Contracts for 2009 are now available for download at our website: Touch the Earth Farm CSA. We’ll be offering several options for the upcoming year, including both the large and the small shares that we introduced last year. The big change is building in some time off for the farmer and her family: rather than an annual share, we’ll be offering an extended share, which runs for 42 weeks from the beginning of March to the second week of December. This will give me a break from harvesting during the coldest months, for which my fingers will be very grateful. Of course, we’re still offering our standard 20 week seasonal shares as well.

We’re accepting contracts from members only through December 14th. After that we will open memberships to our waiting list through December 21st. If all membership slots are not filled at that point, we’ll begin accepting contracts on an first come, first served basis.

I’d like to encourage everyone to take advantage of the wonderful service offered by Local Harvest to find farmers in your area if you haven’t already done so. Knowing your local foodshed is so important, especially in these uncertain economic times. Shopping at the local farmer’s markets in season is an easy way to support these local farmers and get to know them as well, but many farmers sell products all throughout the year if you’re willing to get in touch with them and drive out to the farm. Support the farmers in your area to ensure that you and your family will always have nutritious food to put on the table.

I’m still able to check email and such, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need me.

We’re making some changes to our 2009 CSA membership options. As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, we’re discontinuing our NIST deliveries and scaling back a bit. One of the other changes we’re making is to shift from an annual membership option to an extended membership option that will run from the first week of March through the second week of December instead of year round, giving me a much needed break for a couple of months. So we’re not quite so pressed for time with getting the contracts online this year.

I’ll be in touch soon via email with more details.