Frequently Asked Questions

Angelic Organics - FAQ

Visit the Farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview

Questions about Visiting to the Farm:

What are my options for visiting the farm, Angelic Organics?

What are the Farm Open Houses?

Can I volunteer on the farm?

What should I expect as a volunteer?

What do I need to bring as a volunteer? How should I prepare myself?

Is the farm dangerous? Is it a safe place for children?

Where can I stay when I come to visit the farm?

Can I visit the farm unannounced and wander about?

Can I arrange to have a tour of the farm?

I am thinking about becoming a shareholder, can I visit the farm before I sign up?

How do I get to the farm?

Do you sell produce directly off the farm? Can I stop by to purchase some vegetables?

Common Questions of Shareholders:

I haven't heard from the farm since I sent in my check, how will I know that I'm signed up?

Now that I'm a shareholder, are there any other opportunities available to me?

I'm interested in the Open Houses, what information do I need to be aware of before I show up?

How do I go about permanently changing my delivery site?

Who should I notify if my contact information needs to be updated?

I'm moving out of Angelic Organic's delivery range, can the farm help me find another CSA in the area where I'm headed?

Questions about Working or Interning at Angelic Organics:

Where can I find information about the employment and intern opportunities at Angelic Organics?

I am from outside the United States. Can I come and work or volunteer at Angelic Organics?

Are there any short-term (from a couple of days to a couple of weeks) work / volunteers opportunties at Angelic Organics?

General Questions About the Farm:

What is Angelic Organics?

Angelic Organics is a several hundred member Biodynamic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable and herb farm located in north-central Illinois, less than 2 hours north-west from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes nort-east of Rockford, at 1547 Rockton Rd., Caledonia, IL 61011. We began growing organically in 1990 and have operated as a CSA since 1993. Participants, known as shareholders, who become involved with our CSA receive a weekly 3/4 bushel box of fresh vegetables and herbs delivered to over 20 Chicago area sites. Shares last for 20 or 12 weeks from mid-June or mid-August to late October. For sign up information, refer to the share page.

How did Angelic Organics originate?

When Lester Peterson married Anna Nielsen in the 1930's, they settled on a rundown farm in the community where Lester and Anna had grown up. The main part of the farmhouse had been turned into a corn crib, and the basement had been used to store potatoes. The newlyweds shoveled the remaining corn out of their new home, carried bushels of spoiled potatoes out of the basement, chased out rats, and moved in.

By the time John Peterson, the founder of Angelic Organics, arrived in the Peterson family, dairy and poultry were the mainstays of the farm. At an early age, John started helping with the poultry chores. By his ninth birthday, he had been promoted to the dairy, where, morning and night, he helped with milking and feeding the cows.

By the mid-sixties, many of the homey little farms that dotted the countryside were either going through expansion in order to survive, or were closing their barn doors. The Peterson farm went the expansion route, until financial calamity arrived in the early 80's, almost closing the farm down for good.

However, enough of the Peterson land survived the shake-out to build anew. In 1990, John started up farming again-this time with a different approach. He wanted a natural system by which to farm, a system in which results were derived from the integrity of the soil, not the shenanigans of crop chemicals and petroleum based fertilizers.

This was the birth of Angelic Organics - a rebirth, actually, from the great losses of the 80's. As Angelic Organics slowly got its footing in the challenging new world of sustainable agriculture, it turned to Biodynamics and the Community Supported Agriculture model for a truly comprehensive approach to farming. Farming is not just about raising vegetables, but also about those who receive the vegetables. To reunite consumers with their source of food, to share the magnificent drama of farming, to give children the opportunity to see their vegetables grow... This completes the farming picture beautifully, providing deep satisfaction to customers and farmers alike.

What is Angelic Organics working towards? What are its goals?

Angelic Organics is dedicated to creating and forwarding an economically viable, sustainable, Biodynamic farm which nurtures its soil, plants, animals, and community of workers and enlivens the connection between people and the source of their food. We are committed to providing the freshest, most vibrant food possible to our customers.

Our Guiding Principles

We stand for:

Providing our customers with the highest quality products and best service possible.
Building community amongst our members.
Sharing our knowledge and resources with the larger community.
Building a sustainable farm system which includes the soil, plants, animals and humans.
Providing employees with opportunities for growth, a balanced life, and adequate financial compensation.
Providing managers with a balanced work life which allows for creativity and reflection.
Building and maintaining the highest level of soil fertility possible.
Creating and maintaining infrastructure which supports the sustainability of the farm.
Providing an orderly succession of management.
Providing the best possible life for farm animals.
Providing a safe environment.
Conducting business in a financially responsible manner.
Monitoring performance against standards.
Conducting all work in a timely manner.
Conducting all work as efficiently as possible.
Fostering research and development.
Maintaining a commitment to aesthetics and beauty.

What is a CSA?

We only offer our harvest to households like yours. Working directly with you, without the intermediary of stores or wholesalers, gives us the opportunity to provide the freshest quality vegetables and competitive organic prices. This system is known as Subscription Farming, Community Supported Agriculture, or, most simply, a CSA. The way a CSA works is very straight-forward. With a preseason payment, you purchase a "share" of our season's harvest. You then receive a weekly box of our fresh produce during the course of our 20-week harvest season, from mid-June to late-October, or our later-starting 12-week period, from mid-August to late-October. Further, you may choose to extend the season with a ''winter'' share: 4 additional boxes of storage vegetables delivered over the coruse of November and early December (skipping Thanksgiving week).

Are any of the crops genetically engineered?

No, all of our produce is free of genetic engineering, which is by no means allowed under either organic or Biodynamic guidelines.

What does "Biodynamic" mean?

