What you can expect in your Summer CSA Share?

If you are new to Tantre Farm CSA’s or you have not signed up recently, you will need to create a new account on our CSAWare manager. Instructions are available to help you: How to create a CSAware account. Instructions to sign up for a split share: Signing up for a split share.  

SUMMER CSA Share Description: 
You will receive your produce each week in a 3/4 bushel box that will have been stored in a cooler as soon as it is packed in the mornings on Packing Days (Tuesdays and Fridays). As the season progresses there may some extra items on the side, because they don’t fit in the box, or they were harvested after the box was put together, or they don’t need refrigeration. You will be measuring or loading these items into bags yourself, so you can choose to take the maximum or less, if your family can’t use so much.

You will receive 8-10 items in your share during the first few weeks depending on what is seasonally available. You’ll continue to receive more items as the season progresses, ranging from 8 to 16 items. Each week our goal is to provide 1 to 4 salad greens (lettuce, arugula, etc.), 1 to 4 cooking greens (collards, Swiss chard, kale, etc.), 1 to 4 root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, etc.), 1 to 4 fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, corn, squash, green beans etc.), 1 or 2 alliums (onions, garlic, etc.), 1 to 3 brassicas (broccoli/cabbage family), and 1 or 2 herbs (basil, parsley, etc.).

Keep in mind, that being part of a CSA means sharing in the risks and bounties of farming. If we suffer crop failure due to weather or insects, then there may be less of some items. If it’s a bumper year, then there may be more.

Also, we don’t intentionally put worms or insects in your produce. Sometimes though these evasive creatures may slip by our volunteer’s or intern’s discerning eye. Please don´t throw the produce away! There are many good parts to an ear of corn, even if you have to break off the tip to remove a corn earworm. You may need to soak something like broccoli in salt water to encourage the caterpillars to float to the top, and remove them. Cut off offensive parts, if needed, and keep in mind this produce has been completely grown with organic practices, since we don’t use chemical pesticides. It is still edible, tasty, and nutritious even if sometimes it is not aesthetically appealing.

How do I Sign Up?  Just follow these 7 Steps

1. Select your Share: Either pay with full payment as “WHOLE SEASON OR SPLIT” or choose the “PAYMENT PLAN” (no split shares) option.

• WHOLE SEASON (Full payment only), so for a Single Buyer with a Full Payment, which works with PayPal (credit card), but also for Checks, Cash, and Venmo. The traditional idea of a CSA is to provide the farmer with the full payment upfront to help us with much needed supplies and repairs at this time of year. Therefore, this year we are really emphasizing that payments are finalized completely BEFORE the season starts the week of May 25. 
• SPLIT (Full payment only, split between share partners), so this is for those of you with share partners. You “split the share payment” with a share partner into a combined Full Payment, especially if you are using a credit card through PayPal. Of course, you still may check out with a Check (or Venmo) payment at the end, but you must pay your half of the full amount, so each of your totals would be $340. Then you each have a separate payment account, but you are still connected to the same Summer CSA share. The reason for this split is because as other Tantre CSA options open at the same time (such as Immune Booster, Fall, or Thanksgiving CSA’s), then you are able to sign up separately for your own preferred CSA programs without necessarily having your Summer share partner connected with the other CSA’s.  PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP WITH SEPARATE REGISTRATIONS!  Your share partner’s account needs to be connected with an email invitation through a link.  See below for explanation.
  How to split a share-CSAware-instructions
  1.  Member #1 selects the “Split” option, and #1 will enter Member #2’s e-mail address, so #2 can be immediately invited through email to claim the split share and make their half of the payment.
  2. You will need Member #2’s e-mail address to use this payment option before #1 begins registration, so that #1 can finish their half of the registration and half of the payment.
  3. Then Member #2 will log in and continue with their registration and payment for their half.  IMPORTANT:  Without Member #2 completing the sign up and payment choice through the email link, the entire share is “pending”. Read below under SHARE PARTNERS about the options in more detail if you are splitting a share.
• PAYMENT PLANS (Installments of 4, 3, or 2 payments):  This year you will once again have the option to pay in smaller amounts with either 4 payment, 3 payment or 2 payment options, but you may pick which payment system works best for your finances right away instead of waiting until the appropriate month. Unfortunately our online platform does NOT work with PayPal/credit card payments, so installments are available ONLY for Check, Cash, or Venmo payers.  This work best for single buyers mostly, but you can sign up with a share partner, as long as your share partner is considered a “piggybacker” (See below under Share Partners for explanation of “piggybacker”.), so you will both be submitting payments through Member #1’s name, but you won’t both have individual accounts. Sometimes Member #1 just pays for the whole share with this arrangement, and Member #2 pays them back.

