Harvest Host Information
Thank you for your commitment to our local community. Harvest hosts play a vital role in redefining the food system by serving as friendly community leaders, who love local, organic, and healthy produce. You are a pioneer in ensuring that Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is available to your community. At Area 2 Farms, we create an intentional community around farms and delicious, healthy, organic foods. We grow everything down the street, in your neighborhood.
To deepen our roots, you have an opportunity to serve as a hub for your neighbors.
ABOUT AREA 2 FARMS
WHO WE ARE
We are an organic farm in Arlington serving the DC Metro Area. The mission of Area 2 Farms is to bring farms and people back together. You are an indispensable part of that mission. Because this is not your ordinary farm to barrel to truck to depot to train to warehouse to truck to market to table produce. This is different. This is real. This is health, in a word, delivered directly from you, to your community.
WHAT WE DO
Area 2 Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is based on a traditional farm-sharing model. This investment directly supports your farmers. Your farmers commit to growing high-quality organic produce and other goods which are then delivered weekly.
ABOUT OUR FARMERS
We believe you should know the farmer who grows your food. Communities are nourished by connection, and we're committed to deepening those ties with a farm right here in Arlington. We want you to see exactly where your vegetables are from, how we grow them, and what we're planting next. This isn't our farm. It's our community's farm, and we're proud to share it with you.
Come by the farm. We have tours on the 1st Sunday of every month.
ABOUT OUR CSA SHARES
We grow everything organic, always in season. Every week, receive root vegetables, greens, herbs and a specialty item.
You can choose a 4 week, 10 week, or an annual plan.
We are flexible, and harvest on your own terms. Skip or donate weeks when you need.
HARVEST HOST INFORMATION
ABOUT HARVEST HOSTS
Harvest Hosts play a vital role in making healthy, organic food available to their communities by offering their space for weekly pickup locations for CSA members. Pickup sites can be private residences, corporate offices, community centers, and elsewhere.
Harvest Hosts have the flexibility to determine the number of members that they can accommodate at their sites. We suggest you start with five (5) for your hub to be established.
Hosts also choose the pickup windows that work best for them. Some locations such as corporate offices can restrict their sites to employees only.
We encourage Harvest Hosts to engage with their members through Facebook groups, recipe swaps, potlucks and community events! Harvest hosting is what you make of it – and if you’re looking to create a community centered around good food and healthy eating, hosting is a great place to start.
HARVEST HOST GUIDELINES
COMMUNICATION
Communication is the most important responsibility of our Harvest Hosts. You have valuable face-to-face time with your neighbors, and they will often contact you first if they have questions or concerns. Please note that you can always direct members to contact us directly as well.
You do not need to be onsite, but we ask that Harvest Hosts be available during their delivery and pickup windows via phone call, text, or email. Members will be provided with your contact information so that they can reach out to you if they have an issue.
For missed or late deliveries, we ask that Harvest Hosts contact the Harvest Host Coordinator (Jackie | 703-835-0528) as soon as possible so that we can reach out to neighbors promptly.
Harvest Hosts must notify the Harvest Host Coordinator of any important updates such as contact information, site changes, availability, store or office closures, or other known disruptions that would affect delivery or pickup (eg. parades, construction, etc.).
YOUR NEIGHBORS
All your neighbors need to do is put your address down on the delivery instructions and they will receive their harvest at your doorstep on that next Wednesday.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
For site-related issues or questions, please contact your Harvest Host Coordinator, Jackie | hello@area2farms.com | 703-835-0528. For all other questions, please contact the Customer Service team at 202-507-9282.
SITE SET UP
Harvest Hosts must provide a secure, covered location that can accommodate CSA shares. The number of shares will vary and is based on the number of members at each site. A Farm Share delivery includes 1 harvest per member, unless otherwise specified.
CSA shares must be protected from the sun, wind, rain, and other elements in all seasons such as a covered porch, awning, tent, garage, etc.
Harvest hosts are not required to be onsite to receive CSA deliveries, however, please be available in case your neighbors need you.
Please make sure your CSA area is clean and that there is a clear path for the driver to deliver shares.
If pickup hours after dark, please ensure locations and pathways are well-lit.