Biodynamics is a system of sustainable agriculture first described in 1924 by Austrian social philosopher Rudolf Steiner, whose work also underlies the methods of Waldorf education. He gave recipes for nine special "preparations" which are at the heart of the Biodynamic practice: One is a specifically prepared manure, another a silica-rich rock powder; the rest are herbs and other plant materials. Added to compost, and sprayed directly on the soil and plants at different periods in the growing year, each preparation stimulates and enhances biological activity in a specific way. For more information on Biodynamics, follow our links to the official Biodynamics web page and to Biodynamics at Angelic Organics.

What is the CSA Learning Center?

The CSA Learning Center is a resource for CSA members, prospective farmers, and diverse members of the greater Chicago, Rockford, and Beloit areas. The mission of the CSA Learning Center is to empower people to create sustainable communities of soils, plants, animals, and people through educational, creative, and experiential programs offered in partnership with Angelic Organics, a vibrant Biodynamic community supported farm. The CSA Learning Center provides opportunities for people to:

-Transform their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being
-Understand their role in the agro-ecology, economy, and culture of the region
-Explore Community Supported Agriculture and organic & Biodynamic farming
-Promote CSAs, local food security, and regional farming networks

See their web page for more: CSALearningCenter.org

How do I contact the farm?

Angelic Organics is a thoroughly modern farm. You can reach us via mail, phone, fax, email, or through our web page. However, our preferred form of communication is email.

Email: CSA@AngelicOrganics.com
Phone: 815-389-2746 Fax: 801-459-9659
Street Address: Angelic Organics
1547 Rockton Road
Caledonia, IL 61011-9572

Questions about Becoming a Shareholder:

What is a shareholder?

When you sign up, you dedicate yourself to being our customer - i.e. a shareholder - for the season, 20 or 12 weeks. This provides us with a secure market, which is a welcome measure of certainty in the unstable world of farming! We, in turn, dedicate ourselves to being your farmers and providing you with a varied, nutritious vegetable diet for the season.

What does it mean to be a shareholder?

We strive to bring you a beautiful and bountiful box each week, but since our boss, Nature, provides no guarantees, we can't offer any either. One of the premises of a Community Supported Agriculture program is that the shareholder shares, through the veggies, the farmer's experiences of Nature's mischief and blessings (although our years of farming have taught us to minimize as many risks as possible --from draught [we have an excellent irrigation system] to floods [we have the right types of equipment to get critical farming jobs done in short, dry windows of time]).

Is it possible that I would pay for a share and then not receive a full season's worth of produce due to bad weather?

The weather woes would probably never rob you of all your veggies. Even with the flooding we experienced in 1993 (the most challenging crop year since 1974), we were able to fill our shareholders' boxes every week and could barely close the boxes at the height of the season! In recent years, increases in soil fertility and advances in our growing expertise have consistently produced stellar boxes.

What types of shares are there?

We have offered three types of shares in the past. The first is our regular 20-week share, which starts in mid-June, runs until late-October and is offered every year. The second share is a 4-delivery ''winter'' share; it is delivered over the course of November and December (skipping Thanksgiving week) and is usually, but not always, available for purchase. Third, a 12-week late summer/autumn share is often available from year to year. For a listing of share prices, refer to the Angelic Organics Signup Page.

How are the vegetables different in a winter share?

The winter share boxes usually look similar to the regular 20-week boxes, except without any herbs, salad greens, or frost-susceptible crops like tomatoes or peppers. The winter boxes most often include combinations of carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, garlic, squash, kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, parsnips, spinach and cabbage.

Do I have to decide about the winter share when I sign up for the regular share?

Shareholders do not have to sign-up for a winter share at the same time that they do for a 20-week share. However, the winter shares historically have sold out very early in the season, months before their November start date. For that reason, we recommend that shareholders sign-up early for winter shares.

How much do these shares cost?

For a listing of share prices, see our Angelic Organics Signup Page.

Is there a deadline for signing up?

There is no deadline for signing up for a given season. Shares are sold on a first come, first serve basis and are available until we are sold out. Our 20-week shares are often sold out by the first day of Spring. 12-week shares are available for a little while longer. It is always best not to delay too long before signing up in order to make sure that you do not miss out. Check our Angelic Organics Signup Page to see if shares are currently available.

Do you offer any special payment plans?

Aside from the most common method where people pay everything up front, we do have one other payment plan. The alternate payment plan is described as follows:

If you wish to spread the cost of the share out over a period of time, please write out two checks, each covering half of the total. Date one check for the day that you are signing up and sending in your checks; postdate the second check for any date up to three months from the date of your first check. Send both checks in with your sign-up. We won't deposit the second check until its date.

If neither method of payment works for you, you may propose another payment plan, which we may accommodate, as long as it doesn't involve more than 4 checks nor sending the checks in separately.

Do you accept credit cards?

Currently, we only accept credit cards through the web at the Angelic Organics Signup Page. After you complete your signup information and electronically submit it, you are given the option of paying for your share by credit card. If you choose the credit card option, you are charged an additional fee -- detailed at the time of charging. This fee helps cover the cost of the web page and credit card processing. People who pay by check are not charged this additional fee. We do not take credit card payments over the phone or via the mail at the present time.

I can't afford the price of a share, is there anything I can do to still get a share?

Volunteering on the farm is a way to earn credit towards a following year's share. Volunteers willing to work in the fields can choose to receive $10 credit applied to their next year's share for each full day that they work, up to a maximum of 10 days of credit.

For low income families, the CSA Learning Center provides services that assist those families in getting a share. Through grants and other support the CSA Learning Center subsidizes a part of the cost of the share for qualifying families. They also accept donations to support this program. To find out more visit their web site.

It seems like a lot of food, do you offer half shares?

