By Jane Primerano
MARKSBORO, NY – Even one of the nation's oldest and most established Community Supported Gardens is not immune to declining membership.
Genesis Farm was established after a community of Dominican nuns was given a farm through a will in Marksboro, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, NJ, as an organic farm and learning center. Some 35 years ago, the farm established a CSA, which was a somewhat unusual marketing method. The farm has an on-site pickup location and several remote locations. For years, membership grew throughout the county and beyond. But ‘the times they are a-changing,’ even for one of the most established CSAs in the nation.
Farmer Tim Metcalf explained that membership was down for the 2023 summer season but that they still have to plant for 300 members at the start of the year in hopes that more will sign up. This meant they were left with excess food: giant stalks of Brussels sprouts, perfectly spherical heads of radicchio, leafy endive and chicory.
One of the first solutions was to open a pop-up market at the membership pick-up building for two days in mid-November. The market was open to CSA members and non-members. A slow but steady stream of non-members came through during the pop-up weekend. In addition, many members bought extra vegetables on share pick-up day. According to farmer Hannah Hobbs, the pop-up market was more successful than she anticipated.
At the first pop-up, Metcalf said the CSA was planning more outreach for the next season to help boost membership again, including a change in the model to allow for occasional pop-up markets
Genesis Farm advertised its produce line-up for the pop-up: carrots, garlic, sweet potatoes, beets, potatoes, cabbage, Valentine radishes, celeriac, greens, rosemary and thyme, and Genesis Farm’s value-added products, tomato sauce, salsa and apple sauce, will be offered too.
Supervising farmer Smadar English said the CSA holds an open house every spring to introduce new people to the farm. With educational programs, workshops and fun, like a hayride, the open house brings in new members every year. English said that any event, such as the pop-ups and the open house “that invites people to step onto the farm,” is good for attracting members.
Both Metcalf and Hobbs are optimistic about the future of CSAs.
Metcalf, a Warren County native grew up gardening and said there is a lot of respect for the garden and for organic food in this area.
The Genesis Farm CSA offers weekly and bi-weekly shares year-round for $1,884 and $980, respectively. Half-year shares are $1,301 and $689. Sign-ups are on the farm website. The CSA offers an online store for in-store pick-up featuring surplus produce and value-added products, including bread, honey, eggs, candles, popcorn and other local products.
The self-organized remote CSA pickup locations are in Montclair, Morristown, Parsippany, Scotch Plains, Verona, Caldwell, South Orange/Maplewood and Glen Rock, all toward the east in more urban areas.
Jane Primerano, she/her, is a correspondent for New Jersey Farmer and other agriculture publications.
Comments