Signs are always encouraged!
SITE CLEAN UP
Harvest Hosts should collect any “forgotten” harvest bundles. You may choose to donate, keep, or compost. Many of our Harvest Hosts partner with food banks or local families in need to make use of any extra produce. Reach out to your Harvest Host Coordinator, Jackie | hello@area2farms.com | 703-835-0528 if you need any recommendations for donations.
HARVEST HOST BENEFITS
Area 2 Farms “pays” our Harvest Hosts in produce! As a gesture of our appreciation, Harvest Hosts will receive a complimentary farm share all season long once the weekly delivery minimum (5) is met.
FARM SHARE MARKETING TIPS
FIND YOUR FOODIES
We recommend our hosts start with a minimum of five (5) neighbors, friends, or family members.
Who lives close by and shares your interests? Who can stop in once a week to pick up their harvest?
Harvest Hosts are those committed to growing the reach of the farm. Most of our hosts are foodies, love cooking, and/or committed to whole organic produce as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Hosts can involve or create a network of neighbors — because you’re hosting the health hub, you’re in charge of the people you invite!
Your immediate neighbors, friends, and family is a great first step.
Spread the word on your neighborhood listserv or Nextdoor.
Share on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.
In addition to sharing basic information about the farm and your pickup location, pictures are a great way to help your neighbors visualize and be inspired by what we are doing.
Here are some marketing tactics that other Harvest Hosts have had success with:
FLYERS
Each season, we create a new digital flyer and share it with our Harvest Hosts. We are always happy to mail you physical copies– just shoot us an email (hello@area2farms.com) and let us know how many you would like. Here are some suggestions for places to post the flyer:
Community bulletin boards
Religious organizations
Cafes and coffee shops
Gyms and fitness centers
Libraries
Yoga studios
Local schools
Wellness centers
Community bulletin boards
Chiropractors
Senior centers
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a great way to connect your friends, family, and community members to Area 2 Farms. We encourage you to share links to our website, and post on various outlets including Facebook, Instagram, Next Door, Neighborhood Listserv, and elsewhere!
We also suggest creating community Facebook groups to further engage your site members. Hosts can post important notifications, recipes, photos, events, and more. Area 2 Farms has the following social media accounts that you can follow and share:
EVENTS
Is there a health expo, community day, block meeting, or PTA event happening in your community soon? We welcome you to inform us about any events you think could be beneficial for Area 2 Farms team members to attend. We love attending events, handing out free produce, and getting people excited about eating local!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What does “weekly delivery minimum” mean?
While we wish we could deliver CSA to every neighborhood, we need to set a minimum delivery amount for each location. The minimum amount required for delivery is based on the site’s distance from the co-op. The site’s weekly shipment value is then calculated to determine if the minimum delivery amount is met.
Q: What happens if my site does not meet its weekly delivery minimum?
We try our best to support sites through our general promotions, but if your site does not meet the minimum required for delivery, we will need to cancel the site for the season. Any members currently signed-up for your site will be transferred to other locations.
If your site is close to the minimum at the end of the sign-up period, we may be able to keep your site if you are willing to host without a complimentary share. These situations are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Q: I have a member who is repeatedly late or forgets to pick up their shares. What should I do?
We ask all Harvest Hosts to keep us in the loop if you ever deal with “repeat offenders.” We are happy to email folks with instructions and reminders based on the issue. We want you to know, as a Harvest Host, that your time is valuable and should be respected!
Q: What if I’m going to be away during a CSA delivery day?
If you will be away or unavailable by phone or email on a CSA delivery day, we ask that you please notify the Customer Service team at least 2 weeks in advance. We also ask that you provide us with an alternative contact person who will be able to check the site to ensure the delivery and pickup went smoothly.
Q: My CSA delivery driver is late
If you will be away or unavailable by phone or email on a CSA delivery day, we ask that you please notify the Customer Service team at least 2 weeks in advance. We also ask that you provide us with an alternative contact person who will be able to check the site to ensure the delivery and pickup went smoothly.
Please call us on the customer service line at 202-507-9282. We are not always aware of late deliveries so please contact us right away if the driver is late. We will contact our transportation department and notify the site members.