There are a surprising number of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms available to the towns and residents of the Monadnock Region. This articles begins with the Stonewall Farm CSA because it is one that I belong to and is located in the heart of the region’s largest city. The other farms are listed in alphabetical order. All information in this article was obtained from each farm’s website.
Stonewall Farm
Amanda Maurmann
242 Chesterfield Rd
Keene, NH 03431
(603) 357-7278
As the only working dairy farm within Keene’s city limits, Stonewall Farm holds a special place in hearts of area residents. It’s been an operating farm for more than 250 years. Educational programming began in 1991 and non-profit charitable status in 1994. The portion of the farm dedicated to the CSA is a two-and-a-half acre garden in which no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or fungicides are used. The CSA summer shares run from June through October an may include spinach, boc choi, mesclun, radishes, carrot, beets, kale, chard, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, potatoes, peppers, fennel, onions, tomatoes, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, and herbs. Peas are available as U‐Pick at your convenience. In 2011 a Full Share was priced at $625 (3‐4 people) and the Half Share was priced at $375 (1‐2 people). Add-ons include the following: Local products (maple syrup,honey, jam, mustard and granola) at $110; the farm’s own certified organic cheddar cheese: at $100; the farm’s own grass-fed beef (2 1-pound packages) at $100; and the farm’s own cut flowers at $130. Winter and spring shares are also available through their large greenhouses. My family subscribes to this CSA because it is only a couple of miles out the way on our homebound commute from work and our daughter loves to visit the cows, horses, goats, sheep and chickens.
1780 Farm
Richard and Jeanny Aldrich
89 Winchester Road
Chesterfield, NH 03443
(603) 363-4476 – Farm house
This 35-acre historic farm offers a variety of shares in their organic harvest. A full share to feed four people consists of a weekly ¾ bushel of produce every week over the course of a 17-week season from June through October and costs $550. A single share to feed two is priced at $300. A meat share may be added on for $200 and provides 4-6 pounds of roasting chicken and 5 pounds of grass-fed beef per month. U-pick blueberries may also be added on at $2/pound ($1.50/pound if paid in advance) with a maximum of 5 pounds per visit. Home delivery is possible for a $50 seasonal charge.
Abenaki Springs Farm
Bruce and Erin Bickford
188 Upper Walpole Rd
Walpole, NH 03608
(603) 445-2157
This 11-acre farm offers certified organic fruit, berries, vegetables and herbs from June through the end of October. In 2011, full shares that feed four people were $550 and offered a 25% discount on the farms other products. Half shares for two people were $275. The farm also raises organic pastured chickens, turkeys, lambs and pigs.
Daloz Farm CSA
Jan Buonanno
4 Tannery Hill Road
Hancock, NH 03449
(603) 933-0179
Daloz Farm offers a wide array of organic crops in their CSA season that runs for twenty weeks starting in June and an open invitation to pick-your-own peas, beans, cherry tomatoes and flowers. In 2011 a large family share purchased before February 1 was $625 ($675 thereafter) and a small family share was $450 ($500 after February 1). Pick-up days are either Tuesday from 3-6 pm or Saturday from 10 am -12 pm. Shares can also be paid in installments with final payment in full by June 1.
Darling Hill Community Farm
Leigh Mae Friedline
621 Darling Hill Rd, Greenville, NH 03048
(603) 878-3130
This small farm grows a full range of fresh vegetables, herbs, cut flowers and limited amounts of fruit. The CSA season commences on the first Tuesday of June and ends on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Pickups are at the farm on Tuesdays and Saturdays when shareholders may also help pick their produce. A Bountiful Share that can feed 6-9 people is $800 for the 25-week season, a Full share that feeds 2-5 people is $670 and a Half Share is $460. Pickup is free choice of produce in the farm store.
Fertile Fields Farm
Lori Schreier and James Warren
916 River Road
Westmoreland, NH 03467
(603) 399-7772
More than 100 kinds of certified organic vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs await shareholders of this CSA located just a ¼-mile from the Connecticut River in Westmoreland. The season runs for 20 weeks from June through October. In 2011, full shares serving 3-4 people were $570 each ($595 after March 15), half shares serving 2 people were $390 ($410 after March 15) and single shares for one person were $250 ($275 after March 15). Produce may be picked up at the farm on Wednesdays, delivered to the Brattleboro Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, or delivered to Keene on Wednesdays.
Herban Living Farm (CSA)
Lisa Beaudoin
242 General Miller Hwy
Temple NH 03084
(603) 878-0459
This small, certified organic CSA begins around June 1 and runs for twenty weeks, ending at Thanksgiving. Crops include spinach, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, kale, carrots, cabbages, greens, pumpkins, melons, lettuces, radishes, leeks, potatoes, beets, broccoli, peppers, peas, beans, winter squash, summer squash, basil, dill, thyme, parsley, and even more herbs. Eggs, chickens and honey are available through the farmstand. Shares are available for pickup at the farm on Tuesdays and Saturdays and cost $550 each.
