North Star Orchard

Veggie Share Options

Entering its 3rd year, the Veggie Share is a very popular option for folks who are looking for very fresh and flavorful veggies. Members sign up and pay in spring, and then pick up a weekly bag of produce at their chosen location during harvest season. Pickup locations for the Veggie Share include Eagle and Cochranville.

Note: There are no Veggie Shares left for 2010. You are welcome to learn more about the Veggie Share on this page, however.

Please let us know if you would like to be put on our waiting list for possible membership in 2011. Please email us, and in early February we'll send you an email with all of the details for the 2011 share; you'll be able to sign up at that point.

The Veggie Share runs for 22 weeks (depending on your pickup location and preference), starting the week of May 31st, and will include many favorites, such as salad greens and tomatoes, as well as some vegetable specialties such as kohlrabi, and romanesco. Pictures on this page show some of the selections from 2009 Large Shares, and the slideshow to the right shows a few of the items that have been in the Veggie Share each year.

Some background: Farmer Ike's experience growing veggies dates back to childhood when he used his mother's garden plot to grow for a local tailgate market. Since then he has kept a garden and was a Section Gardener at the Longwood Gardens 'Idea Garden', where he grew all sorts of new and heritage vegetable varieties. Farmer Emma joined us this year and will be in the veggie garden every day managing other garden helpers and making sure everything runs smoothly. She previously worked in her family garden as well as at the Anchor Run CSA. Our vegetables are grown using organic practices, although they are not certified organic. For more info about our growing practices, see our FAQs page.

Share Details

1. When will the share run? The share will start during the week of May 31st, and run for 22 weeks ... to finish at the end of October.

2. Where are the pickup locations? We have two pickup locations in 2010. Specific directions to the locations will be provided prior to the start of the share. You will need to choose the location that is most convenient for you:

Eagle on Tuesdays from 2 to 6 PM. In the Eagleview development located just around the corner from the Downingtown Exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Chester County Economic Development Council Building.
Cochranville on Thursdays from 4 to 6:30 PM. Located at our farm located near the intersection of Rte. 10 and Rte. 41 in Highland Township, Chester County.

3. What is the size of a share?

The LARGE Share is a good amount for a family of 3 or 4(or more) that eats at home frequently, or for two people who really like their veggies! The share will include a wide variety of veggies each week, which will provide opportunities for great variety in the meals that are prepared and served.

The SMALL Share will suit a small family, a family with members who aren't veggie-crazy, a couple who eats out frequently, or a single who really likes his/her veggies! The share will have a smaller variety of items included than the large share each week, but you'll still receive some of the more interesting 'specialty' vegetables.

4. What will be in a share? What is in a share will vary over the season. Very early and very late shares may have less in them than the 'main season' months. The chart below gives you some examples of what may be in the share at different times during the year. For a complete list of the vegetables we grow each year, please look here.

Please note that we do not grow sweet corn or melons. Both of those crops take up a lot of space, which we just do not have available at our small farm. Please visit your local farmers' market if you need a supply of sweet corn or melons.

Examples what may be in a share at various times:
mid-June:	mid-July:	early September:	late October:
Arugula Beets Broccoli Chinese Cabbage Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Salad Mix Shell Peas Spinach Swiss Chard Radishes	Lettuce Salad Mix Carrots Summer Squash Tomatoes Heirloom Tomatoes Cherry Tomatoes Cucumbers Bush Beans Green Onions Eggplant New Potatoes Pole Beans Fresh Herbs	Lettuce Salad Mix Carrots Summer Squash Tomatoes Cucumbers Pole Beans Onions Potatoes Peppers Eggplant Edamame Sweet Potatoes Lima Beans Fresh Herbs	Cauliflower Spinach Salad Mix Carrots Onions Potatoes Broccoli Rabe Kale Turnips Chinese Cabbage Radicchio Fennel Radishes

5. What is the price of a share? Each member will receive more veggie value in their share over the year than if they bought the same produce at the farmers' market. In these troubled economic times, we have decided to keep the cost of the share the same as the previous two years. By signing on and paying for your share early, you'll lock-in your price for veggies for the season, regardless what happens to prices at the grocery store or farmers' market.

LARGE Veggie Share: $700.00
SMALL Veggie Share: $450.00

We accept personal checks or you can use your bank's free online bill pay system. We also accept credit card payments online via Paypal (you need not be a member of Paypal to use their service). A 2.9% convenience fee will be added to the total if you use the Paypal option (this is to cover the fees credit card companies charge vendors for using the service). Details about submitting your payment will be provided after you fill in the membership application.