At this point in time, we do not offer half-sized shares. The logistics are simply too great for us to handle presently. However, we do have many shareholders who "share" a box with each other. For more information on sharing a box, please see the section How does sharing a box work? Also, we have a limited network of potential shareholders who are seeking someone else to share a box with. To find out more about this Matchmaking Service Click Here.

Can I try out a membership with a sample share, maybe for a month or so?

No, we are unable to offer sample shares. Unfortunately, the logistics are too complicated for us to manage this amongst everything else. We rely on the descriptions that others pass around, and on our written and web-based materials, for prospective shareholders to realize what our program entails and the scope of the commitment that is involved. We are evaluating a web based system to connect potential shareholders with current shareholders to answer their questions and provide an accurate portrayal of the CSA experience and may add this to our web site in the future.

I'm interested in your CSA, but I live outside of your delivery range. Can you still help me?

Unfortunately we cannot offer our services to those who live far outside of our delivery range. This is a symptom of our belief in providing healthy, fresh and local produce to our community. However, for potential shareholders that live just outside the range of our deliveries, we have a satellite delivery site option. If a group of 7 or more shares sign up at the same time (together) from the same area outside of our delivery range, we offer a $20 discount off of each share. Ideally, the box pickup and delivery responsibilities could be rotated on a weekly basis among the shareholders of this satellite community. Please email the farm for the details of this arrangement.

For those who are still too far away to receive our vegetables or if we are sold out and you would like to try another CSA in the area, we recommend you visit the following web sites that focus on matching people to CSAs in their immediate area:

How do I sign up?

The easiest way to sign up is through our web site. We offer a sign up form that will take you step-by-step through the process. We then automatically receive your sign up and will contact you with further information about your share. To sign up now, go to our Angelic Organics sign-up page.

Many shareholders choose to sign up with us through the mail. To sign up via the U.S. Mail, we ask that you send in the sign up form that is included in our brochure along with a check made out for the full price of the share. To obtain a brochure either: download it from the middle of our sign-up page or request one via email (CSA@AngelicOrganics.com) or the phone (815 389 2746).

Can I visit the farm before I sign up?

See this question: I am thinking about becoming a shareholder, can I visit the farm before I sign up?

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Questions about the Vegetables:

What is in a box?

Our goal is to send you a 3/4 bushel box with about 8 to 14 items each week, which includes 1 or 2 herbs, 1 to 3 leafy greens, 1 or 2 alliums (onion family), 1 to 4 fruiting vegetables, 1 to 4 root vegetables, and, in spring and fall, 1 or 2 brassicas (cabbage family). For each weekly harvest, the field manager assesses the variety of vegetables reaching maturity in the fields and tries to fill a sample box with a balance of the different vegetables, while still considering which vegetables absolutely must be harvested now and which ones really should wait another week. This preharvest assessment of the box contents is included in each weekly newsletter. However, conditions can change quickly in the fields - even more quickly than the newsletter is able to keep up with. If a vegetable listed in the newsletter does not appear in your box, please be aware that maybe it was not available due to a last minute harvest decision. We always try to find a substitute vegetable if one is available and if there is room in the box. As our workload allows, we try to email shareholders about last minute changes.

How consistent can the boxes be with so many shareholders?

We try to distribute all of our produce as evenly as possible to our shareholders. As we harvest or wash, we often separate by size. This allows us to balance the net quantity of each vegetable or all of the vegetables combined. For example, we will pack two small celeriacs instead of one large celeriac or a large of one vegetable with a small of another vegetable. Occasionally, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday deliveries will receive different vegetables. We are very conscious of when one delivery has received something which the other hasn't; often it will be made up in the following week.

How much is in a 3/4 bushel box? How many people will it feed?

We do our best to fill your weekly 3/4 bushel produce box to the brim, equivalent to about 1 1/2 regular paper grocery sacks. The first boxes of the season offer mainly leafy greens and herbs; they weigh 7 to 12 lbs. From late summer through fall, the boxes may bulge with over 20 lbs. of produce. One share generally satisfies the needs of two people with a vegetarian diet, or four people with a mixed diet.

When are specific crops harvested? When can I expect to receive corn, tomatoes, spinach, etc.?

Due to the seasonality of raising vegetables in the Midwest, the types of vegetables you receive will vary over the deliveries. Early boxes are dominated by greens, mid-season boxes by fruiting vegetables, and late season boxes by root vegetables. It's natural to be excited about the first ripe tomato of summer, but don't expect to receive it in your first box. We work hard to provide variety throughout the entire season, within the limits that Mother Nature allows. There will also be variation in the box weight across the season. The early season boxes tend to be lighter while the end of the season boxes tend to be heavier. This is highly dependent on the year and the weather. Some boxes will be more "full" than others. If you receive a box which is not as full as you were expecting, we hope that you look at it as only one box of the 20 week season. Hopefully, it will be averaged out with a very stuffed box later in the season. To see a chart of everything we grow and when we anticipate harvesting it visit our Vegetable Calendar.

Can I choose what goes in my box?

Due to the system we use of pre-packed boxes, all of our shareholders receive the same variety of vegetables. Shareholders who dislike beets will receive the same amount of beets as the shareholders who love beets. (Though you can always leave your beets in the Swap Box.) We tried, for a short period, to customize the boxes based on individual preferences. It was incredibly difficult to track preferences through paperwork, determine the units to harvest, individually label each box, change the contents of each box as it passed by on the conveyor belt and peer at the label to see if it says "herbs: yes or no", "tomatoes: yes or no", "beets: yes or no", and to make certain that each individually labeled box was delivered to the correct drop site . Therefore, we do not customize the boxes. Instead, we design our field plans based on several years of shareholder surveys and feedback. Hopefully the result is a box that makes the majority of shareholders very happy.

