The Central Michigan CSA  (community supported agriculture) farm is located in Clare Michigan and we serve the Mid-Michigan area with our fresh picked naturally grown produce through a farm share Co-Op.  Members can pick their weekly shares up at the farm and we also do weekly drop offs to local communities.  We use organic growing methods and are 100% non GMO, we grow great food in a sustainable way.  You can learn more about our CSA program by visiting the CSA page.

We currently have farm share pick-up locations in Gladwin, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Clare, and Alma Michigan.  Let us know if you think we should add another pick up location near you.  Our CSA program is an 18 to 20 week program and drop offs start in Late May or early June, depending on the weather.  We have several share options to suit you and your families needs.  We grow a large variety of different vegetables for the CSA, if it grows in Michigan, there is a good chance we grow it.

In addition to the large variety of naturally grown veggies we grow here at the farm, we also provide a large assortment of Michigan grown fruits in our Premium Share Options.  The premium shares include maple syrup, honey, homemade jams, and farm fresh eggs as well.  You can see the share options and find out how the program works Here

I can email you instructions on how to become a member of our farm share if you sign up for our CSA Newsletter here on this page.  Form is on the right of the site.  My contact info is here on the site as well, and yes, our CSA program is still open and accepting new members.

Over the last month I’ve gotten half a dozen emails about doing a drop off in the Alma Michigan (48801) area and I wanted to see how much interest there is in the area. So if you like the idea of getting fresh picked naturally grown produce delivered to a convenient location in the Alma area let me know. You can call, email, comment on this article below, or send me a note. Look to the right of the page and you will see my phone number, below that, an easy way to send me a note. I will respond promptly if you have a question.  But feel free to just let me know if this interests you.

Hey there, you should Sign up for the CSA Newsletter~ Enter your info in the Form to the Right…

We grow a large variety of healthy vegetables and melons here on our farm which is about 1/2 mile from the northern border of Isabella county.  We currently have CSA drop offs in Gladwin Michigan, Midland Michigan, Mt. Pleasant Michigan, and Clare Michigan. If you want more details about our CSA Farm or our CSA Shares you can read the “join the CSA” page.  Look at the navigation bar at the top of this website. You can learn how we grow, what vegetables we grow and more about the share options and pricing.

CSA Program Alma Michigan Drop off Location

We will choose a drop off location for the CSA in Alma Michigan when we see where the most members are located. I assume there will be some from Alma, Ithaca, and St. Louis.  Alma seems to be a central Location to the area.  We currently do a drop in Mt. Pleasant and some of our Shepard Members come there, they would be able to choose Alma or Mt. Pleasant.  I have several location in Alma to do the drop off, but I’ll wait and see what works best for the members in the area.

In many communities it’s a lot more difficult to find a Community Supported Agriculture Farm, or CSA, than it is to find a grocery store or fruit market.  I am a CSA farmer and over the last couple years I’ve seen more and more farmers use the Internet to spread the word about their farms and how to sign up with a CSA farm.  Most of the CSA memberships in our area tend to fill up rather quickly so timing is important too.  In Michigan CSA farms tend to open membership for the upcoming season in March or April.  The concept is to collect funds from CSA members early in the season to pay for the seeds, transplants, and other cost associated with growing the produce closer to the time when the bills are due, which is early spring.

There are several online resources available to put consumers in touch with CSA farms and other farms that sell directly to the public.  I will list some of those websites below.  Another way to find a CSA farmers is to visit your local farmers market as many CSA farms will use the Farmers market for a drop off location throughout the growing season.