  *Once you register, you will receive dates of when your installments are due for the next few months, so please mark your calendar or set reminders on your mobile device based on your chosen installment plan, so we don’t have to keep reminding you.
  Beginning February 1, the payment plan will allow you to choose 4 payments for $170 or any of the other payment options below.
  Beginning March 1, the payment plan will only allow you to make 3 payments of $227 at this time, so the 4 payments option is shut off.
  Beginning April 1, the payment plan will allow you to make 2 payments of $340 at this time, so the 4 and 3 payment options are shut off.
  Beginning May 1, all payments must be for the full amount of $680.
  

2. Select your Drop Site: See website for options below or view them when they appear during registration.  There are 13 drop site options. One of the sites that is new is specific for City of AA Employees- Wed AA Farmers Market. As you see it is still at the Kerrytown AA Farmers Market, but I believe if you are a City of AA employee, you will receive some kind of “wellness credit” for signing up this way. You will need to check into that further with your employer or the Ann Arbor Farmers Market Manager. We are just supplying the location as an option.
3. Create your Login: You will use this later to access your Member Dashboard for all kinds of options including scheduling vacations, checking your balance and your order history, etc.
4. Enter your Contact Information: Include your email address, your phone number, and your mailing address.  If you are adding a share partner, they should include an email address AND a phone number.
5. Promotional vs Not Promotional: Also, please be aware that when signing up for a share, or purchasing any product from the storefront, there is the option to “sign up for updates and special offers” via a checkbox. This checkbox determines what type of communications you will receive from the farm. Opting in for promotional messages (checking the box) allows you to receive valuable information about discounts, special events,  newsletters, seasonal announcements, and so on ONLY from Tantre Farm and about Tantre Farm. Opting out (unchecking the box) means you will only receive “auto-reply” order confirmations, delivery updates, pick up reminders, and other information just related to your purchase and/or subscriptions through CSAware.  You can opt in or out at any point, after placing an order. Log in to your member dashboard, navigate to ‘settings’ and click on “change contact info”.  In the middle of this page, is the option to change your preference to “Send me email updates and special offers”, which only is information about Tantre Farm.  If you want to hear about new Tantre CSA programs, Tantre Farm events, or Tantre newsletters, you should make sure to check that box!
6. Select Payment Option:  If you choose Whole Season/Split with full payment then you opt for the By PayPal button or By Check button. (Note: PayPal adds a surcharge.) If you have selected the Payment Plan, you will need to choose By Check ONLY (no PayPal option!), so please start your first payment within the first week of your sign up, and please pay with check, cash, or Venmo.
7. How to Purchase Additional Shares:  Members can only put one share at a time in a cart. To purchase additional subscriptions of the same share you need to log out, come back, and respond OK to the question: “You already have one of these subscriptions; are you sure you want to purchase another one?”  Then you answer “Yes” and add another CSA box to your shopping cart.