How can I be assured that the vegetables will be of good quality?

The quality of your vegetables is determined by a variety of factors. At the farm, we go to great lengths to optimize the variables that are controllable. Almost everything delivered in the boxes is harvested within 48 hours of its arrival at the drop sites. (Late winter boxes are an exception.) We harvest as early in the day as possible, often starting before the sun comes up, and immediately transport the vegetables into our shaded washing area. Most vegetables are then washed with cold water and moved into the coolers for storage. We have separate coolers for the vegetables which require temperatures near freezing and high humidity and for those which require slightly warmer and drier temperatures.

Once we deliver your vegetables, it's up to you to continue preserving their quality. To keep your produce as fresh as possible, pick up as early as you can on your delivery day. Your vegetables are delivered in wax corrugated boxes out of a refrigerated truck, but most delivery sites are in open garages or porches and have no refrigeration; so, the sooner you pick up the better. Freshness and quality can quickly wither on a hot summer day. It's also important to properly store your vegetables once you get them home.

Despite our best attempts, we will always have a few crops that do not flourish in the weather and pest conditions of that year. This is part of the great balancing act of Nature; conditions under which some crops excel cause others to fail. Thus, there will always be a "star" crop and a "B-list" crop in any given year, and you can bet that the two will change the next season. If we already know of an unavoidable problem with a particular crop, we will let you know about it in the newsletter. An example from a previous year is that onions were not keeping for very long due to a season which had particularly wet growing and harvesting conditions. This is something we explained in the newsletter and told everyone that year to use their onions as quickly as possible, rather than try to store them.

In no way do we feel that it is acceptable to put vegetables of poor quality into the boxes. Try as hard as we may, sometimes things slip by our quality control. Most organic produce sellers ask buyers to factor an average of 10% loss due to poor quality or spoilage when ordering. We do not ask this of our shareholders, but we do ask for a bit of understanding. If you are not satisfied with the quality of the produce that you have received, please contact the farm and we will try to rectify the situation.

How long will the produce keep?

Crops vary in how long they will keep, even under ideal growing and storage conditions. There can be a significant difference between the storage life of fresh organic produce and that of conventional produce treated with waxes and preservatives.

Relative produce perishability:

Very high (use within 3-4 days): broccoli, cauliflower, cantaloupe, scallions, mesclun, leaf lettuce, spinach, sweet corn, fully ripe tomatoes
High: honeydew and other melons, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, eggplant, head lettuce, peppers, summer squash
Moderate: beets, carrots, radishes, potatoes (immature)
Low: potato (mature), dry onion, garlic, pumpkin, winter squash

Please keep in mind that vegetables that look imperfect or dirty will usually clean up just fine and definitely taste better than those which are bred only for uniformity or pest resistance.

What if I don't know how to prepare, or even recognize, the vegetables that I receive?

No anonymous veggies here -- the boxes talk! With each delivery our shareholders receive a weekly newsletter acquainting you with your food and its interesting upbringing -- a synergy of weather, soil, sun, and sweat. The newsletter assists with the kitchen end of the food chain. Current and archived newsletters are available here!

Is there fruit in the vegetable boxes?

Yes, but only a little. The only fruits that we do grow are melons: watermelons (ice-box size), honeydew melons and cantaloupes/muskmelons. These show up in the boxes from mid- to late-August through mid-September. However, we may be offering special Fruit Shares. Click this link to see if Fruit Shares are available.

Can you refer me to a local farm that offers organic fruit?

We are often asked if we know of anybody who grows organic fruit, from berries to apples. Unfortunately, we are not aware of any established local fruit growers. We recommend going to the LocalHarvest.org web site to see what they have listed. Currently, we are unable to take on growing additional crops like berries or incorporating orchards into our farm. Be aware that we may be offering special Fruit Shares. Click this link to see if Fruit Shares are available.

How is the produce prepared? Is there much cleaning or washing on my part?

We usually pre-rinse all of the vegetables that go into the boxes. However, we firmly recommend that you always wash the vegetables before preparing them at home. For more details about the how the vegetables are prepared, Click Here.

What is in the Swap Box?

At least one Swap Box is dropped off each week at each delivery site. This box serves as a trading place: You leave items in the Swap Box that you don't care for and then help yourself to stuff you like. Also, occasionally, this box will contain surplus and second (not as high quality) items for those interested to add to their own boxes. Shareholders should keep in mind to share Swap Box contents with other shareholders.

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Questions about Box Deliveries:

Where do you deliver?

The following link identifies where we deliver boxes. Most delivery sites are porches or garages at a shareholder's home. Angelic Organics' Delivery Sites.

How often do you deliver?

Shareholders receive a weekly box of our fresh vegetable produce during the course of their share.

Can I pay extra to have the farm deliver directly to my house?

At this point in time, we do not have the means, nor the time or staff, to deliver our boxes directly to shareholders' homes. While this delivery approach is something that we are considering for the distant future, as of now we cannot accommodate any special requests for home deliveries.

How will I know which delivery site to go to?

When prospective shareholders sign-up and commit to a season of vegetables from our farm, they select, on the sign up form, the delivery site that would be the closest or most convenient for them. We take these preferences into consideration and then assign everyone a specific delivery site. Shareholders nearly always receive their preferred delivery site; however, there are years when certain sites seem particularly more popular than others. When that happens, we redirect some of the shareholders to the next closest site.

Approximately two months after signing up, we then send out a confirmation by mail which states the delivery site with which the shareholder has been paired. If the shareholder has any problems with the delivery site, we will do our best to rectify the situation.

When do the deliveries begin and end for the season?

20-week shares are delivered from mid-June to late-October; 12-week shares are delivered from mid-August to late-October; and, ''winter'' shares, which consists of four additional boxes of storage vegetables, are delivered over the course of November and early December (skipping Thanksgiving week).

