About Our CSA Program

year four: 2015

About Big Muddy Urban Farm

History
In winter of 2011 we met, formed our collective, and started Big Muddy Urban Farm. Our first season, we offered a
24-member CSA program, sold at two local farmers markets, hosted workshops at our growing sites, experimented with
add-ons/value added products, and began building relationships with a few local restaurants. Our second season, we
continued to thrive and strengthen the ties within our community. Going into our third season, we explored new ways of
structuring our CSA with market-style membership, where CSA members invest in the beginning of the season and shop
at our market with their investment throughout the season. With great confidence, we are excited to offer this again and
continue to grow healthy food for our community!
Our Mission
To provide local and diverse fruits, vegetables and herbs, grown sustainably, as well as to share skills and resources
with our community.
Our Vision
At Big Muddy Urban Farm, we are concerned with the current state of the food system at large. Moreover, we recognize
the social and environmental injustices that have negatively impacted our neighborhoods and believe that food plays a
prominent role in the overall health of our community. By providing a local and diverse source of fruits, vegetables and
herbs, as well as sharing skills and resources with our community, we hope
to encourage communal resilience, empowerment, and a more localized economy. We are committed to engaging
sustainably in our financial, environmental and cultural practices, by responding and adapting to the dynamic urban
environment in which we live.

Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a model often used by farms, where members invest in the farm in the
beginning of the season and then receive a share of the harvest throughout the growing season. By investing early in the
season, you help us buy the supplies we need (like high-quality seeds and soil amendments), so that we can get
growing! Availability of crops change with the season, and this will be reflected in what is available each week.

Market-Style CSA
This season we are offering a market-style CSA. Members are invited to invest at different levels to best suit their needs.
This investment is then credited to your account with our farm. Throughout the season, members can use their farm
credit to shop at our market stand and bring home the fruits and veggies that they like the most. To say thank you for
the up-front investment, we offer a bonus credit -- based on how much you invest, we add an additional 5-10% value to
your account!
Average per Week
Investment Value
Added Value
Total Value
(About 15 Weeks)
Pint Sized
$50
$5
$55
$4/week
Mid Sized
$100
$10
$160
$11/week
Family Sized
$200
$30
$230
$15/week
Share availability
Our farm has a limited amount of CSA credit available every season. We offer our shares to returning CSA members a
week before the general public, to continue our relationship and honor their support. Please reserve a share promptly; we
process membership deposits as we receive them. In order to reserve your place in our CSA for the 2015 growing season,
you will need to fill out a registration form and return it with your initial deposit. Registration ends April 30th, 2015.
Community Share
By investing in a community share you are helping us fulfill our mission to provide fresh and diverse vegetables to our
neighbors. Each week we will deliver a basket of produce to our community partner, comprised of vegetables paid for by
the community share, as well as any vegetables not claimed from our weekly markets.
This years community share will benefit Table Grace Cafe, a local restaurant whose mission is to foster a healthy
community by offering great food prepared and served in a graceful manner to anyone who walks through the door.
For more information about Table Grace Cafe visit www.tablegracecafe.com
please note: this is not a tax deductible donation
Risk sharing
Joining a CSA means you are willing to share the risk of inclement Nebraska weather with us as well as support small,
local-growers, eat seasonally, and form relationships with the people growing your food. In the event that crops are
damaged Big Muddy Urban Farm will do our best to provide members with the quantities and varieties we have available.

Payment Plans and Pick-up

The full amount of investment is due by March 18th, 2015, though due to limited availability of shares, it is possible that
our CSA may fill sooner. If our CSA fills before we receive your deposit, your payment will not be deposited.
Flexible payment plan
If you would like to join our CSA, but the in-full payment deposited by March 18th, 2015, is not feasible for you, please
contact us. We will try to accommodate you as best as possible and are willing to discuss other options.
Pick-up Time and Location
Our farm fresh produce and add-ons will be made available Friday evenings at the Gifford Park Neighborhood
Market, which is located at 520 N. 33rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68131. Our season will likely begin in mid-May and
conclude in mid-October. Pick-ups will be during market hours, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm.
We will also offer on-farm harvest pickups on Tuesday evenings from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, at our farm plot located at
33rd and California Streets. These pickups will be offered in the early spring season and pick back up again late summer
and fall, due to seasonality of the crops grown at this site.

Pick-up Arrangements
Because your CSA investment acts like a farm credit, you can spend your credit at your convenience throughout the
season at our market stand. Produce will be available on a first come, first serve basis, just like a traditional market stand.
We will track the amount you spend each time, and let you know your remaining balance. This means that if you are out
of town for a week or two, no problem -- just pick up some extra veggies another week!

Other Benefits

Monthly newsletter
Throughout the season you will receive newsletters written by one of your growers. We will include farm updates,
upcoming events, whats in season, storage tips, photos and recipes to help you make the most of your produce.
Workshops
If you are interested in improving your own food cultivating skills we are a great CSA to join! Throughout the season we
will offer a variety of workshops for CSA members and our community. As a member of our CSA, you receive a 10%
member discount on any workshops you wish to attend.
Volunteer Opportunities
You and your family are invited to join us for work-days. We will post these throughout the season on our website and via
weekly newsletter. All volunteer days are kid friendly! If you are interested in volunteering regularly, please let us know
your availability and we will work to coordinate something. We appreciate your support!
Full Moon Feast Potlucks
At the start of the growing season we will offer a potluck for all CSA members, so we can get to know each other. Well
wrap up the growing season together with another potluck. This is your chance to tell us what you liked about this years
CSA and what youd like to see next season.
Perks of Being a Member
Top five reasons to be a CSA member with Big Muddy Urban Farm:
1. As fresh as it gets! Everything is grown in Omaha, and harvested the day of the market!
2. Be a part of the local food community. You will be the first to know about upcoming events and workshops!
3. Know your growers. Have questions about our growing practices? Were happy to share what we do.
4. Learn with us. We are learning as we go, and we invite you to visit our farm and learn more too.
5. Your investment stays in the community. We proudly work with other small businesses that are committed to
growing a stronger, healthier Omaha!

Want more information?

Send us a note at [email protected] or find us on facebook
Thank you for supporting this growing movement!