Payment Options:

1. Credit card payments with PAYPAL (online transaction with a PayPal fee)–If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can still use your credit card as a guest. Make a credit card payment without a Paypal account. This also helps streamline some very time-consuming data entry for our staff.  If you are ordering a split share, Member #1 can pay with PayPal and Member #2 payment will be automatically created as if to be paid by check. However, once the share is claimed by Member #2, after they have created a login through the Member Dashboard, they will have the option to pay their balance due via PayPal (with the surcharge) OR with Check, Venmo, or Cash. 
NOTE: We have found that signing up through your computer with PayPal seems to have less glitches for some members than using mobile devices.

2. Check payments (no online fee)— If you would like to use the BY CHECK option, you will receive a Confirmation/Invoice email after sign up.  Then you can send a check written out to TANTRE FARM within 7 days.  Please be sure to get your check in the mail as soon as possible, so we do not have to keep sending Payment Requests, which take extra time and effort on a busy farm. If you are writing the check, and your name is not listed on the share sign up (especially if you have a different last name than your spouse), please write your Primary Contact’s name in the memo.

3. CASH payments (no additional fees) –If you are paying with CASH, please bring it to the Ann Arbor Saturday Farmers Market or Tantre Farm in a LABELED ENVELOPE with your email invoice inside. Let us know well in advance, if this is your intention so we can watch for it. Please check out with the By Check option for this, and then instead of sending checks, just arrange for Cash payments as soon as possible.

4. VENMO (no additional fees)– We have the Venmo app, so for those of you with that app, please send payments to @Deb-Lentz. Please make sure that you write SUMMER CSA  and the Primary Contact’s name in the memo area, especially if being paid by someone else. Some folks need the last four digits of the cell number to send for the first time, so that is 6748. Please check out with the By Check option for this, and then instead of sending checks, you make the Venmo payment immediately.

5. INSTALLMENTS (no additional fees) —You may pay the full amount off in smaller amounts throughout the coming months starting with CHECK, CASH, or VENMO, but please plan on having all payments finalized by the start of the Summer CSA by the deadline of May 24. Automated Check Payments sent to us in the mail work very well, so we don’t need to send out Payment Request Reminders for those of you who might be busy or forgetful. Other members send us Postdated Checks for the 1st of every month all at once, so that they don’t have to remember to keep sending checks each month.  Please put reminders in your calendar or on your smartphone, so we don’t have to chase down payments by due dates.

Share Partners:

See FAQ for a few ideas on ways that you can share your box with a partner AND find answers to other questions:

1. Piggy Backer Shares: We still offer the opportunity for you to continue with the more traditional “piggy-backer” members, meaning one CSA member (Member #1) signs up and pays for the whole season, and then finds someone (Member #2) later to share with. Send us the name and email address of the piggy-backer (#2), so we can create a member account for them and attach it to your 2024 Summer CSA. This is the best option if you are looking to share a 2025 Summer CSA but do not have a share partner at the time of sign up. You will work out privately any payment arrangements between yourselves. This piggy-backer is connected with your account though, so they will NOT be able to sign up for other CSA programs without your name attached to it.

2. Split Shares: These share partners will each have their own CSA Member account and Member Dashboard. This allows both members to manage their separate payments and also place future orders for other CSA programs that are not shared or split. You will need to know your share partner’s email address when you are ready to register with this option, since it is difficult to add the split partners after your registration is finalized, or they will have to become a “piggy-backer” partner, which is explained above.

3. Share Partners Needed: Please let us know by emailing us with SHARE PARTNER in the subject line, if you need help with finding a share partner. These folks would be considered “piggy-backers” , unless we connect you as “split share partners” with separate payment accounts BEFORE you start registration. We have very good success in matching share partners so far over the years. Keep in mind you need to work out with your share partner whether you want to split a share on the same day and each of you take smaller portions home, or if you both want to take home a whole share every other week. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are interested in getting help to find a share partner.