What time can I pick up my box?

Refer to Angelic Organics' Delivery Sites for a listing of the time schedule. Time windows at the delivery sites average about 7 hours.

What if I can't make the scheduled delivery times?

We ask that the vegetable boxes be retrieved within a sites' pickup window and, preferably, as close to delivery time as possible. This ensures that shareholders will be able to get their vegetables home and into their refrigerators in time to maintain the peak freshness that results from buying local. Additionally, prompt pickup mitigates the detrimental effects of warming or freezing on the produce. If you believe that your situation would not allow you to consistently pick up your vegetables within the allotted pickup hours, this program would probably not work for you.

Can I pick up my box at the farm? Is it any cheaper?

Yes, every season we have a several shareholders that choose to come to the farm to retrieve their boxes. If you live close enough, it can be a rewarding opportunity to interact with the farm more, as well as come to know and recognize the farmers who grow your food. However, there are no discounts for shareholders that opt to collect their boxes at the farm.

Which delivery site is closest to me?

If the link to Angelic Organics' Delivery Sites does little to help you decipher which drop site is closest to your home or place of business, you can contact the farm for help. We can enter your address into our computer to determine which delivery site would be the closest.

Where do I pick up a newsletter?

Newsletters are kept in a Rubbermaid box at each delivery site. Please take one (or more if you're sharing a box) from the folder inside and close the box tightly. Be sure to read your newsletter every week! It is our main way of communicating to the shareholders what happens at the farm throughout the growing and harvest season. If you miss a week, you can find the previous issue in one of the brown craft envelopes at the bottom of the newsletter box. We suggest that you collect all of your newsletters in a folder or binder. We may publish new recipes, cooking tips, and essays every week, and you'll probably want to refer back to them at some point. PDF's of past and present newsletters are also maintained on our web site at this link: Current and archived newsletters are available here!

What happens if I know I will be unable to pick up a box?

When you're unable to pick up your box during the scheduled times you may either try to arrange a next day pick-up, have a friend pick it up, or leave your box at the site and allow it to flow into our Food Security Committee's Food Bank Program.

In extraordinary circumstances, you may be able to pick up your box the next day, provided you are able to call your host and receive some type of confirmation. However, there's no guarantee they can help you out, and we ask that you do this no more than once or twice a season. We are very grateful for the generous families who have offered to host our sites and do not wish to burden them any more than is necessary. Please call the farm if this presents a problem. Please also see the question What if I can't make the scheduled delivery times?

You may wish to share some of the harvest with family, friends or neighbors; let them pick up your box. When you have someone else pick up your box, share the pickup instructions with them! It's possible that without this info, your stand-in might cause a lot of confusion for your host, fellow shareholders, and the farm. We don't like to hear about stand-ins miscommunicating and taking more boxes than they were supposed to. This leaves another shareholder without a box, and increases our efforts.

Food Bank Program: For those weeks when you don't get around to having a friend pick up your box, don't despair! Your box will not go to waste. The CSA Learning Center and our hosts continue to steer the majority of unclaimed boxes to families in need.

If you would like to pick your box up at the farm on occasion or change your delivery site during the season, you may. Please call the farm at 815-389-2746 to arrange it. With our hectic farming demands, we ask that you give us a two week notice to assure that we have enough time to make such a change (one week in advance for when you wish to pick up at the farm).

What happens if there aren't any boxes left at the delivery site?

Missing boxes do happen occasionally, for a variety of reasons. If you arrive at your site one day to find that all the boxes are gone, first ask yourself if you are picking up during the correct time frame, and on the right day. Some hosts remove extra boxes promptly at the end of the day, and you will have to contact them to get your box if you are going to be even 15 minutes late. People have also been known to get confused about their delivery day over the course of the season. When you are sure that your box is truly missing, please contact us as soon as possible.

You have three options to make up for your missed box:

An extra box can be delivered to you later in the season (let us know at least a week in advance).
A box credit can be given towards your next year's share.
A refund for the amount of the box can be administered (this may take a while to process and so is our last choice).

If you have any other problems with your box, delivery site, or anything else, please call and discuss it with us. We will do our best to explain and/or rectify the situation.

Can I change my delivery site temporarily?

Attempting to keep track of all of our shareholders' weekly comings and goings is a task too complicated for us to manage. For this reason, we are not able to accommodate temporary delivery site switches at any point throughout the season.

Can I permanently change my delivery site partway through the season? How do I do that?

Yes. If you need to permanently change your delivery site, notify us at least two weeks before the week you want the change to take effect. This is to ensure that we have enough time to mail you directions to your new site, and so that the field manager can plan for harvest. We ask that you only change your site if you plan to continue picking up at the new site for the rest of the season. It is too difficult on us to change your site for only a week or two.

Can I recommend a new delivery site?

There is always the possibility that a site may not be available from year to year, or there may be a new location which better suits the demographics of the shareholding population. In any case, we are always interested in knowing whether there are any sites which our shareholders may be willing to offer for delivery usage. So, yes, we welcome recommendations for new delivery sites, although we do not often add new delivery sites.

What is required of a host site?

