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Welcome to your farm. We wouldn’t exist without you-- thanks so much for your support!
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Farm pick-up location: 2176 Elton Rd. Bloomfield
Look for the “Wild Hill Farm” sign out front and our large blue barn. We do live in a “GPS-free zone” where the signal is not too good and new folks often get confused trying to find us. We are on Elton Rd. between County Road 14 and 5&20.
Here’s how we share the harvest:
This year we have 220 CSA shares weekly (110 families picking up Tuesday evenings and 110 families picking up on Saturday mornings). This allows us to harvest Mondays and Tuesdays for Tuesday night pick-up, and Thursdays and Fridays for Saturday morning pick-up. We count and weigh everything as we harvest it, and divide it up evenly amongst all our members. We keep your veggies super fresh by “hydro-cooling” them in clean water, and then immediately storing them in our walk-in cooler. Most of the produce gets washed thoroughly, but we still recommend another good rinse before eating.
Over ¾ of our members are Half Share members this year– making about 350 families participating in total! Those of you who are Half Share members have been put into “Group A week” or “Group B week” and will alternate weeks picking up. This keeps it really simple for us in terms of harvesting and distributing shares. You should have received a separate email with your specific pick-up dates -- put them on your calendar! Please do not come on a day you are not designated to pick up your share on. This messes up our counts and we don’t want to run out of anything.
You are welcome to come anytime during the window of pick-up on your designated day. The time window for TUESDAYS is 4-6:30pm and for SATURDAYS is 9-11:30am. We strictly enforce these times! Please do not show up to the barn early or late, as we do not distribute shares after hours. Our hardworking farm employees need to get home and rest for another busy day tomorrow!
Meet this year’s Wild Hill Farm crew:
Welcome to your farm. We wouldn’t exist without you-- thanks so much for your support!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm pick-up location: 2176 Elton Rd. Bloomfield
Look for the “Wild Hill Farm” sign out front and our large blue barn. We do live in a “GPS-free zone” where the signal is not too good and new folks often get confused trying to find us. We are on Elton Rd. between County Road 14 and 5&20.
Here’s how we share the harvest:
This year we have 220 CSA shares weekly (110 families picking up Tuesday evenings and 110 families picking up on Saturday mornings). This allows us to harvest Mondays and Tuesdays for Tuesday night pick-up, and Thursdays and Fridays for Saturday morning pick-up. We count and weigh everything as we harvest it, and divide it up evenly amongst all our members. We keep your veggies super fresh by “hydro-cooling” them in clean water, and then immediately storing them in our walk-in cooler. Most of the produce gets washed thoroughly, but we still recommend another good rinse before eating.
Over ¾ of our members are Half Share members this year– making about 350 families participating in total! Those of you who are Half Share members have been put into “Group A week” or “Group B week” and will alternate weeks picking up. This keeps it really simple for us in terms of harvesting and distributing shares. You should have received a separate email with your specific pick-up dates -- put them on your calendar! Please do not come on a day you are not designated to pick up your share on. This messes up our counts and we don’t want to run out of anything.
You are welcome to come anytime during the window of pick-up on your designated day. The time window for TUESDAYS is 4-6:30pm and for SATURDAYS is 9-11:30am. We strictly enforce these times! Please do not show up to the barn early or late, as we do not distribute shares after hours. Our hardworking farm employees need to get home and rest for another busy day tomorrow!
Meet this year’s Wild Hill Farm crew:
Parking at the Farm:
Please park in the gravel lot right behind the barn, or down by the greenhouse. If it has recently rained, please stay on the gravel if you can as to avoid making ruts in our grass. PLEASE be extra cautious driving in the parking lot, especially backing up. As a pedestrian walking to the barn or U-Pick fields, please be alert and don’t assume that cars see you. Please use the exit driveway to leave during CSA pick-up, as exiting out the entrance can make a pretty yucky traffic situation when it's crowded.
How do I pick up my share?
Your share pick-up is in the barn! Make sure to bring your reusable bags (multiple large bags because shares can sometimes be large!) Pro-tip: bring a cooler in the car, to keep your share fresh on the way home. We have a few small wagons you can borrow if you want, just please return them to the barn after using them.
Please wash your hands at our handwashing sink before picking up your share. We do this because we have bulk bins that you will reach into to pick up your greens etc. You are welcome to use your own hand sanitizer if you like instead of our sink.
Tell your name to the greeter / check-in person, and then proceed into the barn to pick up your share. Make sure to tell them if you are a new member so we can give you a proper orientation! You can also sign up for volunteer shifts on the farm at the greeter table.
You will pick your veggies from bulk bins lined up on both sides of the barn. There are two lines, and each are identical. There will be signs posted above the bins with limits on most items so that we have enough for each member (For instance: “Up to 2 Heads of Lettuce”). You can always take up to the amount posted. Take what your family will use, but you’re welcome to leave what you won’t use to minimize fridge waste. Leftovers each week are put out on the "seconds" section at the end of your pick-up line, and you're welcome to take what you'll use but please use this produce first, as it's older. Any overages on seconds are donated to our local food pantry, so almost nothing goes to waste.
Before or after picking up your share, you are welcome to U-Pick from whatever is available that day in the U-Pick fields. You can also come any day of the week (see below). We’ll have a list at the barn with what is available, and the map with locations of these items will now be down by the greenhouse.
How does U-Pick work?
The U-Pick Garden Opens for all members June 11th.
We grow some crops just for you to U-Pick, and all of this is included in your membership. We dedicate an entire acre to U-Pick crops! They include: flowers for bouquets, fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, green beans, hot peppers, extra greens, and ground cherries. They are located near the greenhouse parking area for your convenience. U-Pick crops that are available to pick will be labeled with a sign. Please only pick where there is a sign. Sometimes we’ll limit how much you can pick, to make sure there’s enough for everyone. Please take only what you and your family can use. If there is only a small amount of something available, please be respectful and leave enough for other families.
