Community Supported Agriculture

Started in 2003, the Student Organic Farm CSA is the first year-round CSA in Michigan.  Michigan residents who are members of our CSA receive locally grown organic vegetables for 48 weeks of the year.  Passive solar greenhouses (or hoophouses) enable us to grow year-round in our four-season climate.   In the winter, we grow and distribute everything from fresh kale, collards, and chard to salad mix, scallions, and herbs.  Year-round CSA members also receive crops grown in the summer and stored throughout the winter, including potatoes, beets, rutabaga, onions, garlic, parsnips, carrots, cabbage and squash. 

In the summer, the diversity of vegetables in the share increases dramatically. In addition to the above mentioned crops we grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, beets, carrots, lettuce, herbs, and more.  Feel free to look over our archived member newsletters to find out what kinds of vegetables we give out week-by-week!

In addition to receiving a weekly box of fresh & delicious produce, members receive many other benefits.  We always welcome you to visit the farm and develop a connection to the land where your food is grown and to the people who grow it.  Your farmers will be available at CSA pick-up to answer any questions you have and you will have access to the CSA U-Pick garden where you can harvest greens, cherry tomatoes, flowers, strawberries, herbs, and more!

How Do I Become A Member?

Year-Round Membership

If you are interested in becoming a year-round member, we require that you have been a summer-only CSA member first.  If you are a summer-only member, you are automatically added to the waiting list to become a year-round member.  The 48 weeks are divided into three 16-week sessions; each session costs $540 (about $33/week).  To account for the rising costs of seed, labor, equipment, etc, the farm may raise the CSA price once annually, but never by more than 5%.

Summer-Only Membership

Our summer-only CSA is a perfect way to get to know our farm and to become familiar with the CSA model.  It is 20 weeks long, running from mid-June through October. The current cost of the share is $725 ($36/week).  The per week cost is slightly higher in this CSA because summer crops tend to be higher-value crops.   

We are now accepting new members on a first-come-first-servce basis!  If you would like to become a member, please e-mail us at msufarm@msu.edu with your name, address, and phone number.  

FAQs

Do you offer half shares?

We do not offer half shares.  You are welcome to split a share with a friend, but we treat each share as one full share.

How much food do we get per week?

Our weekly CSA shares will feed an average family of four or two hearty vegetarians.  Members receive between 6 and 12 items each week.  Examples of single items include: a bunch of greens, a bag of salad mix, a handful of tomatoes, a quart of potatoes, a head of garlic, a bunch of scallions, etc.

I want to be a year-round member; can I be put on that waiting list?

To become a year-round member you must be a summer-only member first.  When spots become available in our year-round CSA, summer-only CSA members are given the opportunity to join based on seniority (people who have been members the longest are asked first).

Can I pay every week instead of all at once?

No.  An integral part of the CSA model is that farmers are supported by their members at the beginning of their season when their costs are highest.  In return, the farmers support CSA members with a weekly supply of vegetables.   

How else can I get your produce?

We run an on-campus farm stand from April through October.  It is located on Farm Lane in front of the Auditorium on MSU’s campus every Thursday from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM.  To read more about our Farm Stand, click here.

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