2024 Farm Membership Signup
Eat Well, Stay Connected: Join the Farm.
If you are ready to become a farm member for the 2024 season, all you need to do is review the member contract and fill out the form below. We would love to feed you! If you want more details and description of the policies, sizes, dates, etc., you can visit the detailed description page for more info.
Brief summary: the season runs for 26 weeks, from May 4 through November 1. The regular price is $725 for single bag memberships, and $1,400 for double-bag memberships.
Once we have received your signup form we will email you with confirmation and payment details (this may take several days, as we are already spending most of our time in the field and greenhouse getting those veggies started for your summer meals). We encourage all members to pay in a single payment if possible, but you may also split your membership payment into three payments if that better suits your budgeting. If the cost of the membership is a challenge for your household, we have Eatership funds available to help, and encourage anyone who needs financial support to apply through the simple application form.
Please note that we do not have an option to pay by credit card through our website due to processing fees. Paying by check will help us keep the cost to members lower, but please contact us to discuss options if this is a concern.
2024 Farm Member and Farmer Agreement
In order to join the farm, we ask that members read and agree to a member contract. Please note there are a few updates for 2024! We hope this helps clarify the special responsibilities, privileges, and expectations of farm members. It also outlines what our promises and obligations are to you. Please read this contract carefully, and consider whether these commitments are a good fit for you.
As a member of SweetRoot Farm, you enter a relationship that is much more involved that of a simple customer and vendor. By signing up to become a part of the farm you become invested, both financially and personally, in the success and long-term viability of the farm. The unique structure of our farm membership gives members both more flexibility and more personal responsibility than traditional pre-packed box memberships, so we count on members to have a high level of involvement and engagement.
If you have concerns about anything in the contract, please feel free to contact us; if you realize in the process of reviewing this contract that farm membership may not be for you, that’s fine—we hope you will continue as a market or farmstore customer instead if that better suits your needs.
Farm Member Agreement:
I understand that I am part of a community of members, and that following these agreements helps ensure the best farm experience for everyone involved.
I will pay my membership fee in full within the agreed upon deadlines and schedules, and will communicate with my farmers if financial difficulties prevent timely payment, knowing that assistance options may be available.
I recognize that local produce has seasonality, so what is available will vary far more than a grocery store. I agree to embrace what is most abundant week to week, knowing my menus will change through the seasons.
I will communicate with the members of my household to ensure each feedbag gets filled once per week. I/we will keep track of the start and end dates of the membership.
I will pick up my entire share for the week on the day that I chose to fill my bag, with whatever is available that day. I accept the risk that some in-season items may not be stocked on the day I chose to pick up, and that this may be part of ensuring an even distribution of exciting crops to all members.
I recognize that the membership fee assumes that perfect attendance is rare and most members will have a missed week or two over the course of six months, so I will not stress about a few missed bag fills. If something causes me to miss more than 2 weeks I will communicate with my farmers about possibilities to make it up.
I will watch for and read all emails, mailings, text messages, posters, signs, or any other means of communication directed at members and will ask for clarification if needed.
I recognize that my farm is run by a small team, and that there may be weeks where emergencies or weather conditions could prevent my farm from attending the market. I agree to watch for communications about unexpected events like this, and will be flexible in how and where I pick up my share, including picking up at the farm in the event of a cancelled market or SweetRoot not being able to attend.
I will watch for and follow any posted instructions at the farmstore and/or at market.
I recognize that the member bag is sized for the most-abundant part of the season, so some limitations on number of items may happen in the early spring. I will be patient for the seasonal bounty to arrive.
I understand that the feedbag can be filled with produce such as vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and that while flowers, eggs, and coffee can be purchased with the member discount, they do not qualify to go in the feedbag.
If I want more produce that will easily fit in my bag on a given week, I will purchase the extra using my 10% member discount. (unless instructed to take extra by my farmers in times of overabundance or zucchini avalanches)
I recognize that the times/ places for interacting with my farmers are Saturday at market, and Tuesday 3:00-6:00 at the farm. I understand that these times/locations are the only windows during the week that my farmers, including crew, can take time to chat. I will not interrupt their workflow by seeking farmers or farm staff outside of those times, as it will hinder their ability to grow food for myself and other members.
I promise to appreciate, respect, and enjoy eating the food that SweetRoot grows for me!
In return we your farmers make these commitments to our members:
We will grow abundant produce according to and exceeding the sustainability standards set by the USDA National Organic Program, regardless of whether or not we are certified.
We will farm in ways that actively improve our farmland and broader environmental conditions. This includes building a healthy living soil that can absorb and sequester carbon dioxide storing it in the form of soil microbes and their secretions.
We promise to do our best to care for our farm ecosystem as a valued living entity, including growing with practices that minimize soil disturbance, using nutrients and inputs effectively to preserve water quality, and ensuring humane conditions for all farm animals.
We will keep our transportation fuel uses low by sourcing farm inputs as locally as possible, and selling our produce to eaters as closely as possible (that’s why you local members are so important!).
We will offer full transparency on the origin of all products. If we collaborate with any other producer to bring in something we did not grow or make we will clearly label its origin and credit that producer.
We agree to be honest and upfront about the challenges, struggles, and victories that we face as a farm.
(New for 2024, and this is the scary one, friends:): As our farm turns 10 years old, we commit to running our farm in ways that maximize our potential to do this work of growing food, for multiple decades. We commit to our long-term physical and mental health, and ask for grace from our members when that may affect the contents of their membership on a given week.
We commit to hiring and training crew with a passion for farming. We will pay them a fair wages, and provide a positive, safe work environment including workplace compensation coverage and structured professional development.
We will use season extension, careful crop planning, and succession planting to maximize the diversity of our offerings through the six-month season, providing ample produce for all members.
We will communicate clearly to members about expectations, limits on particular items, and special sales, events, and bulk deals.
We will provide guidance, meal suggestions, recipes, and cooking suggestions to help members make the most of their vegetables.
We will host at least one on-farm event for members to tour and get to know the farm better, during the growing season.
We will do our best to get better at growing food for you, every year!
If all that sounds good to you, go ahead and fill out the membership signup form below!