The wood fire oven is curing, the murals are muraling and we are busy as the devil! The weather has been pefect, although we could use a little rain, but wow! 

Lots of happy little sprouts are sprouting and we are all eagerly awaiting some farm fresh veg! Won't be long now! The volunteers and Amy have been incredibly busy getting everything planted and trying to keep up with all the various garden duties. We have a fabulous group of garden helpers and we are very grateful for their hard work and dedication.

SCHOONER FARMS 2012 CSA  - Guidelines 

Please be sure to follow the steps below and read through our guidelines very carefully before submitting your application. Thank you!  

1.     STEP ONE – LEARN ABOUT HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS

At Schooner Farms, our focus is on growing beautiful Organically Grown produce for our CSA members. Each week we take a survey of our fields, and we harvest the crops that are at their peak and ready to be picked. We pack the produce into trugs for every member and have them ready for pick up on appointed days. Our harvest season runs for 18 weeks from May/June through October. This share does NOT begin until spring of 2012. You will be contacted when 2012 program begins.

2.     STEP TWO – CAREFULLY READ OUR CSA POLICIES

CSA is a Partnership between the Members and the Farmers
At the core of CSA is the idea that members support their farmer by sharing in the inherent risks of agriculture (poor weather, drought, disease, early frost, crop failure and so on) and rewards (the bounty from a good season!).  Therefore while Schooner Farms will act in good faith to provide fresh organic produce for the 18-week season, there is no guarantee of quantities or contents of weekly shares. 

Member Responsibilities
STAY INFORMED! The single most important responsibility of all members is to educate themselves about the workings of our CSA program by thoroughly reading through the website and reading the weekly CSA newsletter posted every week on our website. The newsletter contains important information about what's in the box, news from the farm and details about the harvest.

PICK UP YOUR SHARE! As a CSA member, you must pick up your share on your chosen pick-up day during the pick-up window. To ensure the freshest produce we will only harvest prior to your designated pick-up day. Please choose from one of our two available pick-up days. You must pick up your share on the day you have chosen each week. If you cannot pick up your share, you are welcome to have a friend or neighbor pick up your share that week. Please just email or call us with their name. Our goal is to have you enjoy your share each week – we will work with you if you give us enough advance notice. If you do not pick up your share and make no arrangements to have someone else pick it up for you then your forfeit your share that week and it will be donated to local charities. There is no refund for unclaimed shares.

Pick-Up days are; Tuesdays from 3-6 pm OR Saturdays from 9 am –noon.                     

 All shares are to be picked up at Schooner Farms.

BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM! We encourage all of our members to become active participants in the CSA Program.  You can do this by staying up to date with the news from the farm (by reading the weekly newsletters) and keeping in touch with the farm. Communication is critical! Please e-mail us often with your comments, suggestions and concerns. This is one of the great perks of CSA- you can actually talk to the farmer who grew your food! We also invite you to visit the farm to see just where your food comes from.

3.     OUR SHARES

Schooner Farms CSA Program is a 18-week membership share. Our season begins roughly the end of May to the first part of June, weather permitting.

PRODUCE SHARES                      

Organically grown produce is picked fresh from our fields, sorted, and ready for pick up at Schooner Farms. This share contains approx. 6 to 10 items grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers each week, depending on the season and availability. We practice biodiversity and bio-intensive gardening methods. We do offer several payment plans to help our program fit into your budget.

Standard Share – $500 – Organic Produce for 1-4 people. Our standard share will offer not only fresh organic veggies but we include blackberries, red raspberries and raw honey from our farm as well.

Supplemental Share* - $200 – additional produce for 1-3 more people. This supplemental share takes the place of our “full” share. This share is produce only. *Members must purchase the standard share to be eligible for the supplemental share.

Single Share - $375 – this share is for a single person who eats a great deal of veggies. There are a limited amount of single shares available.

