Member Handbook of the Spiritual Food CSA
Essential: Please watch the 2 minute
Box Care and Handling video !
We also invite you to read the Philosophy of the CSA
COMMUNICATION
To contact the organizers: call 301-654-4899
· Lakshmi spiritualfood@schooloflife.org
· Durga shantiyoga.sol@gmail.com
For specific details about your site, such as:
· directions
· late pick up policy, etc.,
Please: log in to your account at gofarmhand.com
· click “Orders”
· then click “Order details”
· There you will see “Pickup”, which contains site specific details.
For questions about your pickup or anything related to the pick up location please contact your SITE HOST :
ARLINGTON
Jill Nusbaum: jenusbaum@aol.com; 703-243-9212 h; 703-400-5695 c
BETHESDA
Lakshmi spiritualfood@schooloflife.org; 301-654-4899; 240-855-4456 c
TAKOMA PARK
Host: Justine Larson: jlarson72@gmail.com; 240-779-5465 c
Coordinator: Miki Hernandez: mikihernandez@gmail.com; 202-683-0056
WASHINGTON WALDORF SCHOOL
Host: Torie Gorges: 408-470-0585
Coordinator: Sunny Kaplan SunnyKaplan@gmail.com; 202-248-8878 h; 202-288-3831 c
POTOMAC CRESCENT WALDORF SCHOOL
Coordinator: Michael Judge Mjudge2000@gmail.com; 301-825-4637
CABIN JOHN
Sarah Cahill: sarah.cahill@xerox.com; 301-580-4088 c
CAPITOL HILL
Judy Kosovich: 202-257-9556 c
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARK
Coordinator: Michael Judge mjudge2000@gmail.com; 240-791-1994
ACCOUNT INFO
For information and questions about your account subscription, payments, etc as well log in to your account at gofarmhand.com,
· HELP takes you to a live chat
· Email to hello@gofarmhand.com
· Call 707-595-9859
Ø They will forward any questions they cannot answer to the site hosts.
SPIRITUAL FOOD CSA INFO
For information or general questions about the CSA or School of Life, send us an email at: spiritualfood.sol@gmail.com or call 301-654-4899. To get invloved, visit https://www.schooloflife.org/what-is-spiritual-food-csa and click on the ‘Volunteer’ button button. Also please check the webpage www.spiritualfoodcsa.org
USING THE FOOD / RECIPE SHARING
Recipes and tips for using the food (“Simple from Scratch”) will be included in the weekly newsletter along with what’s in the share. For a more interactive experience, please join our Facebook group and visit our Instagram page:
· Facebook Group: Spiritual Food CSA
· Instagram: @spiritual_food_csa
ABOUT THE FARMS
Kimberton CSA in Kimberton, Pennsylvania is certified Biodynamic, and is the main provider of vegetables. See their story on The CSA Farm on the School of Life website. We also work with several other organic farms that provide the supplementary vegetables, fruits, dairy, bread, etc.
ABOUT THE CSA
This CSA is consumer-based, rather than farm-based; we organized ourselves and sought a farm to supply quality food. We pick up the food in Pennsylvania on Tuesdays for distribution in the DC metro area on Wednesdays.
Our philosophy is educational and service-oriented. Please read The Philosophy of Spiritual Food CSA (link above) for an important glimpse into what lies behind the scenes and behind the quest for good nourishing food and life on the planet.
LOGISTICS
PICK UP TIMES – EVERY WEDNESDAY afternoon into early evening
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
At your site, you will find share boxes as well as a separate container with your site’s add on items, for those who ordered. If there is an order sheet please check your name off. There may also be coolers or other boxes at your pickup site for members of the Essene Church of Peace who are supplied with dairy and other raw products. If you wish to order, or do not find something ordered, please contact us right away at spiritualfood.sol@gmail.org
LATE PICK UP
Please let your host know if you will be late! Unclaimed shares may get damaged or given away. For late pickup policy at your site, please log in to your account at gofarmhand.com, click “Orders” on the lefthand side, then click “Order details” on the right. There you will see “Pickup”.
IF YOU CANNOT PICK UP YOUR SHARE AT ALL:
· Have a friend pick it up; introduce them to the CSA and the great food!