We look for a variety of criteria in a site:

A cool, shaded porch, walkway, or garage
A willingness to allow shareholders to access your area (unattended) from around 8:30 am until 8 or 9 pm each Saturday (city of Chicago), Wednesday (near Chicago suburbs), or Thursday (Chicago western suburbs and Rockford) for 24 deliveries (from mid-June through mid-December); a key to access your site is at your discretion--currently, no sites require keys
Space to accommodate approximately 50 - 75 boxes
The acceptance of materials and signs left at your house over the course of the season (including the newsletter rubbermaid box and folded-up, empty, returned vegetable boxes)
Reasonable parking access for when people pick up their boxes

Other considerations:

Please note that sometimes extra work is required to keep your site orderly and clean:
There are shareholders who forget to unfold their returned boxes
There may be unclaimed or lesser quality vegetables in the swap box which may need to be disposed of through composting or some other way
There may be orphaned (unclaimed) boxes -- ideally these would be distributed to others who will use the vegetables
If you are selected to host a site, we hope that you will host in future years as well

There are also many benefits to hosting a site. Some of them include:

Delivery of your vegetables right to your house
The opportunity to create community within your neighborhood, to meet and socialize with the shareholders who come to pick up their vegetables at your home
The added good feeling of knowing that you are further supporting Community Supported Agriculture and Angelic Organics
The freedom to use/distribute unclaimed boxes as you desire
A $100 honorarium / discount on your share

How can someone become a Delivery Site Host?

For those shareholders interested in offering their home or place of business as a potential delivery site (and receiving a $100 discount on their share), we recommend that they make a note as such on their sign-up form when they send it in. If an opening arises, or the need for a new delivery site materializes, we will contact you to discuss the facilities of the site and the possibility of incorporating the location into our delivery route. Please do not deduct the $100 host honorarium from your payment. We currently do not often add new sites. If your home is selected as a delivery site, we will mail you this amount.

Questions about Sharing a Box:

How does sharing a box work?

For those shareholders that feel a full share of produce is too much food for them, they are welcome to initiate splitting a box with their friends, family or neighbors. We leave this responsibility almost entirely up to the shareholders and their box mates. How and when they split the produce is their individual decision. However, we require that we are informed who is sharing with whom. We record the complete contact information (mailing address, phone numbers and email address) for all persons involved in splitting a box. This is to ensure that all parties are informed about general farm news, as well as any specific changes or notices that are necessary to communicate to shareholders.

While the actual process of splitting a box is up to the shareholders involved, we do have the following guidelines which solely serve to make the process move smoothly:

First, we strongly encourage shareholders to take their whole box home and then split it with box mates; this is by far the easiest way.
However, for shareholders where this is not a possibility, there is a specific procedure. At the delivery sites, there are Rubbermaid box labeled "For Shared Boxes" which contain grocery bags and markers. On this box is a set of instructions for you to follow on how to split your box right at the site. Please follow these instructions. Be sure to read your pickup instructions too.

Should I let the farm know if I decide to share a box?

Yes, we keep track of those who are sharing a box. If you provide us with the name of your box-mate, we will list them in your confirmation letter. We will mail any farm correspondence to all those sharing a box. Also, if you provide us with the email addresses of everyone sharing, we will keep everyone updated via that avenue as well. Sharing-a-box means that you have to be extra-vigilant that your group only picks up one box each week. Please coordinate this amongst yourselves in advance, especially if you have more than one box-mate.

I don't know of anyone who is able to share a box with me, can the farm help me locate someone to share a box with?

We have a very dear friend and close shareholder who has volunteered to try to match people looking for someone to share a box with. We pass all inquiries onto her. So far there has not been much participation in this service, but we remain optimistic. However we are aware that there are a lot of details to work out and communication to take place in order to successfully share with a stranger. Please contact the farm if you are interested in researching this option, or send an email with "Box-mate Wanted" in the subject line. If you request this service, be aware that your name, email and related information will be shared with prospective box mates. We recommend that you first think over specifically how much of the box you are looking to share and know the exact site or sites that you are considering, in order to prepare yourself for a discussion with a prospective box mate. Include as many details as possible in your email.

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Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview

We like to welcome visitors out to the farm, however, because we farmers are exceedingly busy and must focus on the daily responsibilities and duties of the farm, we have established the following policies for the three main types of farm tours:

The Real Dirt Farm Film Tour
For those who have seen the film The Real Dirt on Farmer John, a special film-related tour is available, starting in 2007.
Real Dirt Farm Tour

General Tours
Open to all: visit the farm within the programs administered by our partner non-profit organization, the Angelic Organics Learning Center.

Enjoy a tour of our vegetables, fields and farm activities
Meet the farm animals: chickens, goats, horses, and more
Attend a wide variety of additional special workshops and events on the farm.

Go to: http://www.csalearningcenter.org/visitthefarm.html for details.

Shareholder Tours and Other Visits
Open to Angelic Organics CSA Shareholders only--those who have signed up to receive a weekly delivery of our vegetables for the season. Shareholders are welcome to visit the farm any time. We want you to get to know your farm well.

Attend one of our Farm Open Houses, exciting events including hay rides, a pot-luck lunch, fall pumpkin picking, vegetable & animal tours and more: What are the Farm Open Houses?
Wander the farm, the vegetables, the fallow fields, the woods: Can I visit the farm unannounced and wander about?
Volunteer! See how the crew does it: Can I volunteer on the farm?
Check the Learning Center for General Tours: http://www.csalearningcenter.org/visitthefarm.html

We hope you make it out to the farm this year!

Farmer John

Questions about Visiting the Farm:

What are my options for visiting the farm, Angelic Organics?

Please review the above section entitled Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview to review the options available for the three main types of visitors and then follow the links for the group to which you belong.

What are the Farm Open Houses?

Farm Open Houses are a big event on the farm and usually take place on a Sunday in July and a Saturday in September. CSA Shareholders only -- those who have signed up to receive a weekly delivery of our vegetables for the season -- are invited to come celebrate the harvest, meet us farmers and other fellow shareholders, and enjoy a day on the farm. There is always good food, music, hayrides, farm updates, and more. We ask that shareholders bring a dish to share as well as pack something to drink and table settings for their party. For more information refer to the weekly newsletter that comes with your box of vegetables. Click here to see a schedule for a typical Open House.

