CSA's - Anyone use Sweet Earth Organic?

Question

I'm thinking of joining a CSA this summer. I noticed past posts praising Angelic Organics. But I was looking at the helpful map at this website: http://www.sustainusa.org/familyfarmed/csa_list.html. Sweet Earth Organic has a pickup spot just around the corner from me. Their website looks good: sweetearthorganicfarm.com. But I was wondering if anyone has any personal experience with them. If you think it's great or have complaints, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

Answer

I've tried Sweet Earth Organic. Their shares are plentiful and the mix is good. This year I've signed up with Genesis Growers which delivers near my house in Chicago, so I'd suggest giving them a try for either their Summer or Fall Share. Their website is: http://www.genesis-growers.com

I'd also recommend Home Grown Wisconsin: http://homegrownwisconsin.com

Answer

I also signed up for Sweet Earth's 2008 growing season -- actually, I sent my check in about a month ago but its not been cashed yet. I've tried to follow up with the farm, but haven't recieved a response (Farmer Renee was very responsive via email before I signed up). Has anyone heard anything yet for the year? I was concerned that perhaps with all of the rain/flooding, the farm may have been affected. Any news others have heard would be appreciated!

Answer

I am unfortunately on the same boat -my check was cashed in march and Renee stopped emailing me in early June after I offered my place as a pick up site in west town. I stopped by the Green City Market and everyone had sour faces upon me mentioning sweet earth CSA and wished me luck in getting my fund$ back! If anyone does get a hold of her please ask her to contact the rest of us....and if there is any other #, please pass on!!!! k

Answer

I used Sweet Earth last year and signed up again for this year. Farmer Renee had flooding like alot of Wisconsin farmers did last year, but she pulled through with enough veggies for the season. The veggies were absolutely delicious. It is exceedingly difficult to get a hold of Farmer Renee, and it seems like she needs some help with computers and updates. There is an element of faith involved. But she is a legitimate organic farmer who has been doing it for a long time. I commend her for continuing such a difficult business. Being a shareholder is taking a risk with the farmer. It protects them when they need it most. It gives me a share of the bounty when the season is good. Hopefully we will start to have legislation that attacks climate change head on in the near future. The veggies were excellent and I gained lots of energy last year. 

She did not cash my check for along time, either. I suggested paypal. I really think they need some volunteers to get her up and running with an efficient web-based payment/ communication schedule.

Answer

I just got Farmer Renee on the phone, and she said the first delivery was going to be this Saturday (7/12). She said that pick-up addresses would be on the website today...

Answer

Anyone know if Farmer Renee would object to someone volunteering to be her communications director? I am sure someone can take over daily communications, at least update the website info to reflect what is going on. If anyone gets word about drop offs, esp. times & locations, please let us know on this discussion (our check was cashed, but we never got any emails...)

Answer

Hi everyone - I just wanted to let you know about a CSA alternative that I found and have been using for the last couple of weeks after finding that all of the CSAs in the area are sold out for the season. It's called Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks: http://www.freshpicks.com. I live on the North Shore and they deliver all over this are from Niles where they are based - not sure what other suburbs they do or about the city. They aren't a CSA, but they get all of their veggies from local farms - many that offer CSAs in our area - Genesis Growers, St Anne, etc. I've received a beautiful assortment of veggies in the Fresh Pick over the past few weeks. While I will still probably look for a CSA next year, I do think Irv & SHelly are a nice alternative. They are supporting family farms and have great service. The home delivery does add a little extra pollution I suppose, but then I would be driving to a pick up location with a CSA, so I'm not sure if that doesn't all work itself out. I'd be interested in what others think about it.

Answer

The problems continue. To recap: so far, the CSA got off to a late start, then there was confusion about whether some locations (listed on the website) would be available, then there were further issues about when the deliveries would be made. The farmer said maybe by 5 on Fridays or on Saturday mornings--this makes a big difference in terms of where we would want to pick up the box and there was next to no communication about it from the beginning of the season. 

This morning, I went to the pick up location--no vegetables. My girlfriend called the farmer for me (I was just too mad and tired) and it turns out that they won't be available until 6 tonight, but Farmer Renee did nothing to contact members. She said that she didn't have internet available, which to me means that she didn't even try to find an internet cafe, or call someone she knows to post for her. She also didn't try to call the members. So I'm sure that all of us wasted time this morning going to the pick up site. And given all this, she wasn't really apologetic about the delay--just said that it would have been impractical for her to call everyone and that we should switch to a closer location if it was out of our way (of course, there is no closer location). 

I would not recommend this CSA for next year because of the logistic problems and complete lack of communication that have plagued it from the beginning. The vegetables are great, but the effort that goes into getting them from week to week (are they here? when are they coming? where will they be?) just isn't worth it.

Answer

I have enjoyed Sweet Earth Organic CSA for several years now. Farmer Renee is one of those rare people who has great integrity. I have had the privilege of speaking with her at length about her farming practices and I can tell you that she does absolutely everything she can to insure that those vegetables are as nutritious, fresh and free of contamination as they can possibly be! I feel blessed to be able to really know the person who puts food on my table!

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CSA's - Anyone use Sweet Earth Organic?

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