2697 Poindexter Road ~ Louisa, VA 23903 ~ 540.967.9511

Ploughshare Community Farm

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ploughshare Community Farm?
We are a small, family owned vegetable farm located in Louisa County. We offer shares of our weekly vegetable harvest through annual membership in the farm.

What is CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture is a partnership between a family farm and its members, who purchase “shares” of the harvest in advance.

How does the membership work?
Each member agrees to purchase an annual share of vegetables at the beginning of the season. The cost of the share reflects the anticipated cost of running the farm for the year and the provision of a living wage for the farmers. Each member then receives a weekly share of the actual production of vegetables from the farm.

What can I expect in a weekly share?
Depending on the time of year, your weekly share will contain 6 to 12 different types of vegetables, for an average of 10 pounds of vegetables per week.

Below are some of the items you can expect to receive in your share:

Spring	Summer	Fall
Carrots	Tomatoes	Pumpkins
Turnips	Swiss Chard	Broccoli
Scallions	Soy Beans	Winter Squash
Lettuce	Green Beans	Onions
Spinach	Potatoes	Garlic
English Peas	Summer Squash	Cabbage
Sugar Snap Peas	Peppers	Cauliflower
Spring Greens	Cucumbers	Sweet Potatoes
Beets	Melons	Brussel Sprouts
Kohlrabi	Leeks	Fall Greens
Radishes	Corn	Herbs

How much does it cost?
Each member will receive at least 20 weekly shares of produce beginning in May and ending in October. There are two share options:

Full share

Sized for a family of four
$675.00 per year (through 9/30/08)
$750.00 per year (after 9/30/08)

Half share

Sized for a family of two
$450.00 per year (through 9/30/08)
$525.00 per year (after 9/30/08)

Where do I pick up my share?
We currently deliver weekly shares to Charlottesville, Louisa, and Richmond. When signing up for the season, we ask that each member choose from one of the centrally located pick-up sites listed on the sign-up form. This helps defray the cost of delivery and gives you a chance to meet some of the other members of the farm.

How do I become a member?
Complete a membership sign-up form, include a check for the full cost of the share, and mail it back to us at the address on the bottom of the form. Because the farm relies on membership payments in order to operate each year, your check must be received at the beginning of each season. Special payment arrangements can be made on an individual basis at the farmer’s discretion.

What makes Ploughshare different?
Membership with Ploughshare Community Farm provides you with a local alternative to grocery store produce, which often travels an average of 1500 miles before arriving to Virginia. Ploughshare Community Farm grows all vegetables without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals or the use of genetically engineered seeds. We use Biodynamic agricultural methods, which go beyond organic practices to ensure good land stewardship, clean groundwater, and cleaner air. In addition, Ploughshare Community Farm is a proud partner of the Quality Community Council and their efforts to provide fresh vegetables to families living in low income neighborhoods through the Urban Agriculture Project in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Ploughshare Community Farm
2697 Poindexter Road
Louisa, VA 23093
540-967-9511