CSA: Quiet Springs Farm/Pearson's Melon Farm

WHO WE ARE: We are two farms, Pearson¢¯¿½?¢¢ï¿½?ž¢s Melon Farm and Quiet Springs Farm, that have worked together, sharing equipment, greenhouses, buildings, markets and labor, for more than ten years. We formally joined our operations under the umbrella of Steffen Farms when the principals, Patsy (Pearson) Steffen and Ken Steffen, were married in 2006. The farms, 2 ½ miles apart, have maintained their very different but complementary identities and have provided their customers with considerably more options than either could do alone, in regard to the variety of produce offered; length of season; type of production (conventional or organic); method of purchasing (farm market, subscription or both). Each year we grow 30 acres of produce in the field, in high tunnels and in low tunnels.

HOW OUR FARM SHARE PROGRAM WORKS: Overview: Basically, you purchase a share of the food that we will produce during 2013, before the season starts. Your share is in the form of food credits that you can spend in two different ways, either by free choice shopping at our farm markets, when they are open or when our markets are closed, by receiving custom boxes packed specifically for you, based on your food preferences. CHOICES

WHERE CAN I GET PRODUCE? You can get your produce during free choice shopping or by picking up a custom box, at two different locations: a) our farm market in Tilton, IL, just south of Danville, at the corner of US Route #1 (Georgetown Road) and Ross Lane or b) at our farm market in Howard (Sandtown), IN, located in the north west corner of Parke County. If there is sufficient interest in an area, we are open to starting up other locations for custom box pick-up and/or free choice shopping, possibly linking to community Farmers¢¯¿½?¢¢ï¿½?ž¢ Markets.

WHAT PRODUCE CAN I GET? You can spend your food credits in two different ways: 1) When our markets are open (SUMMER and FALL seasons), you can spend your credits at our markets, as you choose, during our free choice shopping periods. In addition, you will receive a discount of 3% on everything at our markets and you will receive special offers on items that are in limited supply and special pricing on items that are in abundant supply. 2) When our markets are closed (SPRING and WINTER seasons), we will pack a custom box of produce, specifically for you every week, based on your food preferences. In addition, you will have the option of requesting additional quantities of available items. Your box will be dropped off on Mondays, at the market that you have designated as your pickup location, by 2 pm of the local time of that market, either in Indiana or Illinois. The value of your box will be deducted from your credit balance.

WHEN CAN I GET PRODUCE? We have 4 DIFFERENT SEASONS that you can subscribe to separately. You can subscribe to any or all. SPRING - custom boxes with options 9 weeks (May 6 ¢¯¿½?¢¯¿½?…âÂ?œ Jul 1) full (half) subscription = $20 ($10)/wk = $180 ($90) due May 1 SUMMER ¢¯¿½?¢¯¿½?…âÂ?œ free choice shopping with discounts and special offers 10 weeks (Jul 9 ¢¯¿½?¢¯¿½?…âÂ?œ Sep 2) full (half) subscription = $20 ($10)/wk = $200 ($100) due Jun 15 FALL ¢¯¿½?¢¯¿½?…âÂ?œ free choice shopping with discounts and special offers 8 weeks (Sep 9 ¢¯¿½?¢¯¿½?…âÂ?œ Oct 31) full (half) subscription = $20 ($10)/wk = $160 ($80) due Jul 15 WINTER - custom boxes with options 7 weeks (Nov 4 ¢¯¿½?¢¯¿½?…âÂ?œ Dec 16) full (half) subscription = $20 ($10)/wk = $140 ($70) due Jul 15 NOTE: This year we will prorate late subscribers with no penalty.

HOW MUCH PRODUCE CAN I GET? WHAT DOES IT COST? HOW DO I KEEP TRACK? A full subscription for a given season, figures that you will spend $20 per week for the number of weeks of that particular season. A half subscription figures spending $10 per week. We will provide you with information, as to your current credit balance and whether you are spending more or less credits than projected. This information will be available on our website and/or via weekly email notices. If you are spending your credits faster than projected, you can: a) slow down purchases during open shopping, b) stop shopping or receiving boxes when your credits expire, or c) purchase more credits for the remainder of the season. If you are spending your credits slower than projected, you can: a) increase your purchases during open shopping or request more of certain items in your custom box; or b) you can carry your credits over into the next of our 4 seasons. All SPRING, SUMMER and FALL credits must be spent by October 31. WINTER credits do not carry over and must be spent by the end of the WINTER season.

To join us, fill out the form, on our website, that has: A) your personal information, B) your food preferences; & C) your order.