How to Contact a CSA Farm

Our CSA farm in located in Central Michigan and we have been actively growing our CSA membership over the last couple years.  Contacting a CSA farm, once you have found one with a drop off close by, is really quite easy.   If you live in Michigan, try to contact a CSA farm during March or April.  Contacting a CSA farmer during this time will be productive because they will know if they have shares available and they won’t be that busy yet.  I spend quite a bit of time on the phone during March and April answering questions and helping new members sign up for the coming CSA season.   We grow about 2 to 3 times the amount of Food that our CSA members could possibly use so we can accept late members.  Last year we accepted 11 members in June alone.  Of course we couldn’t have done this had we not been planning for increased membership.  I think the warm weather and talk of gardening in May and June gets people to consider joining a CSA, nature is the best marketing tool.  So each year we will continue to try to have available shares for the later members.

How to Sign Up for a CSA

Signing up with a CSA farmer will be pretty straight forward and vary from farm to farm.  We like to keep things simple and get the membership signups straight and all set up before we get busy.  I have a simple membership form on our CSA Program page and when our members fill it our it is automatically stored in a Google Documents spreadsheet.  When I go out to harvest for a weekly drop off all the information I need is right on my phone, it really makes it organized and simple.   Members mail their checks directly to me and I have all their contact info in my phone.   About the 15th of May I call all the members and give them and update on the progress of the crops and let them know when the first drop off will be.  I can usually tell by mid May when Asparagus, greens, and other early crops will be ready and by this time a month or more has passed from when they signed up. I make it a point to talk to each memeber before the first drop off to give them an overview of the program.  Each farmer will be a little different but we all try to make signing up for a CSA as simple as possible and most of us look forward to welcoming new members.

How to Find a CSA Farm

One of the best resources you will find on the Internet to locate a CSA Farm is a website called Local Harvest. Local harvest has a large presence online and is a true nation wide resource for CSA farms and other farm grown produce and other goods.  I have my farm listed on local harvest and also write a blog there.   Over the past few years they have helped me to market my CSA farm and produce to consumers, like you, who want to eat healthy farm raised produce and buy it at a fair price.  Our members are mostly down to earth people that have contacted us because they want quality products to feed their families, Local Harvest has helped some of the people find us and we appreciate it.  You can visite the local harvest website here: www.localharvest.com

Community farmers markets are another good way to locate local CSA farmers.  The problem with the farmers market is you may find the CSA does not have any additonal memberships open during the season the farm market is actually open.  You can talk with them though and possibly make a contact for the following year.  Another thing that works is to ask your friends, you might be surprised that a few of them may be members of a CSA already.

If you have any questions about a Michigan CSA farm, Michigan produce, or becoming a member of the Central Michigan CSA please send me note, leave a comment or give me a call.

Thank You,

J.Crawford

In this article I will talk about Michigan CSA harvest dates and share some ideas behind Farm Co-ops in Michigan and why you may want to join a CSA or Co-op.  One of the first things to keep in mind is that nature varies and so do farmers, so that means no two CSA programs are the same.  I recommend asking some questions of the Farmer before you join a CSA.  Some farmers approach the CSA model as a sharing endeavour that is more about the ideals of locally grown produce and farming.  Some farmers are pursuing a hobby and they get a great deal of reward by sharing this hobby with others and still other CSA farmers treat the program as a business that must serve and exceed customers expectations, that is the case with the Central Michigan CSA program that I grow for.  The people who become members of our CSA program are feeding families, that is their first priority which is matched by the importance of feeding the ones they love naturally grown nutritious produce.  Our members aren’t motivated by the novelty of eating healthy farmer grown food, it’s essential to them.

Many variables affect harvest dates on our Michigan produce farm, but it all comes back to the farmer and how they approach growing food and how they understand the expectations of their customers.  So, again, the biggest factor to Michigan CSA harvest dates is NOT the weather, the variety, or even when the crops are planted, it is the farmer.  Of course those factors directly affect harvest times, I’m not saying they don’t.  What we do is take every step we can to optimize our program.  We want to be the first to market with our products so our Members are the happiest and the first to be taking about the program.  I’ve learned the best way to make folks happy with the program is to give them what they want, good food!

