Pick Your Own
Experience the magic of harvesting food with your own hands
In addition to the crops we harvest for you, which you receive at your distribution pick-up, we also grow crops for you to harvest yourself! It’s a great way to connect with the land, get to know where your food is coming from, and participate in the magic of pulling food off of a plant.
All full- and fall-season vegetable CSA shares (both whole and half) are entitled to PYO. Please note that PYO is not included in May, Winter, Fruit, Egg, or Coffee shares.
How does PYO work?
You may harvest your Pick Your Own shares during our Business Hours: Monday–Friday 8–4:30 & Saturdays 9–12.
We have designated fields with Pick Your Own crops that are marked with Bright Yellow Signs.
When PYO crops are ready, you will receive the following information on Pick Your Own crops with your Weekly CSA Newsletter from helloCSA@farmproject.org:
what crops are available for picking (i.e., strawberries)
how to pick them (i.e., look for dead-red and hold the “hat” to harvest)
how much to pick based on your share type and size (i.e., 1 quart for half shares), and
where in the fields they are located
When you arrive to the fields there will be a chalkboard for any information to supplement what was in the email you received.
A few ways you can support healthy crops:
Bring your own sharp, clean knife/scissors to prevent disease.
Don't harvest one plant too heavy or pull on it too hard!
Dogs are not permitted in farm fields due to hygiene risk.
ENJOY!
What and where can I pick?
We set aside certain sections specifically for PYO. These sections could have crops such as strawberries, raspberries, beans, cherry tomatoes, hot peppers, herbs and flowers. Information via email and on-farm signage will let you know where you are allowed to pick from. Please only pick from beds that are clearly labeled for PYO!
Where should I walk?
Aim to always walk on farm “roads” or in furrows or pathways between the beds. Beds will have crop plants in them, and would feel squishy or soft under your feet if you were to step on them (oops!). Furrows should feel firm, and will generally either be bare dirt or covered in landscape fabric. Stepping on beds, where plants are growing, will compact the soil, and minimize the amount of oxygen and water that the plant roots have access to.
Can I bring my family?
YES! For a few years we asked folks to come solo to keep the traffic low in the farm spaces. However, we have opened up the fields for family picking! Please watch all members of your party as they navigate the space as we have many farm vehicles that are continually making their way around the PYO areas.
What else should I know?
Bring your own bags, and your pint/quart containers from last week! You can reuse them, but we cannot.
Keep an eye on your weekly email, as it will give you important information and will let you know whether you need to bring scissors (for example, to harvest flowers).
Please do not bring glass of any kind into the fields. If you are harvesting flowers and would like to bring a container with water to put them in, please ensure that the container is NOT glass, or that it is waiting in your car for you when you get back.
Our Philosophy
Sharing is Caring! We set quantities to make sure there is enough for everyone. Please respect quantities and limits.
Assume best intentions! Some members pick for friends who are elderly or less able to walk around the fields, and therefore harvest more than one share’s worth of PYO items.
Be kind! To each other, and to the plants. Pick gently, and the plants will stay healthy for longer, providing us with more herbs/flowers/fruits than if we treat them roughly.