Hello Folks,
Although we haven't heard from everyone that participated in last year's garden, we need to get rolling on this year and sort out some of the details regarding finances, participation etc..
Call it what you will, but as I write this, the topic of this morning's "On Point" program is "The rising cost of food - will the price come back down this time?"
From someone who is more or less a wonk when it comes to food related issues, I'm not sure it will.
For one, China is eating twice as much meat as they did in the 80's. What this does to grain prices has yet to be fully realized. There is also bound to be great pressure on edible grain production from the biofuel sector.
The long term prospect for our modern carnivorous diet is highly tenuous. Producing and consuming animal protein is not a right but a luxury. As a group we need to think critically about this part of our diet. We should all prepare ourselves for the inevitability of it costing substantially more to produce and therefore consume meat. We are realizing that it is not at all realistic to expect that animals could be raised humanely and sustainably and at the same time "on the cheap." While we will continue to raise livestock for as long as it makes practical sense, we should not take it for granted.
Last year we set our price based on direct input expenses alone. We did not take into consideration the already acquired infrastructure or our labor, and could not anticipate the increase in grain costs. If we did not use the available pricing for quasi comparable items, no one would have been willing to become involved. The idea of a low impact farmer setting prices based on the true cost of production, including a living wage, continues to be taboo. We would like to start a migration toward abolishing the current system of comparison price setting. What we are undertaking with this project is going to be a long process. It is going to take cooperation from producer and consumer alike. As producers we have been, and will continue to be, willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help redefine the way we think about food production, distribution and consumption.
The cost of participation this year will better reflect the actual costs of operating a diverse, small scale, low-impact farmstead. And so, the cost of participation this year for a share including animal protein will be $1125.00 per adult per family. That's less than $25.00 a week. If you utilize all that becomes available to you, you will find this to be well worth it financially, environmentally, communally and even spiritually. We are requiring a $165.00 deposit per adult per family by April 1st to take care of the start up costs etc... 8 Monthly payments of $120.00 per adult per family will be fine for the balance unless we have agreed upon another arrangement.
We will also be offering vegetarian shares that will cost $500.00 per adult per family for the year. These shares will include extra legume-based protein as well as the regular assortment of vegetables (including processing and storage crops). For these shares we are requiring a $100.00 deposit per adult per family by April 1st and 8 monthly payments of $50.00 per adult there after.
Most single adult shares will provide enough food for 1 adult (plus). A family with two adults can expect enough food for 2-3 people. This should allow for small children and occasional guests. This is true for both the vegetarian and animal protein shares.
We offer a 10% price reduction per adult share for a 4 hour-per-month labor exchange above and beyond our "First Saturday" workdays. For a family with 2 adults that works out to 8 hours per month. This is a 6 month commitment, May through November.
Along with last years offerings we hope to add grass-based beef, a laying flock for eggs and stew birds, as well as more of those things that you asked for and some that you did not.
We would like to hear from you one way or another by email or phone as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks, bob
Although we haven't heard from everyone that participated in last year's garden, we need to get rolling on this year and sort out some of the details regarding finances, participation etc..
Call it what you will, but as I write this, the topic of this morning's "On Point" program is "The rising cost of food - will the price come back down this time?"
From someone who is more or less a wonk when it comes to food related issues, I'm not sure it will.
For one, China is eating twice as much meat as they did in the 80's. What this does to grain prices has yet to be fully realized. There is also bound to be great pressure on edible grain production from the biofuel sector.
The long term prospect for our modern carnivorous diet is highly tenuous. Producing and consuming animal protein is not a right but a luxury. As a group we need to think critically about this part of our diet. We should all prepare ourselves for the inevitability of it costing substantially more to produce and therefore consume meat. We are realizing that it is not at all realistic to expect that animals could be raised humanely and sustainably and at the same time "on the cheap." While we will continue to raise livestock for as long as it makes practical sense, we should not take it for granted.
Last year we set our price based on direct input expenses alone. We did not take into consideration the already acquired infrastructure or our labor, and could not anticipate the increase in grain costs. If we did not use the available pricing for quasi comparable items, no one would have been willing to become involved. The idea of a low impact farmer setting prices based on the true cost of production, including a living wage, continues to be taboo. We would like to start a migration toward abolishing the current system of comparison price setting. What we are undertaking with this project is going to be a long process. It is going to take cooperation from producer and consumer alike. As producers we have been, and will continue to be, willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help redefine the way we think about food production, distribution and consumption.
The cost of participation this year will better reflect the actual costs of operating a diverse, small scale, low-impact farmstead. And so, the cost of participation this year for a share including animal protein will be $1125.00 per adult per family. That's less than $25.00 a week. If you utilize all that becomes available to you, you will find this to be well worth it financially, environmentally, communally and even spiritually. We are requiring a $165.00 deposit per adult per family by April 1st to take care of the start up costs etc... 8 Monthly payments of $120.00 per adult per family will be fine for the balance unless we have agreed upon another arrangement.
We will also be offering vegetarian shares that will cost $500.00 per adult per family for the year. These shares will include extra legume-based protein as well as the regular assortment of vegetables (including processing and storage crops). For these shares we are requiring a $100.00 deposit per adult per family by April 1st and 8 monthly payments of $50.00 per adult there after.
Most single adult shares will provide enough food for 1 adult (plus). A family with two adults can expect enough food for 2-3 people. This should allow for small children and occasional guests. This is true for both the vegetarian and animal protein shares.
We offer a 10% price reduction per adult share for a 4 hour-per-month labor exchange above and beyond our "First Saturday" workdays. For a family with 2 adults that works out to 8 hours per month. This is a 6 month commitment, May through November.
Along with last years offerings we hope to add grass-based beef, a laying flock for eggs and stew birds, as well as more of those things that you asked for and some that you did not.
We would like to hear from you one way or another by email or phone as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks, bob
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