The sooner we can begin our deliveries the better.  Some of the steps we take to increase our chances of harvesting as soon as possible include:

• Planting earlier
• Planting heirloom early varieties.
• Start with healthy plants.
• Plant transplants at the optimal time of development.
• Plant in good soil.
• Use mulch that lets UV rays through to warm the ground.
• Use row covers.
• Use hot caps to protect plants from frost.
• Use high variety high tunnel strategies.
• Don’t over water early, so root systems develop.
• Grow the healthiest plants we can. (healthy plants do the rest)
• Thinning can help ripen the vegetables on the vine sooner.
• Plant cold weather crops to increase early variety.

 Notice the photo with the Green Bio-Degradable Mulch that is UV transparent.  This mulch works to heat the ground by 10 to 15 degrees during the day which cause a stream of steam thoughout the night.  This protects plants from frost and also build a good root system early.  It also protect the plants from standing water we usually have in late April and early May.  This picture was taken on the 18th of April last year, a full month before many farmers would even have the field worked.  These are a few of the keys we have found to be helpful in improving the harvest dates of our CSA program.  A cool spring will still set back the harvest dates but some of these methods decrease the set back.  One trick we have learned is the value that having a well rooted plant by May 15th. Even though the plant may be small, when the overnight temps increase they really shoot up.  This also speeds up the plant cycle which makes blossoms appear sooner.  We also have honey bee hives to assist the pollination of these early blossoms.  The bees are pretty lethargic during the mornings and evenings of early spring, but they come out during the day.  Another benefit of having a plentiful early crop of good food is what’s left. We grow 50 to 75% more than we could possibly move through our Mid Michigan CSA, we offer whats left as wholesale fruits and vegetables.  This is picked to order wholesale produce.  We go out and harvest the weekly shares and deliver them to the drop off points.  When someone calls and places an order, then we go out and harvest that.  What doesn’t get sold, goes to our bacon makers. (Pigs   )

Central Michigan CSA Harvest Dates.

We shoot to have 5-8 varieties of produce ready for our first drop off.  We shoot for the last week in May or the First week in June for our First harvest date.  One of the things I look for is the Asparagus crop which is usually ready around this time, while strawberries aren’t far behind.  We have been able to produce yellow squash, zucchini, and cucumbers around the same time using our growing method.

We shoot for an 18 – 20  week program so the early we start the safer we feel in fulfilling that goal.  We also do a late planting in the event that we don’t get a freeze in September we continue with a great variety in the Fall.  I hope this sheds some light on CSA harvest dates here in Michigan.  Keep in mind the harvest times in Southern Michigan are usually a couple weeks ahead of Central Michigan, which is another week or two ahead of Northern Michigan.

Hello,

I’ve gotten several emails over the last week from folks in the Higgins Lake area (48627) and the Houghton lake area (48629) and the Roscommon area (48653) asking what our closest drop of is for the Central Michigan CSA program.  Which, by the way, is Gladwin Michigan right now.  I wanted to venture out and see how much interest there is in these areas in getting deliveries of fresh locally grown produce over the spring, summer, and fall months.

Our CSA program starts in early June or so and goes through November.  We grow for early food here along the Tobacco river in Clare County. We currently have drop offs in Midland Mi, Mt. Pleasant Mi, Gladwin Mi, and Clare Mi.  If you would like to get more information about our CSA program and you live in Roscommon, Houghton lake, or the Higgins lake area then send me a note on this website, call me directly, or join our CSA newsletter today.

I’ve been starting new drop offs when I get five members, that seems to work pretty well.  We usually set up at a local farmers market for 5 or six ours on a Saturday and you simply come once a week and pick up your share.  You can learn more about the CSA Program in Mid Michigan by visiting out “Join the CSA” page.

