Hazelfield Farm

Community Supported Agriculture programs bring together farmers and consumers, providing fresh local produce delivered from the farm to you. 

Hazelfield Farm's CSA brings fresh, naturally-grown produce to the Hyde Park Farmers' Market and The Church of the Ascension on Washington Street in Frankfort each Sundays for 20 weeks, Mid-May until October.
 
We grow a wide variety of pesticide-free produce, herbs and flowers.

We have over 16 years experience operating our CSA and growing 100% naturally-grown produce.

We use timed-honored natural farming methods such as cover crops and use of natural fertilizers such as composted manure and lime. We control weeds the old-fashioned way with cultivation, hoeing, hand-weeding and natural mulches, such as straw or hay.

Many vegetable growers, even 'organic' growers, cover their fields with acres of non-biodegradable plastic 'mulch.' We use no plastic mulch for any of our crops, as we prefer to enrich the soil rather than fill landfills with acres of non-renewable plastic.

Certified Naturally Grown
Having been Certified Organic for many years, we are very familiar with organic production methods. We have decided to opt out of the national organic certification system preferring instead to be Certified Naturally Grown, a peer-reviewed grassroots certification system. We use methods which used to be called organic before the USDA bought the term. We promise you, the consumer, that we only use pest control and fertility products and methods that are approved for use in organic production. It's a shame that farmers who farm by the methods of Albert Howard and J.I. Rodale advocated can no longer use the term that these organic agriculture pioneers used to describe their system of farming.

Spring brings a selection of the freshest spring salad greens, changing slowly as beets, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, and sugar snap peas make their appearance in the CSA shares.

In early summer we see new potatoes, onions, garlic, green beans and summer squash. The main summer season features many varieties of heirloom tomatoes, sweet corn, basil, fresh flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, melons and okra. Fall brings a return to greenery with kale, Swiss chard, green onions, arugula, beets, radishes, lettuce and spinach, as well as winter squash, broccoli and cabbage.

What is the risk?
Of course as farmers we work with nature and there is always some element of risk in any agricultural endeavor. Once we plant the seed, anything goes! Weeds, weather, insects, and animals all are risks to the young crop. That is why it's so important to find a CSA operation that has over 10 years of experience in developing reliable production methods for growing a large selection of vegetables. Our experience farming in this area and diversity of our crops reduces your risk as a CSA member.

CSA members come first!
Our CSA members have their share of vegetables, herbs and flowers reserved for them until they arrive. We harvest specifically for our CSA shares. Often our market booth will sell out of popular items very early, so if you like to sleep late on Sunday and still want a good selection of veggies, our CSA is for you! We grow certain crops such as sweet corn, only for our CSA members. Members also get a discount on any extra items that they may want to buy at our booth.

Support your independent CSA!
A disturbing trend taking place nationwide are large multiform CSAs in which a corporation buys produce from farmers and distributes it to shareholders. These multi-farm CSAs have infrastructure and resources that the independent farmer can't even dream of affording. They employ multiple-salaried employees, such as managers, buyers, drivers, etc.

As a result, the farmers who supply the CSA are paid a fraction of the retail value for their produce with none of the market security traditionally offered by a CSA. In addition, there is no direct connection between consumers and the farmers, no relationship and no way of knowing exactly who produced your vegetables.

When supporting an independent CSA you are choosing to support a family farm and their stewardship to their own land. You are helping keep land in the hands of farmers, and 100% of your retail dollar is retained by the farmers themselves. We hope you will choose to help pay farmers a living wage so they can stay on the land and treat it with love and respect.

Hazelfield Farm CSA offers the following promise to all its members. We promise to bring only the best, most healthful products to you, and all of it grown with experience, knowledge and great care for our environment and land.
 
Thank you for your support.