ORGANICALLY FED PASTURE RAISED EGGS

Egg Share - $76.50 ($4.25 for 18 weeks) - A dozen fresh organic eggs each week.

ORGANICALY FED & PASTURE RAISED POULTRY SHARE

Pasture Raised Chicken will be available to our members. Poultry is raised on site and processed at a State Inspected Facility. Please indicate if you would be interested in poultry on membership form & we will send you a separate order form.

SCHOONER FARMS CSA 2012 – PAYMENT OPTIONS

Option 1.

 Pay in full for your 2012 CSA Membership

Option 2.

 $75 deposit now and pay in three monthly installments

4.     COMPLETE APPLICATION FORM

Please print out pages 4 and 5, complete contract then send along with payment to Schooner Farms. Keep the guidelines for your records.

Click here for the membership form

Our Beekeeping class last week was a hit. Lots and lots of learning going on! This weekend we have our Soap Making 101 class - it is sold out as well! We'll have more classes over the summer. Stay tuned! 

The wind is really whipping aorund out there today. Justin was having a hard time in the herb beds. We have a few new volunteers this season who are very into HERBS! I am excited! We'll have some fun makng things this summer. I will be doing a, "Cooking With Herbs" class. So many people have no clue how to use herbs in their everyday cooking. Herbs are so easy to use and many plants many consider weeds make wonderful additions to salads and other foods! 

We do still have a few CSA memberships available but not too many! Call us or email if you are interested!!

PRODUCE SHARES

Option 1.

 Pay in full for your 2012 CSA Membership now 

Option 2.

 $75 deposit and pay in three monthly installments. Balance due by end of May.

There is an additional $15 charge for this payment option.

EGG SHARE – Must be paid in full 

Poultry Share - Limited number available - open only to our shareholders. See Order Form. 

So You Want to Be A Beekeeper?

Introduction To Beekeeping Class (2.5 hours)

Saturday March 31^st  at 2:00 pm

Schooner Farms - 14890 Otsego Pike (Corner of US 6 & ST RT 235)

Weston, Ohio

$35.00/person or $50.00/couple

Schooner Farms is opening our doors to people considering backyard beekeeping as a hobby.  At this class you will learn about what it takes keep bees successfully in your own yard.  During this multi-media presentation you will learn about; the basic equipment you will need to get started and how to use each piece, types of hives, all the various components of the hive,  types of foundation and proper hive placement.  You will also be able to view live bees in our indoor observation hive.  Participants will receive a substantial amount of informational handouts, a discount for additional advanced beekeeping classes to follow and a 12oz jar of our own raw honey from our hives.  Seating is limited so sign up soon so you do not miss out on this fascinating educational opportunity!

To register: please call 419-261-0908 or email us at info@schoonerberries.com

Advanced Part 1 Beekeeping Class

April 7^th at 10 am

Schooner Farms - 14890 Otsego Pike (Corner of US 6 & ST RT 235)

Weston, Ohio

$35.00/person or $50.00/couple

($5 off for returning attendees)

In our second class we will delve more in depth in the art of beekeeping. In this advanced class you will learn about the honey bee lifecycle , honey bees in the hive, the different types of honey bees available, how to install a package of bees, how to properly work the bees in the hive, how to handle bee stings and identifying hive problems including pests and disease. 

To register: please call 419-261-0908 or email us at info@schoonerberries.com

Soap Making

April 14th at 10:30

Come get dirty with Penny & Becky. We'll make a simple Goats Milk Soap - scented or unscented and homemade laundry soap! Class is limited to 6. We will come clean at Becky's house in Weston. Please call for more info!

