FAQ


Bay Ridge CSA is a non-profit organization that aims to support local farmers and provide fresh and organic produce to the community. We are a community-supported agricultural group that was created by neighbors who share a passion for sustainable living. Our weekly deliveries of fresh vegetables, fruit, and eggs are made possible through the support of our members. Join us in our mission to promote locally sourced and healthy food options. 

What's in a Share?

What's in a vegetable share?

At each pickup, members can expect to receive 6–8 types of certified organic vegetables grown right here at Hearty Roots Farm.

 Each week we harvest a balance of our organic salad greens, root vegetables, cooking greens, seasonal vegetables (like tomatoes or peppers in the summer, and winter squash in the fall), herbs and more. You can see a list of vegetables that we are planting this year here.​

A Weekly Share is designed for a medium sized household that cooks regularly, or a small household that cooks a lot of vegetables. A Biweekly Share contains the same amount of produce as the Weekly Share, but pickups occur every other week instead of every week. Smaller households and members looking for a smaller quantity often opt for a Biweekly Share. The vegetables are harvested the day or two before you receive them, so they will remain very fresh in the fridge until your next pickup!

Here are a few examples of what your share might look like throughout the season:

​Members will receive an email a day or two before pick up to let them know what will be in that week’s share.

Fruit availability varies from season to season. In summer you can expect peaches, blueberries, pears, nectarines, raspberries, cherries, and plums. In the fall, the share includes many varieties of apples, pears, cider, and more!

​NOTE: If you would like to sign up for a weekly vegetable share with a biweekly egg and/or fruit share, please email us at csa@heartyroots.com to assist with your order.

What are in the add-on egg and fruit shares?

The egg shares come from our own Hearty Roots pasture-raised hens! If you add an egg share to your order, you can choose to get a dozen or a half-dozen eggs at each pickup. Our hens live out on the pasture, foraging in the grass, which gives their eggs amazing, nutrient-rich orange yolks. Read more about our eggs here. 

Fruit shares include two fruit items per pickup. We source the fruit from a handful of orchards and fruit growers in the Hudson Valley. While we source organic fruit when we can, there are very few certified organic fruit options in the Hudson Valley. Most of the fruit is grown conventionally, by farmers we know and trust

How often will I receive a share?

The 2024 Bay Ridge CSA season runs from June 8th to November 2nd. Within that period, members can choose:

​Weekly Pickups
Biweekly Pickups (every other week)

​There are two holiday weeks this season when no shares will be delivered: the week of July 4th and Labor Day Weekend (July 6th and August 31st).

PLEASE NOTE: The biweekly share schedule adjusts around those holiday weeks. Please review the calendar above, or you can find a full list of dates for each biweekly cycle here. A downloadable .ics file of your schedule, which you can import into your calendar of choice, will be provided in your welcome material.

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In addition to these two holiday weeks, members may choose up to two additional "vacation" weeks, to make sure the CSA schedule fits your personal schedule! When you claim a vacation week, your pickup for that week is cancelled and you receive an account credit for the value of your skipped share (veggies, eggs, and/or fruit), which can be put toward your next CSA installment payment or CSA purchase. (Vacation week claims must be submitted at least 3 days before your scheduled pick-up.)


How much does it cost and how can I pay?

Payment Options

Pay in Full

We appreciate your full payment to help the farm cover all the costs of growing the vegetables at the beginning of the season!

​Pay in Monthly Installments

A non-refundable deposit is due on sign-up. The remaining monthly payments will be processed on the first of each month during the season. 

Your monthly payments will depend on when you sign up and when you start picking up your shares. Email us at csa@heartyroots.com if you would like a detailed payment schedule, or if you have any questions. 

NEW! Pay with SNAP/EBT

You can now pay for your CSA share with SNAP/EBT! SNAP Vegetable and Fruit Shares are offered at a 50% discount thanks to the CSA is a SNAP program and supported by the generosity of our members. Click here to learn more and for detailed instructions on how to sign up for a SNAP share. 

Sponsor a Share!

We also invite you to contribute to our Mutual Aid Fund, to help us share our produce with members of our community who can’t otherwise afford it. You can add a contribution to your cart while signing up for your share, or click here to learn more. 

Subsidized Shares Available

The Bay Ridge CSA also offers subsidized shares to members with limited incomes who are not eligible for SNAP, or who require additional financial assistance. If you would like to inquire about a subsidized share, please email csabayridge@gmail.com.

Logistics

CSA distribution takes place on

Saturday mornings 

8:30am to 10:30am

at Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church

6753 4th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11209

Between 68th St. and Senator St.


Pickups are "farm stand style" during the main season. Vegetables will be delivered in bulk bins, and members will be able to pick out their own selections of each item (a list of how much of each item you may take will be provided). Members will need to bring their own bags/boxes each week to carry their shares home.

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Members are required to volunteer for one shift at the CSA pickup site during the season, signing in members and helping to distribute the food. Information about how to sign up for your volunteer shift will be provided in your welcome material.