New Vegetable Subscription Program Offered Maharishi University of Management Organic FarmsSM and Maharishi Vedic City Organic Farms are joining forces to offer a new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for the community and for selected cities in the Midwest. Limited subscriptions are now available for Spring, Summer, and Autumn 2006.
The name of this new venture is Maharishi World Peace Vedic Organic Products CSA. Maharishi University of Management Organic Farms and Maharishi Vedic City Organic Farms are unique in the field of agriculture in Iowa. Both farms are USDA Certified Organic. Together they farm more than 104,000 square feet of greenhouses and more than 20 acres of field production of vegetables and fruit. These are not the commonly known hothouse operations that use hydroponics or chemicals. All produce is grown in soil that is nourished by compost, organic fertilizers, cover crops, and mined minerals. Only vegetarian materials are used in production -- no bone or blood meal, feathers or fish. Sound has been researched to have an influence on plants. Harsh music has a deleterious effect and classical music a better effect. But all these farm locations have the soothing and nourishing influence of Maharishi Gandharva VedaSM music, the ancient melodies of Nature, played 24 hours a day. These harmonious sounds enliven the natural intelligence of the plants. The fruit and vegetables are not only fresh -- they have the enlivening influence of Nature's intelligence to help their delicate and sequential unfoldment and they have the caring attention of farmers enlivening their own inner awareness through the technologies of Maharishi Consciousness- BasedSM Education, unique to Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture projects http://www.mvoai.org/intro.html Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects are very popular around the country and provide mutual benefit to the consumer and the farmer. A local CSA provides an opportunity for the consumer to have the freshest produce available. Produce bought at stores is generally 10-14 days old by the date you purchase it because the produce is picked, processed, and then shipped long distances. In a CSA, the consumer is providing the farmer a guaranteed purchase so that he can buy the seeds and grow the crops knowing that there is a market for his perishable produce. Both the growers and consumers mutually support one another and share the risks and benefits of food production. Members or shareholders of the farm or garden pay their membership fees in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land. Members also share in the risk that farming involves, including the possibility of restricted harvest of some crops due to unfavorable weather or pests. Those subscribing will receive a weekly box of certified organic vegetables picked fresh from the farms and greenhouses. Approximately 50 types of vegetables and herbs will be grown and provided over the course of the year. Each weekly box will include 12-16 vegetables of the season to feed a family of four. Half subscriptions are also available for singles or couples. Full subscriptions will cost $30 per week; half subscriptions will cost $18 per week. More information is listed below for the Spring, Summer, and Autumn options. For those anticipating being gone for part of the summer a special flexible option allows you to pick and choose the weeks you receive produce -- with the minimum being 15 weeks. This flex summer option is $32/week. Vegetable boxes may also be shipped to locations in the Midwest outside of Jefferson County via FedEx Ground. Boxes will be packed on Wednesday of each week and delivered to your door via FedEx Ground on Thursday. Below are the membership options we offer: Maharishi World Peace Vedic Organic Products CSA 2006 Dates and Prices · Spring Shares (5 weeks -- $150) May 18 - June 15 · Summer Shares (20 weeks -- $600) June 22 - November 2 · Autumn Shares (7 weeks -- $210) November 9 - December 21 · Annual Share (Spring, Summer, Autumn $900) May 18 - December 21 · Half Spring Share (5 weeks -- $90) May 18 - June 15 · Half Summer Share (20 weeks -- $360) June 22 - November 2 · Half Autumn Share (7 weeks -- $126) November 9 - December 21 · Half Annual Share (Spring, Summer, Autumn -- $540) May 18 - December 21 · 15-20 week Flex Summer Share ($32/week) June 22 - November 2 (15- week minimum) · Asian option -- prices are the same as above but with an emphasis on including Asian vegetables, including as available: Okra, Bok Choy, Bitter Melon, Chinese Cabbage, and a variety of Asia Greens. · For all above shares there is an additional option for the onion family crop that can be specified. Those outside of Fairfield, Iowa wishing to participate may join any of the above options. There will be an additional modest charge for FedEx Ground shipping and handling. All boxes would contain Styrofoam liners and coolant packs to maintain freshness for 24 hours. FedEx Ground Overnight shipping from Fairfield, Iowa covers a good portion of the upper Midwest region. This service covers: Iowa ¬-All but a small northeast corner. Illinois-The upper 2/3 of Illinois, including the greater Chicago area. Indiana-Gary and the immediate surrounding area. Wisconsin-The southern portion of the state, including Milwaukee and Madison (not Green Bay). Some sections of: Kansas Minnesota Missouri Nebraska South Dakota If you live outside these regions, shipments should probably go FedEx Express Overnight. If you would like us to check service to your zip code, please send it and your question to us. We are investigating the possibility of also shipping 2nd Day FedEx Ground but we need to run some tests to see if the quality of the produce is maintained in shipping. If it is good we may be able to offer a 2nd day delivery option, both by FedEx Ground and FedEx Express. Thank you for your interest! To subscribe or ask questions, please email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call Kathy Brooks at (641) 472-1203. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! 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