419-261-0908

Introduction To Beekeeping Class (2.5 hours)

Saturday March 31^st  at 2:00 pm

Schooner Farms - 14890 Otsego Pike (Corner of US 6 & ST RT 235)

Weston, Ohio

$35.00/person or $50.00/couple

Schooner Farms is opening our doors to people considering backyard beekeeping as a hobby.  At this class you will learn about what it takes keep bees successfully in your own yard.  During this multi-media presentation you will learn about; the basic equipment you will need to get started and how to use each piece, types of hives, all the various components of the hive,  types of foundation and proper hive placement.  You will also be able to view live bees in our indoor observation hive.  Participants will receive a substantial amount of informational handouts, a discount for additional advanced beekeeping classes to follow and a 12oz jar of our own raw honey from our hives.  Seating is limited so sign up soon so you do not miss out on this fascinating educational opportunity!

To register: please call 419-261-0908 or email us at info@schoonerberries.com

Advanced Part 1 Beekeeping Class

April 7^th at 10 am

Schooner Farms - 14890 Otsego Pike (Corner of US 6 & ST RT 235)

Weston, Ohio

$35.00/person or $50.00/couple

($5 off for returning attendees)

In our second class we will delve more in depth in the art of beekeeping. In this advanced class you will learn about the honey bee lifecycle , honey bees in the hive, the different types of honey bees available, how to install a package of bees, how to properly work the bees in the hive, how to handle bee stings and identifying hive problems including pests and disease. 

To register: please call 419-261-0908 or email us at info@schoonerberries.com

Soap Making

April 14th at 10:30

Come get dirty with Penny & Becky. We'll make a simple Goats Milk Soap - scented or unscented and homemade laundry soap! Class is limited to 6. We will come clean at Becky's house in Weston. Please call for more info!

419-261-0908

 Volunteers are always welcome!

Volunteer & Intern Form

Volunteering & Work Shares at Schooner Farms

We work hard and get dirty, but we have a friendly crew and always have a good time. Our Volunteers come from all walks of life, which truly is a benefit for those who wish to gain some experience and meet a wide variety of people. We firmly believe that together we can achieve great things being involved in something that is larger than ourselves. Whether you have vast gardening experience or would like to learn how to garden organically – Schooner Farms is the place to be part of that type of a community. Schooner Farms offers two types of volunteer opportunities; Work Share CSA Membership and Garden Volunteers.

There is always LOTS to do! Whether you can contribute garden time or perhaps you have expertise in another area, such as writing articles for our newsletter. We encourage our volunteers to help in as many areas of what we do as they would like. We have several Work Share Members that help with packing and distribution, others feel more comfortable in the gardening getting their hands dirty, some pick raspberries or help with the honeybees. All of our volunteers are valued and extremely appreciated for all they offer. One of our goals when beginning the CSA portion of our farm was to be able to offer interested people a chance to learn and share with other like minded people. Eventually, we’d like to offer classes at the farm where as now we have to go off site for talks.  

Work Share Volunteers

Work Share CSA Members volunteer on the farm in various capacities in exchange for a standard size share of veggies on a weekly basis. Schooner Farms accepts a limited number of work shares each season and requires at LEASTan 18 week commitment from our Work Share Members. Work Shares are committed CSA members that volunteer hours in lieu of payment for their CSA membership.

If you're interested in work sharing, please contact us in advance and let us know when you'd like to help. Because of high demand, it's essential to sign up for a work share as soon as possible. You must receive confirmation prior to being accepted into Schooner Farms Work Share CSA Membership.

Garden Volunteers

Garden Volunteers do many of the same duties as our Work Share Members do, only we require less time commitment from them. On days we have extra harvest available we reward our volunteers with fresh produce and other items grown on the farm. We have been fortunate to have a wonderful group of volunteers that have helped with distribution, gardening, weeding and other tasks. Many student volunteers use hours worked on the farm to help go towards volunteer requirement hours needed for their course of study. Most of them have gone home loaded with produce each time they come out the farm.

 What Do Our Volunteers Need to Do?

Bringing water is a must. We recommend you wear long sleeves and pants for protection as well as sturdy shoes. Also consider bringing sunscreen, a large-brimmed hat, work gloves and snacks. Volunteer work typically consists of a variety of tasks including harvesting, washing and packing vegetables, and field work as needed.

