How consumer supported agriculture works:

   As a CSA member, you purchase a "share" of the farm's produce. Once a week, we deliver a box of fresh picked seasonal varieties of vegetables and fruits to a drop off location near your neighborhood. You go to the drop off location any time during your "pick-up window" (open several hours in the afternoon of the delivery day) and pick up your box, returning your empty box from the previous week at the same time.

   You can choose one of two box sizes of the weekly share. The regular size is designed to supply 2-3 people with vegetables for the week. The large size is for a larger group of perhaps four people. The smaller box has portions of 9 different items, the larger has 11items and some larger portions. A twelve week subscription is $360 for the regular size ($30 per week), and $480 for the large size ($40 per week) We offer a trial period of 2 weeks for the regular size box at $65 to try out our CSA with no obligation to continue.

   Going out of town? Three weeks of the twelve can be cancelled and moved forward (with 1-week prior notice) to accommodate changes in plans that affect your eating habits. The weekly share is fresh picked and pre-boxed at the farm, and everyone receives the same items in their box each week. Farming requires a degree of consistency in planting and harvesting, and the system does not allow substitutions in individual boxes but encourages trying new things and allows a nice balance of anticipation and surprise in each week's delivery. All produce supplied is USDA Certified Organic and is raised on our farm locations in Santa Barbara County.

   We believe that consumer-supported agriculture (CSA), along with Farmers Markets and other local distribution to stores and restaurants, is a very effective method for reducing the pollution created by our 21st century eating habits. On the average, food in the USA travels 1500 miles before it reaches your table. Though living in California can reduce this average because so many agricultural products are grown here, nothing lowers the carbon footprint of the food you eat like joining a local CSA. Along the coast in the Santa Barbara area, locally-grown-and-distributed techniques work better than almost any other place in the country due to our mild climate and the large number of agricultural products that can be grown here. Join our CSA now and start enjoying the benefits of eating local Organic Produce grown right here in our unique and wonderful climate. It's picked fresh on the day of delivery - what could be better?

Customer benefits

• Freshest produce possible (unless you have a garden).
• Probably better tasting produce than you are currently eating (unless you're eating "Something Good" vegetables from John Givens Farm).
• Value, as compared to shopping at other places offering organic produce.
• Seasonal variety (you might try something new).
• Solid waste reduction due to less packaging and return of box each week.
• Improved nutrition from mineral-rich organic fruits and veggies.
• Weekly flyer with recipes, updates, and tidbits to keep you connected.
• Build community through direct contact with the farm and interactions with other conscious consumers.
• Reduce the amount of transportation and carbon footprint in the produce you eat.

   As you know, our coastal community is prized by developers for its incredible attributes, many of which are created by our unique climate. However, for all of us who live here, it is essential that we maintain vibrant, sustainable farmland within the county. Animals and insects, essential components of a diverse ecosystem, naturally prefer organic land to tract houses. Organic farmland is a safeguard during the fire season (a "green-zone" buffer), provides open breathing space, and improves the local environment. Along with our wonderful climate, we are blessed with rich soil and gentle topography, attributes that are nearly impossible to duplicate in most regions around the country or the world. Joining our CSA is the easiest, freshest, lowest cost, and most environmentally friendly way to purchase and eat vegetables.

   If you are a local business, with an interest in expanding your customer base, please consider becoming one of our CSA drop-off locations. It's a wonderful way to strengthen local relationships.

How to join: Contact us by phone to join. Please mail checks to the address below.


    Contact Info:

Mailing Address     john.givens1@verizon.net     1133 N. Fairview Ave.     Goleta, CA 93117     805-964-4477

Physical Address     720 Ward Dr.     Santa Barbara, CA 93111

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