How much does it cost to become a member? The share cost is $33 per box for delivery to a community pickup site or office delivery, or $38 for delivery to a home. Home delivery CSA members also pay a $20 one-time non-refundable set-up fee.
What's in a CSA Box? We grow over 60 different types of vegetables and herbs, and each week, members receive a "share" box filled with a variety of 8-12 seasonal, organically grown vegetables, fruits and herbs. All of the vegetables in our CSA shares come from Johnson's Backyard Garden directly and are certified organic. We select all of 100% of the vegetable varieties we grow based upon flavor, fruit abundance and adaptability. The contents of each week's box can be found on our home page, and recipes using those items are included in our weekly blog, Facebook and Twitter posts. You can see photos of our recent CSA boxes in our Vegetable Guide section.
How do I Sign-up? Go to our Join page and follow the steps to choose your membership option.
What is Community Supported Agriculture? Community Supported Agriculture is much different than going to the local grocery and buying your vegetables. It is a direct partnership between you the consumer and our farm. CSA members pay in advance for a share of the upcoming harvest and are ensured high-quality local produce, and we the farm are ensured a consistent market. Produce is harvested direct from our fertile and certified organic vegetable fields located along the Colorado River just East of Austin. Immediately after harvest we deliver "CSA shares" to our members' homes, offices and over 30 community pick-up locations all on the same day.
What does a CSA Membership Include?
  • A weekly or every-other-week delivery of seasonal certified organic vegetables, fruits and herbs bursting with flavor and freshly harvested from our fields.
  • Invitations to JBG Member events, farm workshops, gardening and cooking classes, potlucks, U-picks as well as our annual Spring and Fall farm open house so you can see where your food is grown and meet the people who produce it.
  • A picture and recipe filled weekly newsletter that includes details about how to handle and store your produce. Each week we also share news from the farm and cover events and happenings in the local Austin food and farming community.
  • Special member pricing on bulk-item purchases like heirloom tomatoes, seasonal organic Texas citrus and spring transplants
  • You will also have access to our online recipe database, cooking and storage tips, photos and member forums. You are also invited to join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  • The option to add to your CSA share free-range eggs, fair-trade organic coffee and other selected artisanal foods from local producers.
How do I identify, cook, and properly store the vegetables in my share? We aim to grow the highest quality produce possible. Almost all of our vegetables except some storage crops are harvested the morning of delivery or the day before delivery; picking up your box as early as possible during the pick-up window will help ensure their freshness and nutritional quality. We post a picture of the contents of our weekly CSA share on our website. When you roll your mouse over each item, it is identified for you. Not only does it provide animated pictures with identification of the weekly offerings, but we have created a Veg Guide that includes a page for each type of produce we grow that includes information about the growing season, varieties, storage tips, cooking tips, and CSA member submitted recipes.
Can I choose what's in my box each week? At all farmers' market pickup locations, members can trade out any number of items in their box with those available at our market stand. At most pickup locations we have a trade box where members can swap out items. These are not available at our retail pickup locations (Whole Foods, Wheatsville Co-op, Monument Cafe, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf).
Do you offer home delivery to my area? You can check if we delivery to your home by entering your zip-code on our Join page. If we do not deliver to your location and you would like to request delivery just call 512-386-5273 or email our office and we will see what we can do.
What time can I expect my home delivery? Your home delivery will arrive between and 12:30 and 6:30pm of your scheduled delivery day. Your delivery time should be around the same time each week however it may fluctuate based on traffic and the driver's scheduled route for that day.
Where are the office and community pickup sites? A map of our pick-up sites can be found here. If you are interested in hosting a new pickup site we need at least 5 members per week minimum to consider adding a new pickup location. Please contact us if you would like to begin hosting a new pick-up site at your office, business or neighborhood.
How long is your season? We grow vegetables year-round and deliver CSA shares every week of the year. We do not deliver on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
How do I choose custom pickup dates? Members may call or email our office and have their pickup dates and locations scheduled as they like.
How do I postpone my next delivery or put my delivery on hold? Just email us by Friday the week prior to your delivery day or by logging into your account and clicking on the My Deliveries tab. Clicking on the "Postpone Deliveries" link in the upper left hand corner will move all of your deliveries forward one week.
How do I change my delivery frequency (for example from weekly to every-other-week)?
Members may call or email our office if you would like to change your frequency.
How do I change my pickup location? Members may change their pickup location by logging into their account and clicking on the My Deliveries tab. If you would like to change the pickup location for the deliveries shown, select the new location from the list (above the "Postpone delivery" link). This will only change the deliveries that are already paid for. If you would like to permanently change all future pickups to a new location, just call or email the farm office.
What happens if I cannot pick up my box? If you contact our office prior to 11:00 am during your delivery week we can arrange for a pick-up at an alternate community pick-up site during the same week. Members also have the option to call our office to donate your share. We have a partnership with the The Settlement Home, Caritas and the Salvation Army. We donate produce to these organizations several times each week.
Late or Missed Pick-up Policy Since produce is perishable, we ask the CSA site host to donate any vegetable boxes left after 7:00 pm. Unfortunately, we do not give replacement boxes if you come late or miss a pickup. You can change your schedule by emailing us by Friday the week prior to your delivery day or by logging into your account and clicking on the My Deliveries tab.
How do I pay? When you sign up for farm membership, you will pay through our secure online payment system by debit or credit card ($33 for community or office delivery or $38 for home delivery) plus a one-time $20 set-up fee. All subscriptions auto-renew until you cancel.
What is your cancellation policy? Members may cancel at any time, for any reason.
What is your refund policy? In the CSA model, members are seen as active farm partners, sharing the risks and rewards of the harvest. Should you choose to cancel your subscription, we cannot offer a refund for shares already paid for. We can offer a gift certificate for the amount of remaining shares on your account that you can give as a gift. The CSA partnership sustains our farm, individual members, and the community at large. Given this no-refund policy, we advise that new members initially sign up for four-week membership before committing to a longer subscription. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding our refund policy.
How do I add eggs or coffee or other grocery items to my existing subscription as a one-time extra? Home Delivery members can login to the members sections and add any item we offer as a one-time add -on. Community Drop off members may login to the member section and add coffee, eggs and seasonally citrus to pickups on a one-time basis.
How do I add eggs or coffee or other grocery items to my existing subscription on a recurring basis? Cancel your subscription by calling the office or logging in to your account. Please sign-up again and choose the items you would like to be included with your delivery on a recurring basis.
Do you reuse your CSA boxes? Yes. To reduce waste and save money we reuse CSA boxes up to 10 times. Please do not take the cardboard box home. Select a CSA box, and transfer the vegetables into your own cooler or bags to carry your vegetables home with you. We ask you also break the box down so it is flat, and then stack it neatly for easy pickup by JBG. Last year, we paid about $15,000 for our cardboard CSA boxes, and each one costs over $2 a piece. It's worth the investment to us because we can reuse them and reduce waste. We thank you for making this effort to help us reduce waste and farm expenses.
How do I pick up my produce at my office or a community pick-up location? When you arrive at the pickup site: 1. Initial Sign-off Sheet - Locate your name on the member sign-off sheet and initial. If your name is not on the list please do not take a box. 2. Take your Veggies - Select a CSA box and transfer the vegetables into your own cooler or bags. 3. Leave the Box - Flatten the box and leave it stacked neatly. Please be careful not to tear the box tabs- we reuse them to help keep costs down. 4. Eggs & Coffee? - If eggs and/or coffee are part of your share, remember to pick them up. They will be stored in a separate cooler or crate next to the vegetable boxes. Returned egg cartons can be reused and are appreciated!