Given the challenging nature of farm work, we ask that you do not bring children under the age of 12. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please fill out our online Volunteer/Intern Form here

Internships at Schooner Farms

The internship program at Schooner Farms is designed to provide practical, hands-on experience to individuals seeking to learn more about farming and self sustainable living. Our internship is very demanding — interns work long hours for low pay — but the rewards are invaluable. Schooner Farms is one of several organic operating CSA programs in Northwest Ohio, and our interns are exposed to all aspects of our business including fieldwork, tractor/equipment use and maintenance, greenhouse operations, packing shed operations, customer service operations, and sales and marketing. Interns will be assigned revolving areas of responsibility in an effort to build a broad foundation of knowledge. Consequently, our interns gain the knowledge and experience necessary to become self sustaining and understand the effort required to produce a quality product.

Time Commitment

We work with each student to find the best schedule.

Workweek

Our workweek is challenging— but rewarding. We require a minimum of 15 hours per week from interns.  Our hours of operation vary depending on weather and season, but on average we begin our season in March and end around the middle of October.  Our CSA program is a 18 week distribution period that begins roughly the first of June and ends in Oct.

Compensation

A standard organic vegetable share on a weekly basis ($27/weekly value), a doz. organic free range non GMO fed eggs ($4.25/weekly value), honey, and other natural products we raise on the farm.  

Our Farm and Location

Our all natural biodynamic vegetable farm is located on 20 acres of black sandy loam in Weston, Ohio.  We are just 8 miles west of Bowling Green, Ohio.  We have successfully grown in just a year from a 62-member CSA to one that currently has over 80 members.   We grow over 40 different types of vegetables, flowers, and herbs and nearly 150 different varieties.  To see a list of what we grow, please visit our website at www.schoonerberries.com.

Work Experience Desired

We are looking for energetic, enthusiastic, motivated people who are dependable, eager to learn, and willing to become part of our farm team. Our program is not designed for those who just want to give farming or gardening a try, but rather those who are seriously considering farming as a career. Consequently, we are looking for people willing to work hard so they can enjoy the rewards of being a farmer.

How to Apply

Anyone possessing a serious interest in agriculture and the physical ability to work the long hours of a farming schedule will be considered. To apply, please fill out our internship application and e-mail a current résumé to Becky, our internship coordinator. All interested applicants are encouraged to set up a time to visit and work on the farm. Hiring decisions will be made on a first come, first serve basis. 

Advanced Part 1 Beekeeping Class

April 7^th at 10 am

Schooner Farms - 14890 Otsego Pike (Corner of US 6 & ST RT 235)

Weston, Ohio

$35.00/person or $50.00/couple

($5 off for returning attendees)

In our second class we will delve more in depth in the art of beekeeping. In this advanced class you will learn about the honey bee lifecycle , honey bees in the hive, the different types of honey bees available, how to install a package of bees, how to properly work the bees in the hive, how to handle bee stings and identifying hive problems including pests and disease. 

To register: please call 419-261-0908 or email us at info@schoonerberries.com

Introduction To Beekeeping Class (2.5 hours)

Saturday March 31^st  at 2:00 pm

Schooner Farms - 14890 Otsego Pike (Corner of US 6 & ST RT 235)

Weston, Ohio

$35.00/person or $50.00/couple

Schooner Farms is opening our doors to people considering backyard beekeeping as a hobby.  At this class you will learn about what it takes keep bees successfully in your own yard.  During this multi-media presentation you will learn about; the basic equipment you will need to get started and how to use each piece, types of hives, all the various components of the hive,  types of foundation and proper hive placement.  You will also be able to view live bees in our indoor observation hive.  Participants will receive a substantial amount of informational handouts, a discount for additional advanced beekeeping classes to follow and a 12oz jar of our own raw honey from our hives.  Seating is limited so sign up soon so you do not miss out on this fascinating educational opportunity!

To register: please call 419-261-0908 or email us at info@schoonerberries.com