Your membership in Foxtail Community Farm CSA offers you many opportunities and benefits - whether you want to learn more about healthy cooking and eating, show your children where their food comes from, gain some hands-on experience with farm work, or just get out of the city for an afternoon!
Work Commitment
There is always work to be done on a farm! Member work is an important aspect of our CSA. Each member household is expected to contribute at least one working visit (about 2 1/2 hours of work) over the course of the season. Member work commitments are an integral component of traditional CSA models as a true partnership between farmers and consumers. We will have plenty of opportunities for members to fulfill this commitment. See our member pages for more details.
Research, Education and Service
Foxtail is involved with a variety of projects in the larger community. We participated in multi-year seed and potato research trials sponsored by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), recently secured a grant from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for a large season-extension hoop house, and are exploring other research projects to help expand the practical scientific knowledge base of our field. Our weekly CSA newsletter features a wide variety of short articles on farming topics to expand our members' awareness of different issues in sustainable agriculture.We partner with local food pantries to share extra produce, have worked with CSA members to bring farming education to local schools and have a special partnership with local Girl Scout troops. Our on-line member forum supports exchange of questions, recipes and other updates.
Recreation
As a CSA member, you can explore and enjoy the entire farm property. In addition to the flower gardens and cultivated fields, the farm includes over fifty acres of open fields, wooded trails, seasonal creeks, and a small pond. You can hike, bicycle, picnic, birdwatch, swing, swim, catch frogs, go on nature hunts, explore the flower and vegetable gardens, or just lounge in the hammock.
Beyond our own farm, Greene County is a great place to spend some time. Horseback riding, swimming, hiking, and boating can be done at a number of nearby ranches and parks, including the vast Catskill State Park to our south. Mini golf, go-carts, and regular golf courses are nearby, as is the Zoom Flume water park. There are many small gift and antique shops and restaurants in the neighboring villages, and plenty of country roads for scenic drives.
Workshops & Festivals
Join us on the farm most Sunday afternoons for ourworkshop series! Workshops introduce practical homesteading skills, with many family friendly sessions available. We also host two beloved seasonal festivals for CSA members and friends in June and October. These special days are a great way to get to know other CSA members, learn more about how your food is produced, and participate more fully in the farming experience. Check the 2013 calendarregularly for updates.