· Contact spiritualfood.sol@gmail.com to donate your share.
BOX HANDLING
Your shares will be pre-packed and delivered in re-useable folding boxes. These boxes are an investment which can serve a long time with proper handling. Please leave them behind by repacking your share in your own bags or return them when you pick up your next share.
· Bend the flaps on top and bottom rather than pulling open
· Make sure it’s clean and dry
PLEASE watch this 2 minute Box folding video to preserve our boxes so the boxes don’t get torn. Or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O9l-vkP2P8&feature=youtu.be
REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE
The CSA works hard to reduce and reuse packaging of all kinds.
Ø Bring your own bags, box or basket for taking home your share. The fewer boxes in circulation, the fewer we need to buy and manage.
Ø Cloth is great, re-using paper and plastic from grocery stores is also good. Put your name on your cloth bags in case they’re left behind one day.
Ø You may return egg cartons.
PICK UP ETIQUETTE
Ø Please keep the pick up area clean. Flatten and leave empty boxes and anything else being returned neatly stacked.
Ø If you split the share and alternate weeks with your partner, please coordinate carefully so you are not picking up on the same week!
Ø If you ask someone to pick up your share for you please explain to them how the system works and how to pick up the food.
Ø An Exchange Box can be used to put an item that you cannot use and take one from there that you can. If there’s no exchange box at your site, maybe you can create one!
Ø Site hosts are doing a great volunteer service - a note of gratitude and offer of help can be most welcome. Members within a site may want to gather for a meal or to talk about the CSA or something else in the community.
CSA COMMUNITY
Let’s connect! We envision a vibrant, interactive CSA community with like-minded people of shared values exchanging with one another through online resources and in-person events. All new members are automatically signed up to receive the weekly newsletter with Share content, recipes ideas, food for the soul, and more. Also, do join our Facebook Group: Spiritual Food CSA and visit our Instagram: @spiritual_food_csa
VOLUNTEER / KARMA YOGA (SELFLESS SERVICE) OPPORTUNITIES
Selfless service volunteering is a very important element of the CSA model. We could not function without it. The community building and the economic impact are far reaching aspects of a new world view where love, cooperation and compassion serve as the basic framework for society. As a member said: “Service makes the experience even more nourishing”, and the comments usually tend towards – “I wish I'd done this sooner - it was fun and satisfying.” School age children often like to help out and ask for more. Older children can do community service hours.
Besides the weekly chores, there are many essential tasks and projects that make the CSA possible. Please inquire how to help and let us know your interests and talents.
Wednesday Morning Distribution
In Bethesda, this involves packing shares and sorting for other locations. Start at 8:30 am (or later) and allow 2 hours. Staff and regular long term volunteers will work along side you. You don’t have to pick up in Bethesda to spend a Wednesday morning helping! Metro accessible.
For Wednesday morning set up, please sign up through Sign Up Genius. E-mail reminders go out the week before you come. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4AACA72FA0FD0-56388842-spiritual
Feeding the Homeless
Our sister organization, Essene Church of Peace, prepares a delicious home-cooked meal and serves about 75 homeless people downtown every Sunday. You can donate produce, prepare food, and serve downtown. All welcome
To join our What’s App group to receive volunteer need alerts please join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/I0coJ4a0xx21b7byNhnxLl
To sign up to volunteer please click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094AABA82EAAF5C52-essene1#/
FARM VISITS
Once or twice a year there are organized FARM TOURS. We visit the garden, bakery and dairy in Kimberton, PA. Inquire or look for e-mail announcements.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
We have not missed a food delivery in all the years of Winter CSA in spite of some very snowy days. However, snow can cause delays, so if the roads are bad on a Wednesday (or a Tuesday which could delay food pick up) check your e-mail for an announcement or call 301-654-4899.
EXPANDING THE CSA
The best way to encourage new people to join the CSA is your own testimony. Please spread the word to family and friends, neighborhoods, your social groups. Announcement wording and flyers are available. Contact the Promotion Team at spiritualfood.sol@gmail.com
Feel free to contact us with questions or comments anytime,
Looking forward to a great season.
On behalf of the School of Life
May Peace Be With You,
Om Shanti