About our CSA
Q: How much does it cost?
A: If your household makes less than $55,000/year:
Individuals – just $5/week
Families – $10/week
If your household makes more than $55,000/year:
Individuals – $25/week
Families – $30/week
Q: What size should I buy – Individual or Family?
A: Select an Individual membership if you don’t cook much or live with 3 or fewer people. We recommend selecting a Family membership if you cook for 4 or more people or eat a plant-rich diet.
Q: Where and when do I pick up my produce?
A: SATURDAYS 10:00pm – 2:00pm
THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave SE
You can purchase additional items from our farmers market table.
Q: What is a CSA?
A: Community Supported Agriculture programs provide fresh produce and other farm goods directly from local farms to their surrounding communities, usually on a weekly basis during the growing season. CSA members pay for their shares (like buying stock in a company) ahead of each seasonal session, and receive a grocery bag of local, seasonal produce each week of the session (like receiving dividends from stock investments). The upfront payments allow farmers the capital needed to start the growing season and provide customers with fresh produce for the Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions at reduced cost.
Q: How do I sign up for the CSA?
A: Fill out our form HERE. Once you submit the form, you’ll see instructions for payment.
Q: Can I wait to sign up later?
A: Register and pay before we sell out! If you’re signing up mid-session, we can pro-rate your price.
Q: What forms of payment can I use?
A: We accept credit card, debit card, WIC checks, Senior FMNP vouchers, Produce Plus, SNAP and cash.
Q: Do I need to prove my income?
A: You do not need to show us proof of income. We will ask you to choose the amount you pay based on whether your household makes more or less than $55,000. We will not ask for proof.
Q: What if I need to pay by the week?
A: If you pay the standard price, please pay in full with a credit or debit card when you sign up. If you pay with WIC, FMNP, Produce Plus or EBT, then you can pay each week when you pick up your produce.
Q: What will I get in my bag each week?
A: The contents of your bag will change each week depending on what is in season from local farms, but quantities and value will be similar week to week.
Here’s a sample CSA Bag for an Individual in July:
- CURLY KALE – 2 bunches
- CUCUMBER – 1
- CHERRY TOMATOES – 1 pint
- GREEN BEANS – 1/2 pound
- SPRING ONIONS – 1 bunch
- BEETS – bunch of 3
- BLUEBERRIES – 1 pint
- BLACKBERRIES – 1/2 pint
- BASIL – 1 bunch
- Every third week we include an item from a local Black-owned business, such as a fresh juice or scented candle
Q: Where do you get your fruits and vegetables?
A: We source from our own gardens in Southeast DC, and from other small farms in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware. We prioritize purchasing from black and brown-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned farms
Q: How long does it last?
- A: For 2022, we have 3 sessions, each 7 weeks long with a week break in between.
- Spring session: June 11 – July 23
- Summer session: August 6 – September 17
- Fall session: October 1 – November 12
Q: What happens if I miss a week?
A: If you miss a week, you can take extra vegetables on another week.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A: JThreatt@thearcdc.org – We’re happy to answer your questions!
About Getting Involved With Us
Q: How can I get involved?
A: Check out the Events calendar, where you’ll see our volunteer opportunities. We’d love to see you!
Farms vs. Gardens
Q: Don’t farms have animals?
A: Often times yes, however considering the space limitations in urban settings like ours, ‘farms’ refers to an agricultural space with forty or more crop beds while ‘gardens’ have fewer than forty beds. Nevertheless, THEARC Farm has had a flock of chickens in previous years, and is currently home to three beehives.