Frequently Asked Questions ~

Read on for answers to these common questions:

• What are your production practices?
• How much does a Full share provide?
• What does a farm membership consist of?
• What do our members say?
• What about help in cooking with all these fresh vegetables?
• Does membership make “cents”?

 

• What are your production methods?
  

  We are not “certified” organic, but use organically approved practices.
  Our farming practices provide for the health and well-being of the land, the workers and especially our farm members.
  We never have, nor ever will, use synthetic pesticide, herbicide, nor artificial fertilizer.
  We use crop rotation, cover crops, compost, and organically approved sprays. Our garden plots are interspersed with diverse cover crop and border plantings to support beneficial insects and animals.
  Members are always welcome to visit the farm and we welcome questions about production.
  We include a Weekly Note with each box of vegetables to help tell the story about how we raise the produce throughout the season.

• How much does a Full share provide?
  Our plan averages 6-8 lb. of produce/week/box throughout our 18-week season (early June to end of September) ranging from the lighter boxes of the early season to heavy boxes later in the season. Our members tell us that this is enough weekly supply for a couple, recognizing that people do eat out during the week. Supply from the farm provides a weekly base of very diverse high-quality vegetables. Some of our members do their own home gardening but are growing only a few select vegetables.
   
• What’s a farm membership share consist of?
  Look over our share levels to find one or a combination of shares that will fit your desires and schedule!
  Full Share – 18 weekly deliveries from early June to end of September
  Every-Other-Week Share – 9, every-other-weekly deliveries, June – September
  Two Seasonal Options – Green & Sweet (first 7 weeks) as well as Savor-the-Summer (last 11 weeks)
  Two late Season options – Thanksgiving Box and Winter Delivery
  We have several additional Add-on features including fruit shares, herb shares and Kits that provide ingredients for making Pesto, Salsa, roasted tomatoes and more.
  For complete details, visit our products page.
   
• Just what comes in the CSA box?
  Our plan averages 6-8 lb. of produce/week/box throughout our 18-week season (early June to end of September) ranging from the lighter boxes of the early season to heavy boxes later in the season. Our members tell us that this is enough weekly supply for a couple, recognizing that people do eat out during the week. Supply from the farm provides a weekly base of very diverse high-quality vegetables. Some of our members do their own home gardening but are growing only a few select vegetables.
  
  To help you imagine what our shares look like through the season, we’ve provided three actual deliveries from the 2007 season:
  

  Early Delivery - 2nd Week
  Lettuce (1/2 lb.), Spinach (1/2 lb.), Radish (½  lb.),Green onion (½ lb.), Spring Garlic (¼ lb.)

  Mid- Delivery - 9th Week
  Broccoli (1 lb.), Cauliflower (1 ½ lb.), Cabbage (3 ½ lb), Zucchini (1 lb.),
  1 ¼ lb Beans – Green & Yellow, Tomatoes (1 ½ lb.) - Heirloom and Big beef,
  1 dozen ears Sweet Corn

  Late Delivery - 16th Week
  Peppers (1/2 lb.), Onion ( 1 ½ lb.), Green, Yellow and French Beans (3/4 lb.)
  Tomato (3 lb.) - Heirloom and Slicers, Yukon Gold Potato (2 lb.), Winter Squash (2 lb.)

   
• What do our members say?
  On a scale of 1(low) to 5(high) our member survey ranks Satisfaction at 4.7! We survey our members every year to get feedback on quantity, quality, variety, length of season, distribution site and time, and our weekly communication note. We’ve been farming since 1996 and are sure you will be satisfied too!
   
• What about help in cooking with all these fresh vegetables?
  Asparagus to Zuchinni: A Guild to Seasonal, Farm Fresh Produce - this great resource is available for order on our membership form. We also provide our members with a collection of recipes.
  It’s important to us to provide helpful resources so our members make the most of their weekly supply of fresh vegetables.
  
   
• Does a CSA membership make “cents”?
  The equivalent of a Full CSA farm membership, which lasts throughout the 18-week season, can easily be spent in one weekend of entertainment. Yes, weekly supplies of vegetables require extra attention, but consider what dollars spent on our conventional food system support:
  • Conventionally raised fruits & vegetables travel an average of 1,500 miles, grown for endurance and storage rather than flavor. (Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture). At One Step at a Time Gardens, we select, raise, and deliver varieties with care for flavor that our members savor, not for shelf display.
     
  • Studies are beginning to reveal declining nutrient levels in produce in grocery stores. (Growing for Market, August, 2002). One Step at a Time Gardens manages for healthy soils that feed healthy plants and we harvest for peak flavor!
     
  • Approximately 80% of fresh fruits & vegetables are imported into Iowa from other states and countries. Many of our food dollars, therefore, are exported (Iowa Local Food Task Force). Your investment in a farm membership at One Step at a Time Gardens is an investment in the local economy as well as your own health!
     

Investing in locally grown food is an
investment in your health as well as
that of the land, and the community.