Thanks,

J.Crawford

If you live or work in the Mid-Michigan area and love naturally grown fresh produce, you should learn more about becoming a member of a CSA farm.  Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs have become increasingly popular over the past decade.  Our CSA members have mentioned our membership is one of the most economical ways to get great food.  As an owner of a farm market I can tell you its the freshest produce you can find.  We literally pick for the CSA shares hours before we deliver them to the surrounding drop of points. You can find food like that in the best supermarkets. Here are some of the areas our members live:

• Midland Michigan
• Gladwin Michigan
• Clare Michigan
• Alma Michigan
• Mt. Pleasant Michigan
• Harrison Michigan

We currently have drop off points in Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Gladwin, and at our farm or market in Clare Michigan.  The 2013 CSA program is open and we are accepting some new members this year.  To learn more about our CSA farm and how it works visit our “Join a CSA” Page.  We have several share options that work for one person or up to an entire family.  Over the next few weeks I will post some feedback from some of our members from the 2012 CSA.

I’ve listed my contact phone number and email on that page and I encourage you to sign up for the CSA newsletter whether you join or not, this way you can stay up to date with our farm and learn what the program is all about.  You can subscribe to this website and get updates via email.  I also encourage you to like us on facebook.

We’ve decided to offer deer feed to Central Michigan hunters and those looking for deer bait as they travel north on U.S. 127 to their favorite hunting spot. If you are coming from the south heading north take the second Clare exit, if you are traveling south just take the only Clare exit. Right now we have sugar beets, Carrots, and shelled corn for deer feed.  We also plan to add apples for deer feed this weekend.  A quick head up on the apples, they will be a bit pricey on account of the worse apple crop in Michigan in several decades.

Deer Bait By the Bag

We mainly offer deer feed (deer bait) by the bag and we’ve got the big bags.  Our bags weigh between 40 and 50 pounds.  We offer a bulk deer feed discount that works like this:  Deer Carrots and Sugar Beets are $5.50 a bag is you just by one or two.  You can get 4 for $20.00 dollars which saves you a couple bucks… no pun intended.  Our bulk deer deal gets a little better, when you buy 10 bags of sugar beets or carrots or a combination of both you’ll only pay $45.00 which works out to $4.50 a bag saving yourself a whole buck a bag. or look at is as getting a couple bags free if you buy 8 at full price.

Deer feed by the Scoop

We will usually have sugar beets by the scoop that you can purchase.  The beets will be dumped into a trailer or truck of your choosing.  The scoop price is $45.00 and a scoop weighs about 600 lbs.

Deer Apples

We are getting apples for deer bait this weekend.  Like I’ve mentioned the apples will be more expensive that most years.  While I’m still working on getting the best price on apples, I think they will cost between $8.00 and $10.00.  Apples will usually run about the same price of beets and carrots but this year we just can’t make that happen.  I do feel apples will be even better this year for attracting deer as their aren’t any apples in the wild.

Again we offer deer carrots, sugar beets for deer, shelled corn for deer bait, and deer apples.

So week one of the Central Michigan CSA went well. I almost waited one more week in order to have more items ready but I’m glad I didn’t.  Member’s seemed more than happy to get started mabey even a little anxious, I don’t blame them.  It looks to be a great year for produce which makes it some much more enjoyable for me. I try to reduce as many risk variables as I can and continue to learn new ones which let’s me deliver good produce regardless whether the weather and conditions are optimal or not.

Week one of the CSA program included drop off locations of Gladwin, Mt. Pleasant, Midland and Clare.  Each member recieved Strawberries, Asparagus, Fresh Strawberry Jam, Lettuce.  Some also recieved Chives and Rhubarb as well.  I got my snow pea seeds in a little late due to my concern with the hundreds of transplants sitting along side the field just waiting to go in.  Next year, seeds first, especially cold weather crops like carrots, beets and snow peas.

The drop of times worked out well WAY better than I could have ever expected.  The drop off locations are around 20 minutes away from the farm except for the one here in Clare and I really didn’t want to do two a week at any location, though I was reluctantly willing.  Turns out there wasn’t even a slight hitch, everyone seemed to like the day and time of day.  I thought I’d be doing some evening drop off’s and was concerned about picking in the heat ( some vegetables don’t like that at all) which I would have to do if it were an evening drop.  Once again, worrying never pays, right?

