Good Companion's Bread CSA
For those not familiar with Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA), it is a way of connecting a citizen
to their local food source whether it be vegetables,
grains, or in our case bread. A CSA is set up in order
to provide a farmer with the necessary capital at the
start of a growing season, which is provided by the
members of the CSA. This provides a measure of
security for the farmer, both monetary and as a
dispersion of risk among the members. The farm's
customers receive, in addition to their produce, the
satisfaction of supporting a small farm, thus ensuring
that the farm's intangible benefits to soil, water,
health and community endure.
The need for a CSA is less well-established for baked
goods than for vegetable farms. Like vegetable
farmers, grain farmers must invest money and labor
well in advance of the harvest. Since we grow
primarily winter wheat, this investment takes place in
the fall. So it's appropriate to begin the program
when our need for cropping capital is greatest. Since
everything we bake for the the CSA program is
pre-ordered, this helps ensure that every loaf we bake
ends up on the table of someone who will enjoy it.
Our bakery and farm are two parts of a whole. The
CSA program allows us to underwrite expansion of
our horse-drawn cropping as we seek to provide
more kinds and larger quantities of our own staple
ingredients from our own land. The farming we
engage in is solar-powered cropping for the future.
That is to say, whatever transpires with the prices of
gas and feed, or the cost of trucking, we will still be
here, ready to provide the staff of life for perhaps a
hundred local families, summer and winter.
Agriculture (CSA), it is a way of connecting a citizen
to their local food source whether it be vegetables,
grains, or in our case bread. A CSA is set up in order
to provide a farmer with the necessary capital at the
start of a growing season, which is provided by the
members of the CSA. This provides a measure of
security for the farmer, both monetary and as a
dispersion of risk among the members. The farm's
customers receive, in addition to their produce, the
satisfaction of supporting a small farm, thus ensuring
that the farm's intangible benefits to soil, water,
health and community endure.
The need for a CSA is less well-established for baked
goods than for vegetable farms. Like vegetable
farmers, grain farmers must invest money and labor
well in advance of the harvest. Since we grow
primarily winter wheat, this investment takes place in
the fall. So it's appropriate to begin the program
when our need for cropping capital is greatest. Since
everything we bake for the the CSA program is
pre-ordered, this helps ensure that every loaf we bake
ends up on the table of someone who will enjoy it.
Our bakery and farm are two parts of a whole. The
CSA program allows us to underwrite expansion of
our horse-drawn cropping as we seek to provide
more kinds and larger quantities of our own staple
ingredients from our own land. The farming we
engage in is solar-powered cropping for the future.
That is to say, whatever transpires with the prices of
gas and feed, or the cost of trucking, we will still be
here, ready to provide the staff of life for perhaps a
hundred local families, summer and winter.
The bread CSA program runs year-round. It has rolling enrollment and a flexible ordering and
payment system. You can set your own terms for when you join, and when and how much you
order. You may order far in advance or place an order every week.
How much does the Bread CSA cost?
The cost for the program is $4.00 per loaf "unit." Subscribers may join at any time and may
subscribe for any increment of $4.00. If you would like exactly one loaf a week, simply count the
number of weeks remaining and multiply by $4.00 to determine the cost. Retail prices for our
offerings average above $4.00 for a typical loaf, so being a subscriber saves you some money.
Generally families usually order anywhere between one and four units per week. Whatever
quantity of loaves or other goods you order is automatically deducted from your balance of units.
As long as you have a positive balance of units you can order whatever you want, whenever you
want.
What are the bread and dessert selections and how do I make them?
This website features an interactive order form to allow you to view the options for the entire
program via the internet. Each week will feature five types of loaf to choose from, plus dessert
options. When you become a member, you are assigned a login id and a password, and a total
number of units of credit. You may order against your total credit at whatever speed you wish,
for instance skip a week one week, order six loaves for a dinner party the next.
Each week we will feature a different "loaf of the week" and a different dessert, with seasonal
recipes and ingredients. Click here for a complete list of our bread and dessert specials.
Large pies and other large desserts equal two "units." That is, you can substitute one big pie for
two loaves of bread. Other than that, all selections are one unit and are totally interchangeable.
Subscribers will be able to view their own order sheets and alter their choices at any time.
However changes for a given bake day must be made by 12 noon on the Wednesday before
your pickup. If you like you can make your selections for the entire program all at once, right at
the beginning, and then you are done!
Where will I pick up my bread?
We will have several pickup locations throughout the area, now posted on our member page
Hopefully one of these will be convenient for you. Pickup locations are subject to change.
When you sign up, you will pick a location. This will allow us to inform you and others in your
pickup group by e-mail as to directions, times, and any unforseen changes.
How do I sign up?
Download this pdf brochure about our program, print it, and send the order form portion with
payment to:
Good Companion Bakery, 276 Burroughs Farm Road, Vergennes, VT 05491
payment system. You can set your own terms for when you join, and when and how much you
order. You may order far in advance or place an order every week.
How much does the Bread CSA cost?
The cost for the program is $4.00 per loaf "unit." Subscribers may join at any time and may
subscribe for any increment of $4.00. If you would like exactly one loaf a week, simply count the
number of weeks remaining and multiply by $4.00 to determine the cost. Retail prices for our
offerings average above $4.00 for a typical loaf, so being a subscriber saves you some money.
Generally families usually order anywhere between one and four units per week. Whatever
quantity of loaves or other goods you order is automatically deducted from your balance of units.
As long as you have a positive balance of units you can order whatever you want, whenever you
want.
What are the bread and dessert selections and how do I make them?
This website features an interactive order form to allow you to view the options for the entire
program via the internet. Each week will feature five types of loaf to choose from, plus dessert
options. When you become a member, you are assigned a login id and a password, and a total
number of units of credit. You may order against your total credit at whatever speed you wish,
for instance skip a week one week, order six loaves for a dinner party the next.
Each week we will feature a different "loaf of the week" and a different dessert, with seasonal
recipes and ingredients. Click here for a complete list of our bread and dessert specials.
Large pies and other large desserts equal two "units." That is, you can substitute one big pie for
two loaves of bread. Other than that, all selections are one unit and are totally interchangeable.
Subscribers will be able to view their own order sheets and alter their choices at any time.
However changes for a given bake day must be made by 12 noon on the Wednesday before
your pickup. If you like you can make your selections for the entire program all at once, right at
the beginning, and then you are done!
Where will I pick up my bread?
We will have several pickup locations throughout the area, now posted on our member page
Hopefully one of these will be convenient for you. Pickup locations are subject to change.
When you sign up, you will pick a location. This will allow us to inform you and others in your
pickup group by e-mail as to directions, times, and any unforseen changes.
How do I sign up?
Download this pdf brochure about our program, print it, and send the order form portion with
payment to:
Good Companion Bakery, 276 Burroughs Farm Road, Vergennes, VT 05491
What is a Bread
CSA?
CSA?
How does it
work?
work?
| Interested? Contact us! |
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| Local hearth loaves, tasty desserts and pastries on your table throughout the winter. |
| Three abreast hitch (Bobby, Molly and Star) plowing in early November |