You are welcome to enjoy the U-Pick garden any day of the week, 7am-7pm. Please follow all farm rules (below), sometimes the farm is unstaffed and you are on your own. Please bring your own scissors, pruners, bags, buckets for flowers, etc. No glass is allowed in the field.
When you are at the farm in the evenings or weekends, the electric deer fence may be up and HOT. Please do not touch the fence, and keep a close eye on kids, teaching them to not go near the fence. There will be a designated entryway to the U-Pick fields located near the greenhouse, that will always be kept open. Please use this to enter and exit the U-Pick fields so you don’t have to touch the fence.
Blueberries and raspberries are not included in your CSA membership, they cost extra.
Farm Rules
Bring your own bags! Please stash a few extra bags in your vehicle just in case you forget. We don’t have extra bags available.
OFF-LIMIT AREAS: the greenhouse, sheds, and the woods. Fields which are not designated U-Pick fields. Please don’t allow kids to play on tractors or equipment.
We have Electric Fences to keep the deer out! Assume they are on at all times. Please do not touch them, and make sure your kids know not to touch them. Please do not open any gates, use the designated entryway that is woodchipped.
Dress for the farm: wear layers, sneakers or boots, & protect yourself from the sun.
Prepare for the heat: bring a water bottle or two. Dehydration is a real thing in the summer heat.
There are some ticks out here, check yourself well after coming to the farm. They can carry Lyme disease and it’s no joke.
Honey bees live on the farm and they help us with pollination. They love the clover that you may be walking on in the U-Pick garden, so please mind your feet if you’re wearing sandals. If you are allergic, please come prepared and bring your epi-pen.
The bathroom inside the barn is available for your use.
There are first aid supplies in the bathroom. There is a land-line phone in the barn if needed for emergency calls.
No dogs are allowed on the farm. Please leave them at home.
Lightning means get out of the field immediately. Thunder & rain is ok, but as soon as you see a flash, however distant, please take shelter in your car for your own safety.
Phone-free zone -- We like to create a peaceful environment at the farm where folks can relax in nature. Please save your calls/texts/scrolling for somewhere else.
FAQs:
Q: What if I’m on vacation during my regular pick-up day, or miss it for some other reason? Can I pick up my share another day instead?
A: This is our most commonly asked question! Our official answer is no. We do not distribute any shares on days/times except for Tuesdays 4-6:30pm and Saturdays 9-11:30am. Thank you for understanding this, as we do not have the farm staff to spare and are not a grocery store.
Why do we have this official rule? If people pick up on a Tuesday/Saturday that is not their regular day, we risk running short of vegetables for the members already designated for that day. We’d have to pick extra each week to accommodate for this (we never want to run short!), and this is expensive for the farm.
If you can’t make your pick-up day, you can send a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member to pick up your share for you on your scheduled day. You don’t even need to tell us– just tell them the farm rules (email them a link to this handbook)! They can just sign in under your name at the greeter table. They are welcome to U-Pick too, as long as they know the rules.
There is … the one-time exception rule! (2024 update: You can use this twice :) -- we get it, life happens.)
Because many members have emailed us over the years wanting to pick up their share on a different day because of certain circumstances in their life, we’ve decided to let each member have one week where you can switch your pick-up day (don’t even tell us, just come!) We’re serious about this being a one-time-only exception. Save it for an emergency. And please, don’t even email us about it, just come to pick up on any Tuesday or Saturday, and sign in at the bottom of the sign-in sheet or tell the greeter you’re using your one-time switch.... We pick a little extra each week to allow for this. No need to email us at all! Honor system, we trust you. Thanks!
Q: What do I need to bring to pick-up?
A: You must bring your own reusable bags for hauling away your goodies. Best to have several! People sometimes bring small wagons, carts, coolers, laundry baskets, etc. as the shares get larger throughout the season. We also highly recommend bringing scissors to pick herbs, greens, and flowers in the u-pick garden. WE DO NOT HAVE BAGS FOR YOU AT THE BARN.
Q: How do I know what will be in my share each week?
A: We will send weekly email newsletters describing what we’re harvesting that week, a recipe or two, and what U-Pick crops are available! Make sure the Wild Hill Farm newsletter isn’t going into your spam mailbox.
Q: How do I store my veggies when I get home so they stay fresh?
A: Tips:
- Bringing a cooler will help your veggies stay fresh while you’re U-Picking or driving home.
- Most veggies love to be in closed bags or plastic containers in the refrigerator. You can also wrap them in a moist towel and put them in the crisper drawer. It’s important to keep the bags closed so the humidity can keep the veggies from going limp.
- Keep these ones on your counter at room temp: tomatoes, winter squash, and cured (dry) garlic & onions.
- You can keep potatoes in the fridge, although you don’t have to (just keep them in the dark).
- Herbs & flowers from the U-Pick garden should be put into a jar of water as soon as possible.
- Remember, even though we wash your veggies once really well at the farm, you should wash everything again before eating it, in case we missed some dirt!
Q: Can I volunteer on the farm?
A: Email us at [email protected] if you're interested.
Q: How do the U-Pick Berries work?
A: Berries are not included in your CSA share, they can be bought separately and are open to the public. We give our CSA members first dibs. We expect them to be ripe July - August. More details TBA.
Have more questions?
Email [email protected] or Text 585-455-1260
Farm Mailing Address: Wild Hill Farm, PO Box 103, Ionia, NY 14475
Farm Location: 2176 Elton Rd. Bloomfield, NY
