North Star Orchard

CSA FAQs

On this page, you will find basic information about how our CSA options work. Please take a few minutes to read and understand the following before filling in your membership application.

If you have questions that are not answered here, email us, or if you would like to apply for membership, please click here.

Why should I become a member? When you become a CSA member, you know exactly where your food is coming from. Our small family farm consists of three Chester County locations in Chester County; one that we own in Cochranville, and two leased properties in Newlin Township and Avondale. Because we are local, your food will be as fresh and ripe as it can be - no more guesswork! You will be supporting small-scale local farming, and helping to maintain some of the few remaining acres of farmland in this area.

Other benefits to membership include a weekly email detailing what is in your share each week. Hints and tips regarding use and storage are included, as well as recipes for some of the more unusual items you may receive.

Where and when will I pick up my share? We have tried to accommodate your busy schedule by arranging different pick-up times and locations. You have to decide which of the pickup locations is most convenient for you, and indicate your preference on the membership application. Each pickup location requires a minimum number of members. We do not anticipate the need to cancel any pickup location due to lack of membership. However, in the unlikely event that we need to drop a pickup location due to lack of membership, those who did sign up for it will have the option to either choose a different location or receive their money back.

Please consider carefully when making your choice. Due to the nature of the CSA (freshness of the food, pickup location commitments, etc.) we cannot hold your share for you for pickup on another day or at another location. Before choosing your pickup location, make sure that you can get to the location you choose weekly during the day and times specified. For detailed information regarding pickup locations, days, and times, please review Fruit Share Options and/or Vegetable Share Options.

What happens if I can't pick up my share on a particular week? We suggest you have a friend, relative, or neighbor pick up your share. We are committing ourselves to supplying you with wonderful food - we expect you to be committed to having it picked up on the day you select.

WARNING: If you have others pick your share up for you be prepared to share some with them!!

If, for some reason, you (or a friend/relative) cannot pick up your share on a given day, please let us know in advance. If you do, the share itself or the cash value of the food will be donated to The Chester County Food Bank. To prevent wastage, we need to know in advance if you want to donate your share. Over the past two years, we have donated over $2,300.00 worth of food and cash, most of which came from people pre-notifying us when they couldn't pick up a share. Click here to find out more about the Chester County Food Bank.

Can I choose which items I get in my share? We will choose the selections for you. Your selections each week will consist of a balanced mix of what our farm has ripe and ready. We will select varieties for you that we think you will find the most enjoyable and interesting. However, you may order extras of things you need or particularly like during the season. Info about 'Share Plus' ordering will be included in each week's share email. For examples of what you can expect to receive in a weekly share, please review Fruit Share Options and/or Vegetable Share Options.

What is my commitment? Am I expected to participate on the farm in any way? Some CSAs arrange for members to help on the farm, contributing labor for weeding, harvesting, etc. The circumstances at our farm are different, however. As we are currently leasing two properties while developing the third, which we own, farmwork happens here, there, and everywhere on any given day! Thus, it is hard for us to have a consistent schedule. We are looking forward to having member participation at our farm location in Cochranville after a few years...and will keep you posted about that!

All we ask of you is to make the financial commitment and pay in advance for your membership. This eases the early-season financial burden for us tremendously.

Additionally, you might put more time and energy into the project and plan ahead with another member to share in pickup duties. This will help save fossil fuel useage. Or perhaps you can make arrangements to split your weekly share with another person, if a share seems to be too great a commitment. We may also ask you for feedback from time to time (or, if we don't ask...you can just tell us!). Many of the varieties we grow are either new or heritage varieties. Your comments and preferences will influence the future of what we grow on the farm.

You can also help us by telling others about North Star Orchard. Encourage your friends and neighbors to buy local. There are many farmers' markets in the area to visit, even if they are not members of the CSA this year. A great resource for people nationwide to find sources of local food is localharvest.org

Additionally, there are usually opportunities for paid, part-time and full-time growing and harvest season positions on our farm. If you'd like to get your hands dirty, click here for more information regarding paid positions.

What happens in the case of a crop failure? Because we are a diversified farm with a very experienced farmer at the helm, it is highly unlikely that a total crop failure would occur. Occasionally, certain particular crops or varieties may not do well due to weather conditions such as hail or extreme cold or drought, but where some crops may fail, others often thrive. Diversity is the key to ensuring a good supply of produce through the season.

The long and short of it is that as a member of a CSA, you are (as is the farmer!) assuming some amount of risk. The threat of total crop failure due to disasterous weather conditions or major pest invasion is there, but unlikely. After growing crops here for 18 years without any major failures, we feel confident that the supply of produce you receive will be what you'd expect.

The 'good years', of which there have been many, more than make up for the occasional 'bad year'. As a member, you join us in sharing that risk.