FARM MEMBERSHIP
Membership enrollment is closed for the 2007-08 season.
Enrollment for the 2008-09 season begins in May 2008, with harvest
shares starting in November 2008. To be notified when enrollment
begins, sign up below for the free Worden Farm email newsletter.
LAND STEWARDSHIP
Members of Worden Farm receive a weekly harvest share of healthy,
delicious, seasonal produce.

Membership benefits include:
  • a guaranteed weekly supply of fresh local organic produce
  • a weekly farm letter with recipes and food preparation tips
  • farm reference library privileges
  • weekly play group at the farm for members' children
  • farm workshop discounts
  • free farm tours by appointment
  • invitation to members-only events

What is in a weekly share?

A harvest share fulfills the weekly produce needs of 2 veggie-loving adults.
Those who wish to receive more produce each week can purchase 2 or
more shares.

Each week, shares regularly include salad greens, such as lettuce, arugula,
or mizuna, and cooking greens, such as kale, collards, or cabbage, along
with an assortment of other produce. Harvests begin in late November
with a variety of greens and herbs. As the season progresses, harvests
include tomato, pepper, and other longer-season crops.

A sample week’s share may contain: a bunch of kale, a head of lettuce, a
bunch of turnips with green tops, 2 zucchini squash, 6 oranges, a pint of
cherry tomatoes, a quart of green beans, and a bunch of basil.

Most all of the produce each week is grown at Worden Farm. On occasion,
to offer more variety, shares might be supplemented with organic or
sustainable produce from friends and neighboring farmers in our area.

Pick-up locations

Produce pick-up is either at the farm just west of Punta Gorda, or at one
of the farm's other pick-up sites in Southwest Florida, including Fort
Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Downtown Punta Gorda, Nokomis,
Venice, Sanibel, and Downtown Sarasota.

How are shares picked up?

Shares are conveniently boxed up and ready to go. When you arrive at
your chosen pick-up site, you simply return your empty box from last
week, pick up the packed box with your name on it, and check your name
off the list. You are on your way to enjoy your fresh produce for the week.

"Market-style" pick-up option at the farm
A "market-style" option is available to members picking up at the farm.
Members select their produce for the week from an assortment of items
within each category. For example, in the cooking greens category for one
week, there might be a choice of one bunch of kale, of dandelion greens,
or of Swiss chard. Members who choose this option instead of the packed
box do so for the entire season.

What is the cost?

Cost of farm membership for the full 2007-08 season is $600, which works
out to about $25 per week of produce received.

Does the membership have to be paid all at once?

Full payment upon enrollment is customary. Members have the option of a
payment plan: a deposit upon enrollment of $150 reserves the
membership, and the remaining balance can be paid by October 1.

Payment by the start of the growing season is required because the
farmers plan for how much to plant and grow many months before it is
harvested, and pay for the significant expenses of production in the
months prior to the first harvests.

What happens if I have to miss a share pick-up?

If you need to miss a pick-up, you can have a friend pick up your share on
your behalf, or the share will be donated to a good home. There are no
make-ups or refunds for missed pick-ups.

What about getting larger quantities of produce?

Bulk discounts on certain produce items are available periodically
throughout the season to members. This is ideal for those who enjoy
preserving foods through canning, freezing, drying, and other methods.

****

The Worden Farm Membership Program is based on the Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement.

Worden Farm is also an active founding member of
Redland Organics,
which has a CSA program in
Southeast Florida (Miami-Dade and Broward
Counties).
Crops include:
Arugula
Basil
Beans
Beets
Bok choi
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chives
Cilantro
Collards
Cucumber
Daikon
Dill
Eggplant
Fennel
Flowers
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mesclun
Mint
Mizuna
Onions
Oranges
Parsley
Peppers
Potatoes
Radishes
Scallions
Spinach
Strawberries
Swiss chard
Tatsoi
Tomato
Turnips
Watermelon
Winter squash
Yellow squash
Zucchini
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