Hillside Springs Farm and CSA
Frank Hunter and Kim Peavey
32 Comerford RD
Westmoreland, NH 03467
(603) 399-7288
This 53-acre farm offers a 22-week harvest season for vegetables, herbs, berries (pick-your-own) and flowers. The farming is done by hand and the use of draft horses using only organic and biodynamic methods, meaning no chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. In 2011, 35 full shares were available to be picked up weekly at the farm suitable for 2-4 adults or a small family and were priced at $585. The 60 half shares that were available for pickup at the farm every other, week suitable for one or two adults, were priced at $335 each. Customization of shares is possible through “Free-choice” items (take as much as you want since there’s plenty), You-pick opportunities (the crops that are very labor-intensive to harvest), and the “Share box” (throw in what you don’t want, take anything you do want).
New Heritage Farm
Hollie Sullivan
Prospect Hill RD
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447
(617) 337-6470
This 225-acre farmstead offers organic produce from May through October for pickup at the farm. Each 6 hours of work results in a free week of produce. A full share is $400 and a half share is $250.
Nubanusit Neighborhood and Farm
Richard Pendleton
Steele Road
Peterborough, NH 03458
(603) 924-7491
The “Nubi” CSA is part of a co-housing community in Peterborough. A share is roughly 3-7 pounds of fresh organic produce during the growing season along with greens from the hoop house during cold weather. There are also pick-your-own flowers and a self-serve herb bed. Pickup of produce occurs on either Wednesday in the afternoon or Sunday mornings. Distribution includes choice and exchange. In 2011 a work share was $468 with 3 hours of work each week. A basic share was $605 with 4 work sessions (3-4 hours each) over the course of the season and willingness to fill in when needed. A patron share was $715 with no work requirement. It is possible to split a share, with each party paying an extra $25.
Picadilly Farm
Jenny and Bruce Wooster
264 South Parrish Road
Winchester, NH 03470
(603) 239-8718
At this 71-acre farm in Winchester, the CSA share season runs from June through Thanksgiving with either twelve-week or twenty-five-week shares of the harvest. Produce is picked up weekly at the farm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-7 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am-1 pm at your convenience. Pre-boxed shares may also be delivered to central locations in Keene, Greenfield and Brattleboro. Shareholders may select the produce of their choice from the 15-30 certified organic crops harvested on pick-up days (within certain parameters). Pricing of shares is on a sliding scale by income. 25-week shares range from $500-$650 and 12-week shares from $275-$350. A December share is available for $75.
Pitcher Mountain CSA
Leigh Fosberry or Andy Pennoni
2115 Route 123 North
Stoddard, NH 03464
(603) 446-3922
Garden shares of fresh organic produce for a small family are $370. Working shares for small families are $335 and require 10 hours of work on the farm. The season runs from June through late October and shares are picked up on the farm on either Mondays or Thursdays from 4-6 pm. On pick-up days, whiteboards guide you through what is available and how much to take of each item.
Tracie’s Community Farm
Tracie Smith
72 Jaffrey Rd.
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447
(603) 209-1851
Tracie’s farm begins its CSA season in mid-June and continues for 17 weeks into October. Shares include freshly harvested, washed, chemical-free vegetables with bread, honey and jam thrown in the firs two weeks since there’s not much produce early on. 2012 pricing: Large Family Share is $660; Family Share is $500; Single Share is $350. Note that the price includes delivery to your door in Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Hancock, Harrisville, Jaffrey, Keene, Marlborough, Nelson, Peterborough, Rindge, Richmond, Sullivan, Swanzey and Troy. If you want to pick up your shares at the farm, then take $60 off the share price. Tracie also has fall and spring shares available. Other share add-on include the following: 1/2 Pint Raspberry Shares for 10 weeks throughout season at $35; Pint Blueberry Share for 5 weeks at $25; Cut Flower Share for 10 weeks at $40; Bread Share from Orchard Hill Breadworks for 15 weeks at $75; Egg Share from Bella Galla Farm, 1dozen weekly for 17 weeks at $65 or 1 dozen every other week for 9 weeks at $35.
Village Roots CSA at South Village Garden
Maryellen Sheehan
Route 123A Behind the South Acworth General Store
South Acworth, NH 03607
(603) 835-2243
Village Roots CSA grows more than 100 kinds of vegetables, emphasizing diversity in its shares. It uses organic methods to produce 8 to 20 different vegetables and herbs for each share, mixing traditional favorites with more unusual heirloom varieties. Pickup involves choosing your own produce from a market-style farm stand, and exchanges among shareholders is encouraged. 65 twenty-week shares are available, with a large share priced at $500 and a small share (two people) for $375.