FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

On our website, select the CSA Membership option from the main menu at the top of the screen. Create your membership, print out the membership agreement, then sign it and mail it along with your check or money order to Good Life Farm.

HOW DO I RESERVE A SHARE?

After you register, you will be on the Good Life Farm email list. We send an email with share and tour information on every Wednesday evening with a link to reserve that week's share. You must reserve your share 24 hour in advance of pickup. If you do not recieve an email from farmerlarry@goodlifefarm.com, please check your spam filter.

I BOUGHT YOUR CSA LAST YEAR. WHAT SHOULD I PURCHASE THIS YEAR THAT IS THE SIMILAR?

This year (2011) we will be offering only 1 share size. That will be for 2 people.

MAY I PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD?

The expense of maintaining a credit card payment system is too steep for our small-farm budget. We accept checks, money orders, or cash.

 CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE DELIVERY OPTION ?

We are offering to your doorstep delivery on Thursdays of every week in Montgomery County. Deliveries will be made in a 5/10 gallon cooler bag. This is included as part of the delivery fee. Additionally, you may combine deliveries to the same location. The first delivery is Full Price, but every other delivery to the same location is $50 for each additional membership.

WHY DO I PAY IN ADVANCE?

When you subscribe to the Good Life Farm CSA, we make an investment on your behalf. Seeds and other materials are purchased specifically with you in mind. We start the process in February, growing seeds in trays, then plant our fields from March through July. So by May, when you receive your first share, your CSA share has already paid for materials and months’ worth of labor.

MAY I PAY AS I GO?

No. We need the initial payment for seeds, fertilizer and other farm related items.

HOW LONG IS THE SEASON?

The season will begin between April 23 and May 15th and end between Dec 1 and Dec 21. We expect to provide shares for between 30 to 35 weeks.These dates are dependent upon the weather. We offer weekly and alternate-week subscriptions for 2 people.

MAY I CHOOSE WHAT IS IN MY CSA SHARE?

We choose what goes in the share, based on availability. This will likely expose you to some unfamiliar items, which is part of the excitement of buying a CSA share. That said, at various times during the season we offer a choice of products; in addition, we offer you the ability to purchase both rare and overly abundant items. For example, in season we often have an abundance of tomatoes and sweet corn. We list these items on our website and offer them for sale, independent of your CSA subscription.

WHAT WILL BE IN MY WEEKLY CSA SHARE?

Each week, you’ll receive 5 to 10 seasonal farm-fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Some of these may be multiple, but will count as one item: for example, you may receive 4 to 6 ears of sweet corn, 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, or 2 to 6 slicing tomatoes, depending on the harvest and the time of year. Produce will vary according to the season, as will the weight of your share (melons, for instance, weigh more than salad mix). We will do our best to ensure that you receive the true value of your membership fees during the spring/summer or fall season. Click here to see the offerings from our 2009 CSA program.

MAY I ORDER EXTRA PRODUCE?

When you pickup your sharem there will be an offering of items that we have for sale in addition to your csa share

WILL MY CSA SHARE CONTAIN FRUIT?

While Good Life Farm is predominately a vegetable grower, we do grow strawberries and melons. In addition, we have relationships with local orchards to ensure that you’ll receive a fair amount of fresh fruit each season.

WHAT ABOUT EGGS?

We will offer eggs for sale to our members, in limited quantities.

ARE YOU ORGANIC?

Good Life farm is not a certified organic farm, but we use strictly organic methods (OMRI-certified fertilizer and sprays) unless it is absolutely not possible to do so. The produce you receive as a CSA member that may not be organic includes fruit, sweet corn, and some varieties of tomatoes.

MUST I WASH MY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES?

Absolutely! In fact, as part of the membership agreement you pledge to wash all your produce before consuming it. We recommend triple washing, with the first rinse lukewarm water. Click here for more information about washing produce.  

WHAT BENEFITS DO I GET BESIDES FRESH PRODUCE?

Your CSA purchase supports local agriculture. This creates jobs in the county, preserves open space, and allows us to continue our farming efforts. Additionally, we offer discounts throughout the year to our CSA members on bulk and rare vegetables and fruits. What’s more, you’ll be invited to take a personal tour of the farm and meet our animals—a great learning experience, particularly for children.

SOME CSAs ADVERTISE THAT A SHARE WILL FEED A FAMILY OF 4 FOR A WEEK. IS THIS TRUE?

This is a common error in CSA expectations. On average, your weekly share will contain approximately $30 worth of vegetables (based on local market pricing). It is unreasonable to expect to feed a family of four on $30 per week, no matter what the source.

WHERE DO I PICK UP MY CSA SHARE?

In 2011, members will pick up their shares on Friday and Saturday at our Farm in Darnestown, Maryland, near the intersection of Rte. 28 and Rte. 118.  Many members also take advantage of walks through our private old-growth oak forest.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FORGET TO PICK UP MY SHARE?

Your produce may be donated to a local soup kitchen, distributed to our workers, or fed to our farm animals.

WHAT DO I DO ABOUT VACATIONS OR OTHER TRAVEL?

We recognize that people need some flexibility in their schedules, particularly with summer vacations and work-related travel, so we permit full members to miss one week during the season (you must notify us at least 10 days in advance). That missed week may be made up at a later date.

 I WAS A MEMBER LAST YEAR DO I HAVE TO PAY THE MEMBERSHIP FEE AGAIN ?

Yes, the membership fee is yearly and is used for a new CSA tote and other administrative items.

 WANT A FREE CSA SHARE? (15 & 30 Week Memberships only)

Sign up a group! Sign up 4 members in your group and your 5th share is 1/2 off, Sign up 9 members in your group and your 10th share is free. All shares for the group must be picked up at the same time, and the person picking up the shares must help in the share preperation. Email Farmer Larry for your group code or more information.