Hillside Community Supported Shares
This season we will offer 20% of Hillside Farm’s CSA shares at a reduced price to assist limited-income members in our community with accessing a share of our farm’s bounty. By establishing a relationship between farmers andlow-income neighborhoods, we alleviate inequity in the food system that exists when grocery stores fail to adequately serve these areas. We envision a world where everyone has access to local, organic foods and so we created the Community Supported Share Program in 2012 to improve our farms’ ability to provide CSA shares to a more socioeconomically diverse membership. In addition to a subsidized price made possible through generous contributionsfrom our community, CSS members are now able to pay for their shares in several installments using SNAP/EBT during the growing season and have the option to pick up their shares at a community center in Chester, PA.
“Ensuring CSA availability to all income levels is a way to improve nutrition and education—and improve food security in a country with far too many food deserts” (Slow Food USA).
How to Participate
If you’d like to sign up as a CSS member, first check your eligibility here and then get in contact with Jessica.Cummings@greenerpartners.org with any questions about the program. To become a member and reserve your spot, you must sign a CSS membership agreement form which is available here and enclose a $30 security deposit towards your commitment in cash or check. Your $30 will be reimbursed to you at the end of the season.Your share of 5-6 seasonal vegetables will cost $11.50 per week, which will be charged every two weeks ($300 total for 26 weeks). As a CSS member, you are committing to receive your share of seasonal, fresh, organically-grown produce each week from mid-May to mid-November. You can pick up your shares either at Hillside Farm (111 Elwyn Rd Media, PA) or at the Booker T. Washington Center (611 Central Ave Chester, PA). Throughout the season, you’ll receive recipes, be able to participate in free cooking and nutrition classes, and have the chance to visit the farm on various days throughout the season if you are picking up in Chester.
CSS Support Events
Swarthmore Co-op Tapas Night Fundraiser April 27th - Come out to the Swarthmore Co-op patio to enjoy a Tapas menu, wine and live entertainment. Discounts for CSA members, Co-op Members, Students, & seniors.Spring Farm Portrait Photography with Sarah McKay May 6th - Come to Hillside for a fun-filled day including a chance to get a portrait against farm landscapes by the lovely Sarah McKay, professional portrait photographer. All proceeds go to support the CSS program.
Film at the Farm May 30th - Join us in the barn for refreshments and a full-length film in our Barn to support the CSS program.
CSS pickup
We have two pickup options;1. If you are able to pickup at Hillside Farm on Elwyn’s campus, you must choose to pickup on either Monday or Thursday between 1pm-7pm.
2. If you’d prefer to pick up your food at the Booker T. Washington Center in Chester (CHA), you must indicate that this will be your pickup location for the season so we can plan the amount of food to deliver. Shares will be delivered to the Center on Mondays.
What do the shares include? Medium shares include 5-6 different seasonal, fresh fruits and vegetables per week, plus access to U-pick items (berries, cherry tomatoes, green beans, peas, hot pepper, herbs). If you are unable to come to Hillside farm for U-pick each week, we will organize monthly farm visit days for this and coordinate volunteers to harvest from U-pick to be delivered.
For questions, or to apply and sign-up, please e-mail Jessica.Cummings@greenerpartners.org. Once shares fill up, we will keep a waiting list and notify you if shares become available throughout the season.
Please consider donating to help grow this important new program.