** We offer a 5% discount for payment in Full via check or cash.
We do accept Mastercard or Visa Payment but not via our website. Please call the farm at 540-554-2073 to make payment by Mastercard or VISA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the produce organic?
A. Great Country Farms makes every effort to use organic and sustainable methods of farming such as plasticulture, companion planting and no-till, however not all crops can be considered organic. We have found that our members prefer to have some crops treated to ensure top quality and "no worms in the corn."
Q. What is the 2010 box fee and what is for?
A.This is our 17th season of CSA and the blue boxes pictured below have served us well but we have had losses, breakage, and our CSA has grown so we need to replace all our boxes for the 2010 season. The box fee is a one time fee in 2010 to help cover this expense that we incur about every 7 years. This fee will be charged to all all returning and new members in 2010. In 2011, the box fee will apply only to new members as those renewing will have already contributed to box purchase.
Q. How many deliveries do I get each season?
Produce List A. We send 20 deliveries from June to October.
Q. How much is in a Full or Half Share? 
A. We pack all our produce in the same size box each week (see photo). A half share is one box per week and afull share is 2 boxes. Each box is 10"x12"x14" and is roughly equivalent to a large paper grocery bag. Baskets may be slightly light in the early spring when not as many items are available and will be more full in the summer when a larger variety of crops are bearing. Check out our
Produce Listfor a sample of what we plan to grow this season.
Q. When do deliveries start?A. Deliveries begin the first week of June and run for 20 weeks throught mid-October.
Q. What do I get each week in my basket?A. Throughout the growing season we try include a variety of crops each week (6-8 different
fruits and vegetables). Most items such as corn, squash and tomatoes will be includes in several deliveries while some crops will only be available 1-2 weeks during the season. Each week we send out our email newsletter, Crop Talk, with farm news and preparation tips for the items in the week's basket. Click here for our
Produce List sample delivery schedule.
Q. When does the farm open to the public?A. The farm opens the last weekend in March for 2010.
Click here for our full Calendar of Farm Activities for CSA members.
Q. What do I do when I am on vacation?A. We ask for vacation notice in writing so we are sure we have the proper days to start and stop your delivery. Simply
Click Here to use our Vacation Request Form to make a vacation or CSA change request. You are entitled to request a double order any other week to make up for your vacation week's deliveries. We do not offer refunds or credits for missed deliveries or make ups on weekly u-pick nor do we offer make ups for requestes made AFTER your missed day.
Q. What day of the week will my delivery arrive?A. You will receive your delivery on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday each week. Once your delivery day is set, it will remain the same each week throughout the season. We are sorry, but we cannot accommodate requests for a specific delivery day of the week since the routes are set by address and intended to balance our drivers' loads.
Q. What time of day do deliveries arrive?
A. Most produce is picked, packed and then delivered within 24 hours. We deliver between 9am and 6pm. If your delivery has not arrived by 7pm, please call the farm to let us know so we can research the situation.
Q. When do payment plans begin?A. Members should send their first payment with their application to confirm their CSA reservation. Invoices are then mailed by the 20th of each month and are due the 15th of the following month until all 6 payments have been made.
Q. Why are payments due in January when deliveries don't start until the June?A. Believe it or not, many of the farm's biggest expenses occur in the first few months of the year. We buy all the seed, repair equipment and pay taxes and the mortgage early in the year. This is one reason why CSA is such a help to farmers because it provides cash-flow when it is most needed.
Q. Can I split a full share?A. We offer splitting on delivered full shares only. Both members of a split full share have full farm access and benefits. All shares are packed in half bushel boxes. Full shares are 2 boxes which makes splitting a delivered full share easy. Full shares must be delivered to the same, single address each week. It is up to the split share partners to get the boxes to each other from the single delivery point. We also send one invoice for each full share to the primary share holders address and ask that you share this information with your split-share partner. We do offer a discount for group drop sites. Send us an email to
farmer@greatcountryfarms.com to discuss bulk drop options.
Q. Can I u-pick if I am a CSA member?A. YES!!! This is one of the best and unique things about our CSA. Each week we open different fields for u-pick.
We do ask that you only pick the items that are listed in your weekly newsletter and u-pick limits may not be carried over from week to week. CSA limits are not a GUARANTEE of availability-- we do our best to set limits so that availability is good for all members but u-pick is first come, first serve. Ifthe weather is beautiful and the crop popular (strawberries) then we may not have much left by 3pm on Saturday! We do try to recommend the best times to pick and some items are member only u-pick.
Q. If I split my delivered full share with a friend do we both get membership benefits?
A. YES! You may both enjoy u-pick at no additional charge and visit the Farm Animal Barnyard & Kid Corral and Lil' Farmer Barnyard (new tot only area) without paying admission. We do ask that split share members split any u-pick items that have limits. For example, if the CSA Full Share u-pick limit on strawberries is 4 quarts/week during the season, each split share member may pick 2 quarts that week. U-Pick limits may not be carried over from week to week.
Q. Can I pick up for my friends?
A. YES! With these crazy gas prices we encourage members to carpool and/or take turning picking up for eachother at the farm. This can make the pick up share an even better value and be more fun to pick together?
Q. Can I u-pick for my CSA member friends?
A. YES-- if you have their permission-- for 2009 we hope to have a pass card to scan for members, so you will need this card or their account information to check out their u-pick amount for the week.
Q. How much produce will I receive each week?
A. We pack all our produce in half share boxes and leave 2 boxes at full share stops. The volume of the box which measures 10" x 12" x 14" is roughly the same each week, but the weight of the produce will vary dramatically. Spring deliveries will be lighter as a half share box might contain a head of lettuce, a bundle of spring onions, 2-3 heads of broccoli a 1/2 pint (taste) of strawberries and a basil plant. In the fall, the boxes will be much heavier when we are sending potatoes, apples, fall squashes, leeks and other heavy items.
