Questions & Answers
Farm Box Subscription Questions
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We offer farm box subscriptions for spring (May - June), summer (June - October), and winter (October - February). Our summer share comes in two sizes, solo and sustainer.
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We grow more than 90 varieties of fruit, herbs, leafy greens, and vegetables, plus we offer other fun products from our partners (honey, eggs, flour, jam) from our local partners. Because we deliver most of these items direct to you immediately after harvesting them, not all items are available at all times. Check out a complete product list here.
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We deliver to multiple locations in Burnsville, Chanhassen, Chatfield, Edina, La Crosse, Lansboro, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Richfield, Rochester, St. Paul, Winona, Woodbury. Get a list of all locations here.
Because of many different factors, delivery locations, days, and times are subject to change..
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In the spirit of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), members are connected to the highs and lows of the farm, as we experience both lovely and not-so-lovely conditions to grow great food. We have over 30 years of experience under our belt to minimize the risks that go along with farming. Even in the worst drought on record at Featherstone (2012), or the worst year of crop loss due to ongoing rain (2016), we pulled off an amazing season! We have great packing and storing facilities, phenomenal work crews, as well as an excellent irrigation system. That said, Nature is rarely consistent, and we have to be prepared for anything.
Learn more about Community Supported Agriculture in our CSA Success Series.
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We are a Certified Organic farm (MOSA), so our produce is grown organically, on organically certified ground. We very occasionally supplement a few crops (some onions, potatoes and parsnips during the winter season) with neighboring farmers’ crops. These crops are sourced from certified organic neighboring farms.
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Yes! You will only pay for the weeks remaining in the season at the time you join.
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Items for spring and summer boxes are harvested within about 48 hours of delivery. Winter storage crops (squash, carrots, potatoes, etc.) are stored; fresh winter greens are harvested just before delivery.
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Yes! Our customers give us very high marks for the quality of our produce and our customer service. If you ever have a problem with what's in your box, call or email us, and we will fix it for you.
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Yes! You can buy them here.
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In the Featherstone Farm CSA, we assign a price value to every item in your box as a way for us to be sure that our members are really getting a good value for their subscription. We publish these prices in the account management section of our website (CSAware).
Generally, prices reflect what you would pay for similar items at a food co-op or a Whole Foods Market. However, sometimes you will notice that prices are higher or lower than you would expect to see in the store. When that is the case, we offer a brief explanation for what is going on. Often, higher prices reflect the higher cost of producing an item in the wet, four-season climate of southeastern Minnesota (vs. the arid climate of southern California's Central Valley). You can expect to see lower prices when a crop is at the peak of its production.
This pricing strategy is part of our commitment to pricing our crops in line with what they cost us to produce here in Minnesota, while always giving you the lowest price possible given those circumstances. For more details, see the pricing article in our CSA Success Series.
CSAware Questions
CSAware is the CSA account management software provided and maintained by Local Harvest.
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You can modify your subscription, indicate your crop preferences, customize your weekly farm box, reschedule your next delivery, donate your next delivery, change payment information, and much more through your CSAware account. You can log into your account by clicking on the green login button at the top right of every page on our website.
CSAware is designed and maintained by Local Line. If you have questions, comments, or complaints, you can send them to us at csa@FeatherstoneFarm.com, and we will pass them along to Local Line.
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Here’s a quick overview; for a more detailed explainer with screenehots and a walk-through video, see our How to Customize Your Farm Box page.
We send out your box contents for the upcoming week on Friday afternoons (email with subject line, "Time to Customize Your Share for Next Week"). After you log into your account, you will see a list of items for the week. Next to each item, you will see a +/- button that allow you to add or subtract items. If an item has a "0" by it, that means that item is currently not in your box but you may add it, if you like.
If you exceed the box value for that week (listed on the bottom left of your list of veggies), the system will let you know and tell you that you will be charged extra for that item. You will be able to see how much extra you will need to pay (or use your veggie credits when applicable) on the bottom right of your list of veggies). Please note, if you go below the box value for the week, the system does NOT credit you for future weeks. That amount is considered forfeit so please don't take out items without adding others.
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At Featherstone, you have the option of rescheduling or donating your box if you will be unavailable to pick it up. For detailed instructions and a video walk-through, see How to Reschedule Your Box.
Here's a quick overview:
1. Log into your CSAware account.
2. Use the calendar on the dashboard to choose the date you will be gone.
3. The software brings up the page for that day's delivery. Click on the Reschedule button.
3. The software will prompt you to select another date to pick up that box. Make your selection and confirm.
4. Now when you check the calendar, you should see the "rescheduled" color code on the day you will be gone, and the "multiple boxes" color code on the day you rescheduled for.
On that date, you will be able to pick up two boxes of that week's crops.
To donate, follow steps 1 and 2 above, then select the Donate button. As of this writing, donated boxes are delivered to the SEMCAC food shelf.
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If you opt to pay in installments, here is the schedule to expect:
Spring. There are 2 installment payments for the Spring CSA. The first installment is due at signup, and the second installment payment is billed automatically before the 3rd week of delivery.
Summer. There are 4 installment payments for the Summer CSA. The first installment is due at signup. The second installment falls on the first week of Summer deliveries. The third installment is 30 days after the second. The fourth installment is 30 days after the third.
Winter. There are 4 installment payments for the Winter CSA. The first installment is due at signup. The second installment falls on the first week of deliveries. The third installment is 30 days after the second. The fourth installment is 30 days after the third.
You can view your specific installment payment dates inside your CSAware account. Log in, then go to "view/modify subscription", from there the installment payment dates will be listed at the bottom.