New for 2017

  •  More melon varieties - they were a big hit last year 
  • Strawberries - Two types means at least two weeks 
  • 6 tomato varieties - Heirlooms, paste, and cherry
  • Expanded pickup times in Durango
  •  Winter CSA - More varieties and more favorites  ​
  • Pay with SNAP cards and Double up Bucks  
​Check out the "Growing This Year" page for all the varieties
  • Cob Oven pizza nights on the farm
  • Canning Classes - Pickles, tomatoes, beans
  • Cooking Classes - taught by Hana Lewicki
  • Pumpkin patch - Lets get the kids out on the farm!
  • Event discounts for CSA members
  • Edgemont Highlands Delivery
See all the events, dates, and prices on the Events page

Community

Supported
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Agriculture
  • How it works
  • When and What is available
  • Where is it delivered
  • How much
  • More questions
"Best CSA we've every been involved with. We really appreciated how clean and fresh the veggies were. love that you used recycled boxes. Refrigerated trailer was something I had no idea would make such a difference. It really did. what a great idea."
Nancy and Mike ~ 2016 summer and winter CSA members
"The amount of food was plentiful and the variety amazing. I love having fresh greens so I loved the bags of mixed greens for salads. All of it was amazing."
Lauren ~ 2016 Summer and Winter CSA member
How it works:  
​A CSA customer is buying a share of what the farm produces up front at the beginning of the year and receives weekly deliveries all season long.  It is an agreement between consumer and farmer that provides benefits to both.  
  1. CSA shares are bought for the entire season: This allows the farmer to know how much to grow and that what is grown will find its way to the families that will benefit.  This is everything to a farmer, to know that all the hard work and intention will be valued.  At Tierra Vida Farm, CSA customers are the priority, top quality produce is grown each week all season long specifically for them. 
  2. Weekly pickup: Food is life, connection, and joy.  Having a relationship to a local farm and farmer provides a deeper connection to the food, stories, and an appreciation of where and how food is grown.  Each week members pick up their box of food, meet the farmer, and share stories.  It's more like Christmas than an item on a to-do list.  Pick up a box of fresh veggies from the yellow Tierra Vida Farm trailer each week.  Boxes are pre-packaged so you can be in an out in 5 minutes.
  3. Seasonal Bounty:  Growing food at the base of the San Juan Mountains has its challenges.  Bountiful years means that every box is bursting with a variety of seasonal foods.  At Tierra Vida Farm rigorous planning, greenhouses, row cover, soil fertility, and pest managment are combined to ensure every family gets the value they expect and more.​
Preschools and other small institutions looking to incorporate local, nutritious vegetables in the menu?  Check out the WSA (Wholesale Supported Agriculture) page.  It might be a better fit for you needs than a CSA!
For every family that buys a home CSA with a child attending a participating preschool, we will provide a $20 discount to their preschool's seasonal WSA cost.  When signing up for a CSA, write in the preschool your child attends in the "How did you hear about us field".
"I liked the flexibility and personal service of being able to switch out varieties if we wanted. It was nice getting a bit of fruit too with the melons."
 Darcy ~ 2016 Summer and Winter CSA member
What is available:  
​Expect the variety and amounts to change throughout the season.  Some varieties are weekly staples like carrots, salad mix, and various cooking greens, other varieties are more seasonal.
  1. ​Spring, deliveries start June 7:  Expect the first 2-3 boxes to have lots of greens.  It is a great time for salads and varieties include: spinach, arugula, salad mix, lettuce, pac-choi, radish, carrots, beets, strawberries, and garlic scapes.
  2. Summer - July, August, and September:  Now things are cranking in the garden.  Expect the boxes to become heavier, starting with kale, chard, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and herbs.  By late July: summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, melons, and basil.
  3. Fall - Harvest season:  As the nights get colder and begin to freeze, boxes in late September and October will have kale, collards, winter squash, potatoes, onions, and garlic.  ​
  4. Winter CSA:  The last delivery doesn't have to be a sad day, there is a winter CSA too, so you can keep eating fresh local produce until Christmas.
Deliveries - The when and where:  
Every Week - same time and place for convenience and reliability. 

When:  First pickup: June 11, Last pickup: October 11. 

Where: 
Smiley Building: 1300 East 3rd Avenue Durango --   Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 pm
Edgemont Highlands Postoffice room: Wednesdays, delivered by 6:15 
​
​Missed your pickup?  No problem, sometimes it happens, our refrigerated trailer will keep it fresh.  You can pick it up at the farm on Thursday.  Call ahead (970) 259-1516 to make sure we are around.  
We will also be at the farmers market in Durango on Saturdays.  You can pick up you box at our refrigerated trailer.  
More price and location details on the signup pages:
Value:  Quantity, Quality, Cost:  

  1. Quantity -  Expect 8 to 12 varieties in each box:  Fewer varieties early and late in the year and more at the height of the harvest season.  Each box provides enough veggies for a family of four to incorporate into their home cooked meals.  Grains and veggies or meat and veggies diets?  A couple who eats primarily vegetarian or paleo can work through the same box each week.
  2. Quality -  picked ripe and delivered fresh:  CSA customers are the first priority, vegetables are picked and packaged each week prior to ensure each box is full of top quality produce.
  3. Real Value:   Summer CSA is $600 for 19 weeks.  The anticipated value of each box ranges with the season from $30 to $45 each week with an average value over $35.
  4. An Average box - Lots of food and value:  As an example a June 29 box would contain: 1/2 pound of spinach, 1/2 pound of salad mix, lettuce, 2 pounds of carrots, 1 pound of pac Choi, 1 bunch of Kale, Garlic scapes, peas, and radish.  July 27 box may contain: 1/2 pound salad mix, lettuce head, 1 bunch of collards, bunch beets, Cabbage,  2 Zucchini, 2 cucumbers, 3-4 tomatoes, and fresh beans.  You would spend a lot more to get the same variety and amount from an organic grocery store.  
"Seriously, these were some of the best quality vegetables I've had the pleasure of eating."
​Darcy ~ 2016 Summer and Winter CSA member
CSA sign-up
More questions:  This page covers lots of information about the CSA, but there is also information about our growing practices, or contact Daniel if your question is still unanswered.  
  1. What if its too much food?  A valid concern for those who eat out often but if you are interested in trying new vegetables, eating healthier, or trying new recipes at home, you'll enjoy the bounty.  With extra food most vegetables can be juiced, blanched and frozen, canned, or pickled for the long winter ahead and if all else fails your neighbors will thank you.
  2. No Half share?  No, but the share is easily divisible with friends.  If dividing the share you can pick up on alternating weeks or divide each box. 
  3. I don't know how to cook with..."________"...?  Start by asking your farmer and friends who are also picking up CSA shares.  The Tierra Vida Farm newsletter is sent out each week and includes recipe suggestions and has a Facebook page where recipe suggestions will be posted.  You can never go wrong with sautéing veggies in butter or bacon fat with some salt and pepper, put it over rice or chicken for a full meal.  
  4. What if I go on vacation?  Have a friend pick up the box for you while you're away.  If your friends are vacationing with you, let us know and we'll donate the box to the food bank, preschool, non-profit or keep it in the fridge until you return.  
  5. How long will the vegetables last?  Not that you will be able to test this but spinach from the farm has been known to stay good for more than six weeks in the fridge.  Carrots harvested in November can still be crisp and delicious in February!  When its picked fresh and handled properly it will last much longer than grocery store produce.
  6. I forgot to pick up my box, can I still get it?  CSA shares not picked up on the delivery day can be picked up at the farm.  Its one more reason we have a large refridgerator.