2012 Farmer-Shareholder Agreement
(please print for your records)

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CSA-L

I/We appreciate locally grown, pesticide-free produce and want to ensure that it remains available in Central Illinois by becoming a shareholder/shareholders in Prairieland Community Supported Agriculture. I/We understand that the PCSA farmer(s) will do their best to provide the sustainably produced fruit and vegetable varieties they propose at the times they estimate. However, as a sharer/sharers in both the bounty and the risk, I/we understand that nature ultimately decides what I/we will receive and when I/we will receive it.

Pricing:
The price of a share is $400. This fee includes organizational costs for produce distribution, newsletter, and PCSA programming. You will receive an average of $21.39 of produce grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers per week during the season, pending normal weather patterns. If you desire more produce, you may purchase additional shares at the reduced price of $385. Note that these prices reflect higher production costs due to rising fuel and utility prices. However, because PCSA has reduced its overhead in recent years, we are able to direct more of your money to our farmers to cover these increases while keeping the share price steady.

PCSA assesses new shareholders a one-time $16 fee to cover the cost of a CSA cookbook/information packet which explains CSAs and seasonal eating in addition to providing recipes for enjoying your produce. We have found that shareholders who know how to store and cook their produce are much more likely to renew. Without renewing shareholders, PCSA cannot build a sustainable, local organic food production system.

For households splitting a share, there is an additional $5 fee to cover the organizational costs PCSA incurs with a split share.

Sign-Up and Payment Deadline:
PCSA sign-up begins September 1, 2011. This date reflects the fact that shareholders share in the costs of production. Many items (seeds, utilities for greenhouses, etc.) must be purchased prior to the growing season, and some crops are planted in the fall of the preceding season. Payment (in part or full), and a completed online reservation OR a signed copy of this contract mailed for those without internet access, are necessary to reserve your share. Shares are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot hold shares without payment. Please note that no reservations will be accepted from 2011 shareholders or those on the 2011-2012 waiting list after January 1, 2012. A $25 processing fee will be assessed to shares not paid in full that must be refunded.

Produce Pickup:
PCSA farmers will begin harvesting your produce in May. The first pickup will be June 6th, between 4 and 7 pm at 701 W Washington St. in Champaign or 714 W. Iowa St. in Urbana, or at the farm near Watseka, IL. You will be assigned a location nearest your home unless you specify otherwise. You will be informed of your exact location prior to the start of the season. Harvest will continue each Wednesday throughout the growing season for 18 weeks, through October 3 or until the value of the share is met. Note: The size of your share will resemble a bell curve over the season, with more produce during the height of the season and typically less in the early spring and late fall.

If you cannot pick up your share at the specified time, you can designate others to pick up your share. Simply have them give your name at pickup. PCSA reserves the right to donate any shares not picked up by 7 pm to charity. We also may sell a small number of these shares each week to individuals on our waiting list and treat the proceeds as donations.

Community Development:
PCSA does more than link consumers and sustainable producers. We are committed to educating the community about the economic, environmental and health benefits of sustainable farming, as well as providing sustainably produced fruits and vegetables to members of the community with limited incomes. We have done this via educational presentations, media appearances, and by donating excess produce to area charities.

For 2012, we are continuing our sponsored share program for low-income individuals, so that they, too, can have a voice in our local food production system.

If you are interested in assisting with fundraising, grant writing, writing articles for the newsletter, preparing educational materials, organizing internal or external education programs related to sustainable farming, assisting with the sponsored share program, or taking excess produce to area charities, please consider donating your time, talent, or other resources. If you are able, we ask that you consider making a financial donation to help us in our effort to make pesticide-free food available to more of our community.

Finally, if you are a member of an organization that would be interested in helping sponsor a share or shares for (a) low-income individual(s), please let us know by filling out the appropriate blank in the reservation form which follows. Thank you.

I agree with the terms and want to renew my membership,

OR

I agree with the terms and want to join PCSA now.

Still have questions on becoming a PCSA shareholder?
email or call (217) 355-6279