Garden of Eve farm.
• Local Fruit share: Members receive fresh, locally picked fruit that ripens on the plants. The fruit is grown organic when possible, but approximately 80% of the fruit is low spray. The fruit share comes from Garden of Eve and other local farms in the New York and New Jersey area. /li>
• Free-Range Egg share: Members receive eggs from chickens that are free-range, grass-fed, and are not fed any hormones or antibiotics, so their eggs are healthier and fresher than what members will find in most grocery stores. The egg share comes from the Garden of Eve Farm.
• Organic Flower share: Members receive fresh flowers for the home without damaging the environment. Our bouquets are put together using a variety of local, organically grown flowers. Unlike commercial florists, these flowers are grown using an environmentally sustainable method without pesticides. The flower share comes from the Garden of Eve Farm.

The season runs 24 weeks; from mid-June through mid-November

Cost is based on type and number of shares. See our pricing here. In addition, there is a low administrative membership fee. Prices are readjusted yearly in order to account for inflation and other cost factors. CSA shares are good economic value. When average prices were compared with NYC’s major competitors, such as Whole Foods and Fresh Direct, the lower cost of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg CSA shares came out on top!

Sign-up for the next season runs from approximately February to May. It’s best to sign up early—we fill up fast! See our sign-up info here or contact us at williamsburgcsa@gmail.com.

We offer two distribution days/locations (however, members must decide in advance which one they will select; it cannot be switched or alternated during the season.) Saturday distribution is from 9 a.m. to noon in McCarren Park near N. 12th Street and Driggs Avenue. Wednesday distribution is from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 129 Russell St. between Driggs and Nassau Aves. (near McGolrick Park). Members must bring their own bags to transport their shares.

As we are a member-run organization, member involvement is what keeps the CSA functioning. The GWCSA requires that Saturday members work 1 full distribution shift (helping distribute shares to other members at the pickup location) and that Wednesday members work 2 half distribution shifts, selected at signup.

If you can’t pick up your shares one week, you may arrange for someone else (a friend or other household member) to pick up for you that day. Alternatively, you may swap dates with another CSA member. However, unfortunately the GWCSA cannot arrange a new pickup date or time for you. Alternatively, you may forfeit that week’s share and it will be donated to a local soup kitchen.

Members receive produce that is in season. Although there is a large variety each week, the produce will change from week to week. The production and delivery of farm produce relies heavily upon weather and natural conditions. There is seasonal push and pull of a quirky growing region and it dictates our menu for 24 weeks. For example, in 2006 we had a beautiful warm spring and members received bonus bags of spinach throughout the month of May. In 2004, the weather was so warm the farm threw in an extra share by starting distribution a week early. However, in August of 2005 it rained and rained and rained and the tomato crop got soaked. Unfortunately, it was not a banner tomato season and it was reflected in the amount of tomatoes in the share. (Of course, invariably some other crop liked the rain and there were more than enough eggplants and peppers to go around.) In the event of exceptionally poor conditions, share quantities may be reduced; during exceptionally good conditions, CSA members benefit from surplus produce. Everyone must keep in mind that beyond the shares, the point of our CSA is to provide real community support to a local organic farm and create a sustainable community through food choices.

There are many opportunities for GWCSA members to get even more involved with our organization and the community. For example, members can attend any of our CSA events throughout the season, which include parties, picnics, farm trips, and more. We also have volunteer opportunities. We donate our excess produce after distribution to the Greenpoint Reformed Church and are always looking for drivers to help ferry the produce on Saturdays and Wednesdays. This non-denominational church located on Milton St. (just off Manhattan Ave.) runs three food programs: a box lunch on Mondays, a soup kitchen on Wednesdays, and a food pantry on Thursdays. All GWCSA members are also welcome to join our Core Group, which oversees coordination between the Farm, the CSA, and our members throughout the year. The Core Group meets on the second Sunday of every month at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 129 Russell St. between Driggs and Nassau Aves. from 4-6 p.m. If you’d like to get involved, just email us at williamsburgcsa@gmail.com.

Cookbooks are still available! Our Well Seasoned cookbook was created with the help of more than 70 of our members and is packed with delicious recipes that make use of seasonal produce, with tips on vegetable storage and preparation. Cookbooks are $20 and proceeds benefit the GWCSA. If you’d like to purchase one, contact us at williamsburgcsa@gmail.com.