I’ve had several people ask about the CSA and if we were still accepting new members.  We do still have a few shares available, most of our 2012 CSA members opted for the 1/2 share which made room for a few more members.  If you want more information about the CSA Program and CSA share information Visit the our CSA page.

By the way you’ll be getting the first newsletter of the year for the CSA program as well in the next day or two.  Thanks again to all the 2012 CSA member, I appreciate the support and trust you’ve place in us to grow your food.

J.Crawford

989-284-8251

I wanted to let everyone know we are still accepting members for the 2012 Central Michigan CSA. We planned for 35 Shares and still have several openings. The drop offs that we would like to add a few more members are Midland Mi, Mt. Pleasant Mi, Gladwin Mi and also Clare Michigan which is where the CSA farm is located.  We’ll be opening the Market with flowers, hanging baskets, asparagus and homemade jams and jelly’s later this week 5/15/2012.  Our drop of locations will be at the local farmers market in each town. Midlands drop off will be on Wednesdays between 7 am and noon. Mt. Pleasant will be Thursday or Saturday depending on the members preference.  If you or someone you know wants more info on the CSA program fill out the Newsletter form here on the website and give me a call. We offer a 20 week program and provide 1/2 shares and full shares depending on the number of people you need to feed.  For more information on the CSA program, the Farm, and how it works, visit the Central Michigan CSA page.

We have several thousand transplants that have been growing for the last four to six weeks for the 2012 Central Michigan CSA members and we’ve got a home for

This is the Raised Bed Machine

them outside starting Monday April 29th. The overnight temps have been  in the mid twenties several nights in the last week which helped me to hold of on setting out transplants until Monday. With 10 days of overnights forecasted to be in the mid 40′s and above I think it’s a smart time to get planting.

I’ve learned it doesn’t do much good to plant when overnights are below 40 and it’s just plain risky when we are waking up to 26 degrees. The transplants have been growing in an overnight low of around 55 degrees and this week we’ll have about the same outside so we are getting started in the morning.  We’ve been preparing the fields over the last couple weeks and installed a bunch of raised beds this last week. We use a green mulch with helps to warm up the ground yet still offering zero weed growth underneath, which is our most important step to eliminating the need for herbicides.  The raised beds also have a gravity feed irrigation tube installed that allows optimal watering.

The beds are around 18″ for most of the transplants and we place them about four feet from center to center.  This creates about an 18″ to 2′ area between which is easily cultivated with rototiller or cultivator.  The mulch, though plastic, is bio-degradable as well.  Another side benefit is that the vegetables stay a lot cleaner as the rain doesn’t splash dirt all over things like tomatoes, peppers, squash and other vegetables. The cucumbers and vining plants do end up growing all over like crazy but we have to deal with that.

Not everything is optimally grown on raised beds.  Onions, potatoes, green beans, carrots, beets and other plant that need hill-ed, have close spacing, or are planted by seed work better the old fashion way and then need to be cultivated by hand to eliminate weeds.

Ready for Planting!

It seems to take a transplant about a week to realize it’s in the ground and it’s free to spread its roots

New Transplants in Raised Beds with Drip Line Going.Here are some transplants, I think they are summer squash, you can see the drip line going under the raised beds and this picture was actually taken during a waterings. The raised beds reduce water loss to run off and evaporation. I usually only water once a week and that's if it's dry and hot. Double Row of Leaf Lettuce From Transplants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll write another article in a week or so and show some progress pictures. Until then happy planting. It looks like the threat of frost will be minimal for the next two weeks but you never know.  The Market will be opening this week and we’ll have fresh asparagus along with some nice flowers and hanging baskets.  Also some homade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just after 2" of Rain.

 

Tomatoe Transplants: Rooted and Growing