Welcome to Week 1 of Heron Pond Farm's Winter 2026/27 CSA season

 Whether this is your first season at the farm or you are a long time member, we are so happy that you're joining us for this upcoming CSA season! Thank you for supporting your local farm during the off-season. You can expect a weekly newsletter like this from us with the upcoming week's list of available items, recipes, resources and news from our local food system.

First Week at the Farm Store

Open Daily 9am-6pm

Monday November 2nd - Sunday November 8th Pick-up weeks at the store start on Mondays and end on Sundays. This year we are going to be open daily 9am-6pm through December and won't switch to winter hours until January. We will once again have decorative floral arrangements for the holidays - get excited!

First Week at Off Site Pick Ups

Tuesday November 3rd (voting day) in Dover: 2pm-6pm @ 7 Briarwood Lane

**NEW PORTSMOUTH LOCATION**

Wednesday November 4th in Portsmouth: 2pm-6pm

Portsmouth Community Campus | 100 Campus Drive using West Rd.

Please use the big parking lot in front of the building, avoiding the fire lane! Note the one way in, one way out traffic pattern. We will be in one of the lobbies, it might change occasionally based on what's going on at the community center. As always please be respectful of our new site and hosts. Please don't park in the handicap spots unless you're supposed to. Be aware of children in the lot and parents picking up as this is a bustling municipal area. If you have any questions just ask!

I will keep the weekly monologue short and sweet as this email is packed full of useful information about the upcoming Winter CSA season! Reach out with any questions or ask us at your first pick up. Please be patient with us as we launch a new season and get details sorted out.

Winter CSA & Store Schedule

Pick ups begin the week of November 2nd and will run 20 weeks through Sunday March 21st.

Current Farm Store Hours: Open Daily 9am-6pm through December

Winter Hours at the store will start in January!

Dover: Tuesdays 2pm-6pm @ 7 Briarwood Lane in garage

Portsmouth: Wednesdays 2pm-6pm @ Portsmouth Community Campus at 100 Campus Drive off West Rd. (new location this season)

Holiday Hours:

• CLOSED Nov. 26th - 29th for Thanksgiving break(short week)
• REOPEN November 30th: open daily 9am-6pm for December
• CLOSED December 24th - December 26th for Christmas break
• OPEN Sunday December 27th with regular hours
• SWITCH to Winter Hours starting Wednesday January 6th

Since the holidays fall on Thursday and Friday we do not have to skip any weeks of offsite or at the store. Each week will be a bit shorter due to the holiday closures, so plan ahead!

If we need to close the store or cancel a pick up due to inclement weather like snow, ice, or excessive wind chill we will send an email blast the morning of to inform you. Of course you'll be able to make it up at another time.

Week 1 Estimated List of Availability

Everyone will make choices from both sides of the list, see below for the size variations. The amount of choices you can make will change a few times throughout the season, so pay attention to the numbers!

This list is our best estimate at what is going to be available the week ahead, but you should anticipate some occasional changes to the weekly list and try to keep an open mind. We are a small farm working with Mother Nature - stuff happens, weather does what it wants, and you will have to make some delicious game-time decisions. Please remember we are in this together, sharing the risks and rewards that we shall reap! You are welcome to take a veggie of equal value when there are changes in the list. We are quite flexible, so please just ask any questions if you have them.

**Asterisks indicate limited and as available items. This means if an asterisked item is available that day, you may only take one allotment**

A slash / is just to save space on similar items and can be two separate choices.

We can expect numbers to bump up soon! For now the allotments are as follows:

Little Blue: 2A + 3B

Great Blue: 3A + 5B

Heron Plus: 5A + 8B

Double Heron: 6A + 10B

A

Great Blue: 3A

Little Blue: 2A

2 lbs. potatoes

2 lbs. sweet potatoes / 1 bag

2 lbs. red / yellow onions

1 lb. shallots

2 lbs. carrots

2 lbs. turnips

2 lbs. radish

2 lbs. rutabaga

2 lbs. beets

2 lb. leeks

1 lb. Brussels sprouts

6 apples

2 bunch kale

B

Great Blue: 5B

Little Blue: 3B

1 lb. potatoes

1 lb. sweet potatoes

1 lb. red / yellow onions

1/2 lb. shallots

1 lb. carrots

1lb. turnips

1 lb. radish

1 lb. rutabaga

1 lb. beets

1 lb. leeks

1/2 lb. Brussels sprouts

3 apples

1 bunch kale

1 winter squash / sugar pumpkin

1 cabbage

1 lb. broccoli / cauliflower

What happens if I miss a share?

You are welcome and encouraged to make it up within the week or two after, have a neighbor / friend pick up in your place, or opt to donate it. You can double up the week after missing a share or you can double up ahead of time if you know you will be away. You can do this at an off-site location or head to the farm store. Offsite folks please make sure to give us a heads up before so we can appropriately prepare! You may not take more than a double share at one time - please plan ahead.

If you gift your share to a friend or neighbor, have them give your name at check in and let us know they are picking up in your place, so we can assist them if need be. Want to donate your share to a local organization? Let us know and we're happy to make those arrangements. 

Do you have a Meat/Seafood Share or Debit CSA?

Meat and Debit CSA cards will be distributed or reloaded during the first few weeks of pick ups. If you need a new card or haven't heard from me by the end of Week 1, please reach out. You receive 10% off when you use these cards at the store, market or offsite. Ordering will be available starting Week 2!

Do you have other add-on shares?

Mushrooms, eggs and dairy products can be found in the refrigerated display shelves at the farm store. At offsite CSA pick ups, dairy and eggs will be in coolers and mushrooms will be out on the check in table or with the veggies. Bi-weekly egg and mushroom shares happen during the even weeks offsite and odd weeks at the store!

As a CSA member you get 10% off at the farm store and farmers markets!

You can shop with us at the Seacoast Eat Local farmers markets in Rollinsford at the Wentworth Greenhouses from 10am-2pm this winter (see schedule here) and at the Somerville Winter Market in Massachusetts every Saturday from 9:30am-1:30pm throughout the winter.

Know someone who might be interested in joining? Send them our way!

I have a question, comment, or concern! Who should I reach out to?

Mikayla Humiston, CSA manager

Email mikayla@heronpondfarm.com

Call or text 603.944.9405

I am available and responsive Tuesday - Friday.

We are looking forward to a great season ahead! Thanks again for joining us. See you soon!

From Mikayla, Andre, Greg, and the Heron Pond Farm Crew