Can I volunteer on the farm?

Yes, we love having volunteers join us in our daily work of growing and harvesting vegetables and herbs. One reason is that the work is quicker and easier with another set of hands. However, probably the strongest reason is that we enjoy meeting our shareholders and having new people with new perspectives jump into our midst for a bit to spice up our lives. We have also found that shareholders love joining us. Being involved in caring for your own vegetables can truly enrich your relationship with the farm and deepen your understanding of what we do and why we embrace this life style. We also invite non-shareholders to join us. For all, it's fine to bring children along on your farm visits, however, depending upon age, volunteering with them is usually not the best visiting activitiy. In our experience, small children tend to lose interest in farm tasks rather quickly, and the attention span for farm work of 10-14 year-olds is variable.

We also encourage you to check out other farm-oriented volunteering opportunties (those that don't involve the growing and harvesting of vegetables) hosted by our partner, non-profit farm-based organization, the CSA Learning Center at Angelic Organics.

What should I expect as a volunteer?

First, thoroughly review the previous question and answer, this question and answer and the following 2 questions and answers. Then, if you are interested call (815 389 2746) or email Volunteer@AngelicOrganics.com at least one week in advance to arrange your volunteer experience.

Mondays through Saturdays from early-June through mid-October are the best days to help out. Volunteering for one day at a time works best, but other lengths can be arranged. The following is most of our crews' normal work schedule (and therefore is when we schedule volunteers):

	From	To	Activity
Monday thru Saturday	Sunrise (~6:00 a.m.)	8:30 a.m.	Fieldwork
	8:30 a.m.	9:00 a.m.	Breakfast
	9:00 a.m.	1-1:30 p.m.	Fieldwork	note: work stops at noon on Saturdays

While some volunteers enjoy spending the pre-dawn hours on the road, most choose to join us at breakfast time.

When arranging your volunteer experience, clearly communicate any physical (such as history of back or wrist problems) or dietary restrictions. We don't expect volunteers to be as physically suited to the work as our crew members, but we need to know what work might not be appropriate for you.
Come prepared to join in with the field crew unless other arrangements have been made.
Arrive on time. Allow at least 2 hours if driving from in Chicago & call if you will be more than 30 minutes later than the planned time.
Understand that it can be difficult to jump into a work in progress. We do our best to bring new people into the fold as smoothly as possible, but it can be a bit difficult at first.
Do not expect a farm tour. You will have a rich, up-close experience with the farm vegetables and workers. You are welcome to take some time to wander at the end of the day and we are happy to answer general questions, if the work allows. To receive a farm tour, please see the Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview.
You can choose to receive a $10 credit applied to next year's share for each full day that you work, up to a maximum of 7 days credit. A full day starts around breakfast and ends around 1-1:30pm.
Likely, you will be encouraged to take home some vegetables that you just helped grow and harvest (up to one grocery bag's worth), but please do not make this your primary reason for coming to the farm. Check with our growing manager at the end of the day to see what's available.
Take care of your body after you leave-- stretch, take a warm bath-- so the effects don't hit you later.
Bring a sense of humor, some good stories, a work song, & be prepared to have some fun.
Don't feel bad if the crew supervisor keeps you and the crew on task and discourages activities (such as animated talking) which slow down the work and potentially negate the contribution that a volunteer makes.

What do I need to bring as a volunteer? How should I prepare myself?

Wear durable clothing that you don't mind getting wet or dirty.
Bring two to three pairs of shoes:

one pair of sturdy work shoes (boots, sneakers, tough sandals) for working; also, if you have rubber boots, bring them for morning dew or washing vegetables (if you don't have any, we do have a few extra pairs in a variety of sizes)
bring one pair of comfortable shoes for changing into after your time in the fields

Wear layers of clothing and plan ahead for potential weather changes.
Have a rain coat (and pants if you have them) for washing vegetables or for the days when we must work in the rain.
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat that will stay on in the wind -- an absolute must.
You could also bring work gloves (if you are prone to blisters).
Bring a water bottle. We try to have a water jug in the fields, but it's good to bring your own.

Is the farm dangerous? Is it a safe place for children?

The farm has many hazards for adults and children. Please observe all safety guidelines and posted signs while at Angelic Organics. If you have any questions, please ask a farm staff person.

Kids bring a lively spirit to the farm and are welcome visitors. In our experience, small children tend to lose interest in farm tasks rather quickly, and the attention span for farm work of 10-14 year-olds is variable.
Kids under 12 years old must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Children may not enter any of the farm buildings (barns, greenhouse, coolers, packing area, corn crib, farmhouse, etc.) unless supervised at all times by an adult. Hazards include equipment, sharp tools, and supplies such as oil, gas and paint.
Be aware that farm staff are using a variety of farm machinery, including tractors and trucks.
Please use your eyes and ears (listen for engine noise) and move off the roadways when vehicles are approaching.
Do not touch or climb on any farm vehicles (tractors, mowers, trucks, wagons, etc.) or stand in between vehicles and attached wagons unless instructed to do so by an authorized farm staff person.
Many farm tools are very sharp. You may handle farm tools (hoes, pruning shears, etc.) only after you have received instruction from an authorized farm staff person.
Please bring proper clothing with you to protect against weather and sunburn.
Listen to your body and resist the temptation to overexert yourself. If you are feeling poorly, please tell the field manager immediately.

Where can I stay when I come to visit the farm?

Although we do have a guest room on the farm, it is usually occupied during the growing season. Volunteers and/or shareholders who own their own tent can check to see if there is an opportunity to pitch it (we'll let you know exactly where) and sleep under the stars. The CSA Learning Center also hosts some special events including camp-outs -- details are at Calendar. Otherwise, when visiting the farm, you can always stay at the nearby hotels or campgrounds:

Ramada Inn, Beloit (815 389 3481)
Pearl Lake Campground, Beloit (815 389 1479)
Knights Inn, Beloit (815 389 2281)
Hononegah Forest Preserve (815 877 6100)
Rock Cut State Park (815 885 3311)

Can I visit the farm unannounced and wander about?

