CSA Handbook

As a farmer, I commit to raising nourishing food and bringing you a share of the harvest. We’re glad you’re here!

Picking Up Your Share

  • Your share will be available at our CSA Barn freezer here at Backbone Farm. Self-serve, grab and go! (See directions below.)

  • Once your meat is ready to pick up, I will email you an invoice with the balance due. If you'd like to add home delivery for an extra fee, please let me know.

  • You have one week to pick up your share, from Wednesday to Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

  • We are not responsible for any meat left in the freezer for more than one week.

Directions

The entrance to Backbone Farm is a private drive on Burr Road (physically located in Hector with a Trumansburg address). Look for the green road sign marking 5835 Goldenrod Hill. No dogs are allowed on the farm.

Freezer Details

Once you come down our long driveway and around the curve, you'll see a large hay barn on the left. Keep going and you will see the smaller CSA Barn on the right. The left bay of the CSA Barn will be open and the lights will be on. The walk-in freezer is along the back wall.

There is a red light switch above the freezer door handle. Please close the door behind you each time you enter and exit. Your share boxes/bags will be labeled with your name and count (for example 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3). Be sure the door is fully closed when you are done.

Bundles

The number of boxes per share may vary and sometimes there will be an extra bag.  Typically, each share includes the following:

  • Half Cow: 4 boxes

  • Quarter Cow: 2 boxes

  • Hector Bundle: 1 box

Seasonal Share

If you are a Full Plate summer CSA member, you can pick up your box from the walk-in cooler at your Full Plate site (Stick & Stone Farm, Press Bay Alley or Youth Farm) on the vegetable distribution day that week (July and October dates). OR, you can pick up your box from our CSA Barn freezer within one week of the vegetable distribution day. Please make sure we know which option you would like.

During the winter CSA and off-season (January and April dates), the boxes must be at our farm because coolers are not available at all of the Full Plate sites.

Distribution dates are the weeks of:

  • July 19 at Full Plate site OR Backbone Farm

  • October 18 at Full Plate site OR Backbone Farm

  • January 17 (2024) at Backbone Farm

  • April 17 (2024) at Backbone Farm

  • You have one week (Wednesday to Tuesday) to pick up your box. 

PAYMENTS

  1. A winter deposit reserves your share. The deposits help us pay the winter/spring feed bill and get us through the first part of the year until harvest in the summer/fall. 

  2. Once your meat is ready, you will receive a final invoice with the balance due. We accept cash, check and online payments. We prefer cash or check because the online payment processors charge us 3%, which is added to your invoice if you pay online. So, please save some money and pay by cash/check to support our local banks!

  3. Payment is due when your share is picked up. Please leave your payment in the white lockbox hanging on the back wall of the barn.

  4. What if I am struggling to pay my invoice? Life happens and we get it. Please reach out and we can make a plan together. When you join, you commit to paying for your share. Unless you are in direct communication, we will be counting on your payment.

Community Supported Agriculture

As a community, you have committed to support our farm through the entire year with the understanding that farming is a natural process: hanging weights and meat yields may vary from animal to animal. We count on you to collect your shares and fulfill your financial agreement to the farm, regardless of what the season may bring.

Please call or text Katherine at 607.237.9766 with any questions about pickup. FYI: Texting is easier because we have young, boisterous children.