PLEASE NOTE:  AS OF MAY 22, VICTORY ACRES CSA NO LONGER HAS MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, AND WE WILL ADD YOU TO OUR WAITING LIST.  IF AN OPENING OCCURS, WE WILL CONTACT YOU AND PRO-RATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP FEE BASED ON THE DATE THAT YOU BEGIN PICK-UP.

If you are interested in nutritious, organically-grown produce that is picked fresh for you each week, then you have come to the right farm!  Victory Acres has been home to a CSA program since 2006, but the farm itself has been part of the Himelick family for six generations.  Terry Himelick, the farm’s Master Farmer, began his tenure at the farm in 1977, when he and his wife Mindy moved to the property as newlyweds.  Today, he is joined by a team of farmers who include the following:

• Leslie Gottschalk, CSA Manager & Ag Coach for the Growing Growers Program

• Heather Easley, CSA Assistant Manager

• Scott Jessup, CSA Assistant Manager

• Jane Cramer, Community Liaison

The Victory Acres CSA mission is to provide fresh, nutritious, organically-grown fruits and vegetables for its members.  It promotes agricultural education, wholesome activity, craftsmanship, respect for labor, and community.  The CSA strives to live redemptively in the ways it practices business, interacts with the community, and nurtures the land.

Check out the following details about choosing a CSA and how purchasing a farm share works, and then choose to make an investment that is good for you, good for the environment, and good for your community.

WHY CHOOSE VICTORY ACRES CSA?

Eat fresh and healthy food:  Remember--fresh produce is the tastiest and most nutritious produce.  We harvest our vegetables just hours before we distribute them to our CSA members.  And, you will have the opportunity to enjoy over 35 varieties of fruits and vegetables--many of which you will not find in local supermarkets.

Keep your money local:  Support the local economy by keeping your food dollars close to home and by employing local workers.  You invest in people instead of corporations.

Make a thrifty choice:  Receive fresh, nutritious, organically-grown fruits and vegetables for $1.50 to $2 per pound.  In addition, you will have access to the farm’s herb and flower gardens and seasonal pick-your-own opportunities that add value to your share.

Support good work:  Enable Victory Acres to educate interns, support small farmers, provide nutritious produce to needy families through the farm’s donations and Share-a-Share Program, and invest in the urban poor through our partnership with Victory Inner-City Ministries.

Contribute to sustainability:  Keep small farms financially viable, reduce fossil fuel use, and preserve Central Indiana’s farming heritage.

Choose community:  Visit the farm for picnics and hikes; learn new skills through our educational workshops; join in the fun of our Think Outside the Barn and Pie in July events; make new friends; and even share stories and recipes with familiar faces.

HOW DOES A CSA WORK?

What is community-supported agriculture?  Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a mutually beneficial relationship between a farmer and her community.  CSA members purchase farm shares.  These shares ensure that the farmer will have a stable income and also allow her to develop an appropriate crop plan.  In return, the farmer provides the CSA members with fresh, nutritious produce each week throughout the growing season--usually the end of May through October.  Together, the farmer and CSA members share the risk and the reward of the harvest.  When the crops are bountiful, members receive extra produce.  When uncontrollable circumstances, such as drought or plant disease, deplete the harvest, then everyone shares the loss.  Fortunately, with over 35 varieties of organically-grown fruits and vegetables, the harvest is usually plentiful.

What does a share include?  Members receive 20-22 weeks of fresh, seasonal produce, including lettuce, spinach, turnips, radishes, scallions, onions, cabbage, broccoli, peas, swiss chard, kale, collards, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, okra, green beans, carrots, cucumbers, summer and winter squash, eggplant, pumpkins, beets, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, celery, garlic, and raspberries.  In addition, the farm provides seasonal pick-your-own opportunities with our most abundant crops, such as green beans and tomatoes. Members also have access to the farm’s herb and flower gardens, special events, workshops, and regular farm updates and recipes through email, Facebook, and Twitter.

Who is in charge?  Leslie Gottschalk is the farm’s CSA manager.  She brings with her multiple years of hands-on CSA experience and an extensive knowledge of the field, including a B.S. in biology/education and a pending master's degree in environmental science.

What types of memberships are available?  Victory Acres CSA offers two types of memberships--a whole membership and a half membership.  A whole membership will feed four to five adults, and a half membership will feed two adults.  Membership prices vary depending on the pickup site.

Where do I pick up my produce?  Victory Acres CSA offers three pickup sites.  Our primary site is our farm in Upland.  However, we also offer locations in Muncie and Marion.  Please indicate your location preference on the membership form.  Distribution times and addresses vary each growing season and will be provided to members no later than April 1.

When will pick up begin?  Pick up will begin the last week in May.  The dates are May 28 for Marion, May 29 for Muncie, and May 31 & June 1 for the farm/Upland.  

What is the Share-a-Share Program?  You can help provide fresh, nutritious produce to families in need with your tax-deductible contribution to the farm’s Share-a-Share Program.  Simply fill out a membership form and indicate the amount that you would like to donate to a farm membership.  These sponsored farm memberships will then be distributed to local families and area food pantries.

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

Simply select Membership Application from the column on the left of the screen.  Fill out the application and either mail it (P.O. Box 381, Upland, IN, 46989) or stop by the farm between the hours of 8a and 6p, Monday through Saturday, to drop it off.  If you call ahead, we can even arrange a tour for you!