We like to make the farm availble to our CSA Shareholders -- those who have signed up to receive a weekly delivery of our vegetables for the season -- whenever it is convenient for them. However, we farmers are exceedingly busy and must focus on the daily responsibilities and duties of the farm and are not available give tours or to show shareholders the land or buildings. Shareholders are welcome to roam the grounds for themselves when they wish, but our availability may be limited to pointing you in the direction of highlights which you are encouraged to go explore on your own, keeping farm safety considerations in mind (we do have a special orientation sheet and map to help you out--ask someone around the big barn for a copy). We do request that shareholders phone in advance (to 815 389 2746, ideally at least 4 hours before) to let us know that you'll be around--leave a message if no one answers the phone. Non-Shareholders and Real Dirt Film Fans are not allowed to visit the farm unannouced and roam around--they are encouraged to select one of their options as described on Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview.

Of course, there is always the opportunity to get to know the farm through volunteering; it gives shareholders a more intimate understanding of how the farm works and the people that grow their food. For further information, see the question "What should I expect as a volunteer?"

Can I arrange to have a tour of the farm?

See the section titled Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview for the touring options.

I am thinking about becoming a shareholder, can I visit the farm before I sign up?

Yes, but it would be as a non-shareholder or as a Real Dirt Film Fan. Review the visiting options for these two groups at Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview.

How do I get to the farm? Is there a map?

The farm is about two-hours from downtown Chicago
30-45 minutes from Rockford
30-minutes from Belvidere
20-minutes from Rockton or Beloit
15-minutes from Roscoe

Visits and tours for prospective shareholders are generally discouraged unless within the structure as described at Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview. All prospective vistors are encouraged to review this link. A PDF version of the map may be downloaded by clicking here Map, but please follow these visiting guidelines.

Do you sell produce directly of the farm? Can I stop by to purchase some vegetables?

No to both questions. Unfortunately, we do not sell any produce directly off of our farm at any time. Our farm focuses on selling and delivering entire, season long shares of organic produce directly to local families and individuals (who we refer to as shareholders).

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Common Questions of Shareholders:

I haven't heard from the farm since I sent in my check, how will I know that I'm signed up?

We send confirmations out to those who have signed up approximately two months after we receive payment. With the amount of work that needs to be tended to here at the farm, we do our best to respond to sign ups as soon as possible. Realistically, though, we respond to sign ups with a letter or postcard of confirmation approximately two months after receiving payment. Please be patient with the workload that we carry at the farm. Of course, if shareholders ask for an earlier confirmation, or an update on the status of their payment, a week or two after they mail in the sign up, we will happily honor those requests.

Now that I'm a shareholder, are there any other opportunities available to me?

Our partner non-profit the CSA Learning Center at Angelic Organics offers many opportunities -- both at the farm and in the city. Shortly before each season starts, shareholders are informed of when specific events occur. Details on these events and more can be found at Calendar.

I'm interested in the Farm Open Houses, what information do I need to be aware of before I show up?

Go to this question What are the Farm Open Houses?.

How do I go about permanently changing my delivery site?

To permanently change your delivery site, contact the farm at least two weeks before you would like the change to take effect. Please include your name, address, current delivery site and the delivery site that you wish to change to. By allowing us two weeks notice, we then have time to update our records in the office, notify the field manager, and send you a new confirmation that includes the specific pickup instruction and directions to the new site.

Who should I notify if my contact information needs to be updated?

Our preferred method of communication with shareholders is email. Please send all changes in contact information to CSA@AngelicOrganics.com. However, if this is not an option, please send the information through the mail or contact us at the farm by phone (815 389 2746).

I'm moving out of Angelic Organic's delivery range, can the farm help me find another CSA in the area where I'm headed?

If you are looking for a CSA farm outside of our area, we recommend that you check out the following question and answer: I'm interested in your CSA, but I live outside of your delivery range. Can you still help me?

Questions about Working or Interning at Angelic Organics:

Where can I find information about the employment and intern opportunties at Angelic Organics?

We have an extensive overview of some of the positions available at Angelic Organics in the Employment Section of our web page.

I am from outside the United States. Can I come and work or volunteer at Angelic Organics?

While the farm appreciates the unique value of international applicants, we do not hire international candidates for any positions at Angelic Organics. However, we do welcome the opportunity to work alongside international travelers who would like to visit the farm as a volunteer for a period of one to four weeks. Interested international (non-U.S.) volunteers should visit International Opportunties

Are there any short-term (for a couple of days to a couple of weeks) work / volunteer opportunties at Angelic Organics?

Individuals who wish to work / volunteer from 2 days to 3 weeks should review the following link: Short-term Volunteer

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Angelic Organics
1547 Rockton Road
Caledonia, IL 61011-9572
Phone: 815-389-2746
Fax: 815-389-3106

updated on 18-10-09

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions About the Farm:

Questions about Becoming a Shareholder:

Questions about the Vegetables:

Questions about Box Deliveries:

Questions about Sharing a Box:

Visit the farm, Angelic Organics -- Overview

Questions about Visiting the Farm:

Common Questions of Shareholders:

Questions about Working or Interning at Angelic Organics:

Angelic Organics 1547 Rockton Road Caledonia, IL 61011-9572 Phone: 815-389-2746 Fax: 815-389-3106

Angelic Organics
1547 Rockton Road
Caledonia, IL 61011-9572
Phone: 815-389-2746
Fax: 815-389-3106