Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
At the Blandford Farm, we offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – a relationship between community members who prefer locally-grown food and the farmers that grow it. CSA members support and invest in our farm by purchasing a “share” of the harvest that they can pick up weekly. Follow the links below to purchase a share of the Blandford Farm harvest!
Note: Blandford Nature Center members receive early & discounted registration for our CSA program! Membership must be non-expired during purchase to receive early & discounted registration. Visit our Membership page here to become a member.
With 2.5 acres of land, our farm has been growing over 200 different varieties of vegetables since 2010. We are Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), a part of Slow Food of West Michigan (SFWM), and Cropping System Certified through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), which means we grow all our produce using environmentally friendly, healthy practices. We don’t use herbicides or pesticides, and believe the health of the soil directly impacts the quality of produce grown. We monitor soil health through annual soil tests, and use the results to determine which amendments we add to the soil to ensure a healthy crop and nutrient dense food.
This year, three share options are available: Vegetable shares, Herb shares, and Flower shares. You can learn more about our 2022 CSA options and view samples of what might come in your weekly share below.
2022 CSA Share Options
Vegetable Shares
Indulge in 20 weeks of fresh, naturally-grown seasonal veggies from June 7th to October 18th!
Full Share: $520/members, $550/non-members
Half Share: $310/members, $325/non-members
Vegetable shares can be picked up Tuesdays at the Farm from 4pm-6:30pm and Fridays & Saturdays at the Fulton Street Farmers Market from 8am-1pm.
View the images below to see what may come in your Vegetable Shares!
*Please note that these are sample shares and are subject to change based on field conditions.
Herb Shares
Enjoy 10 weeks of fresh herb bunches from July 5th to September 6th! This year, the Blandford Farm is partnering with Camilla Voelker to bring more herb selections to our share members. Herbs will focus on culinary staples such as dill, cilantro, basil, parsley, and sage, while also featuring medicinal plants such as plantain, milky oats, and bee balm. Participants will receive 4 herb bunches each week along with a weekly newsletter detailing suggested recipes and preservation methods. Share members will also receive a mini booklet at the start of their share with techniques for preserving and using herbs including drying, making infused oils and vinegars, and more!
Full Share: $80/person
Herb shares can be picked up Tuesdays at the Farm from 4:00-6:30 pm and Fridays & Saturdays at the Fulton Street Farmers Market from 8am-1pm.
About Camilla:
Camilla has worked for the Land Conservancy of West Michigan in a temporary stewardship position where she surveyed and mapped invasive species in delicate Michigan dune ecosystems. After her time with the Land Conservancy, she became an Urban Gardener for two local non-profits, Well House and Our Kitchen Table, where she grew food in areas considered food deserts. With an interest in herbalism, she studied plant medicine with Jim McDonald in 2014 and then again with Dr. Lori Rose in 2019. Camilla has taken an interest in herbalism and native wildflower gardening – she has hosted plant walks in her community and other educational workshops on topics such as food garden planning and mushroom growing. She has become a member of United Plant Savers, Herbalism Without Borders, and River City Wild Ones.
Camilla will be working with the Blandford Farm to provide recipes and preservation techniques through weekly newsletters and the mini booklet that herb share members will receive. She will also be sharing her expertise through Community Programs at Blandford related to the use and preservation of herbs, which CSA members will get a discounted rate for!
View the images below to see what may come in your Herb Share!
*Please note that these are sample shares and are subject to change based on field conditions.
Flower Shares
Sign up for 10 weeks of gorgeous flowers! Flower share members will receive a weekly, pre-arranged bouquet of seasonal flowers from July 5th to September 6th. Flower varieties will change throughout the seasons and may include zinnias, sunflowers, snapdragons, strawflowers, and more!
Full Share: $100/person
Flower shares can be picked up Tuesdays at the Farm from 4:00-6:30 pm and Fridays & Saturdays at the Fulton Street Farmers Market from 8am-1pm.
View the images below to see what may come in your Flower Share!
*Please note that these are sample shares and are subject to change based on field conditions.
Prefer a physical sign-up form or brochure instead? Download them to print by following the links below or pick one up from our visitor services desk during our open hours Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm. For questions and more farm information, please contact us using the form below or reach out to our Farm Manager at liz@blandfordnaturecenter.org or 616-735-6240 ext. 125.
Farm Programming
The Blandford Farm is a short walk west of the Visitor Center and has many things to offer besides naturally-grown produce. Come greet the goats, say “hello” to the sheep, explore the children’s garden, and play in the farm-themed playscape – the opportunities are endless! Here at Blandford, we hope to continue engaging our community by educating families on local agriculture through year-round, interactive farm programming.
The Blandford Farm animal ambassadors are featured in unique programs designed to give you a hands-on, behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn and help out on the farm. These programs allow children to learn about livestock chores and farm animal care while having fun.
We invite visitors of all ages to enjoy, explore, and engage in nature through our farmed-themed community programs. Tap a tree, learn to garden, gather eggs, paint a pumpkin, enjoy a family bonfire, and more – we provide a variety of options for you to connect with nature on the Blandford Nature Center Farm.
Visit our Community Calendar for more information on our farm programs and start planning a year full of fun!