Distribution – How It Works:

You will pick up your share once a week for 18 weeks on your chosen pick up day during the hours that are listed below. Basically there are two Distribution Harvests during the week. For the first distribution we harvest produce on Mondays and Tuesdays for the Wednesday Distribution. Then we harvest for the second distribution on Thursdays and Fridays for the Friday/Saturday Distribution. Our Packing Days (when we pack up your share box) are on Tuesdays and Fridays.

What Do I Do, If I Know I Am Going To Be Out Of Town On My Pick-Up Day?
You have 3 options:

1. Someone else picks up: This is the best option, since you don´t even need to let us know, just tell them to check the Primary Contact person´s name off the list.  It would be very helpful though to give them our phone number or e-mail, and strongly encourage them to contact us if they are not picking up at the last minute for some reason.

2. Reschedule for a different Distribution Day: You can login to your CSA member account and reschedule on another regular Distribution Days unless picking up at the Farm, since if you schedule for a Friday, you can always pick up on a Saturday or Sunday when you return from your trip, if you just let us know, since the share will just stay in the cooler.  Please use our online rescheduling tool.  Deadline = Sunday midnight before delivery that week.

3. Vacation Hold or Donate:  You can login to your CSA member account and put your box on “hold”, and then let us know if you want to donate it to a needy family or tell us not to harvest your share that week.  Deadline = Sunday midnight before delivery that week.

At the latest, we really need to know by Sunday at the beginning of each week to get an accurate harvest count for the farm crew on Monday mornings.  Unfortunately, it is not possible to give you extra share boxes on other weeks or to give you a refund for the weeks you miss.

What If I´m Going To Be Late Or Find Suddenly That I Cannot Pick-Up My Share?
The shares need to be picked up by the designated times, especially at the Ann Arbor distribution sites, since we try to leave by noon so we can still use the rest of the daylight hours for farm work.  Also, the produce is not refrigerated at some locations, and it will be in better shape if you retrieve it promptly. If at the last minute you can´t pick up (or you forget), please call us that day, so that we know what happened. You may try to reschedule for pick up at the Farm later that day or the next day, since we can put your shares into a cooler. Please DO NOT expect to pick up your box after the second day, since the share will have been taken apart by then or donated to a needy family.

When and where you can pick up your Summer CSA share:

At each of the Distribution Sites, there will be a Tantré Farm worker or a volunteer to remind you of Pick-Up procedures and a clipboard with a Pickup List to be checked off.  You may unpack your box into your own carry containers or you may return the box the following week.  Please ask for help if you need help loading your vehicle. Here is a general overview of each site:

Ann Arbor Farmers´ Market (LOCATION–315 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor

We will try to be in the same location every week at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market (www.a2farmersmarket.org) on the 4th Ave. curb, but are not always able. There is a map on the outside wall of the market office, where our stall is listed. Please always look for the Tantré Farm sign as you walk around the market. Ask Tantre market staff for help and they will check your name off and give you instructions.  Please ask for help if any questions. It can get very crowded at the market, so for those of you who split shares, it might work better if you split your share at one of your houses, instead of at the stall where a lot of people are coming and going.

Advantages for pick up at Ann Arbor Farmers Market: You can buy extra items from our stall and other vendors’ stalls and enjoy exploring the variety of Kerrytown stores and restaurants in downtown Ann Arbor.
DISTRIBUTION at Ann Arbor Farmers Market: Wednesdays and Saturdays 7 AM until Noon (Staff or Volunteer will check members off.)

Chelsea Farmers’ Market (LOCATION: 304 South Main St. at Palmer Commons next to the old Palmer Auto lot on the west side of M-52)

At the Chelsea Farmers Market (www.chelseafarmersmkt.org) just look for the Tantré Farm sign. Introduce yourself to us at the market stall, and you will be helped. Please remember to check off your name on the Pick up List, and let us know if you have any questions.

Advantages for pick up at Chelsea Farmers Market: You can buy extra items from our stall and other vendors’ stalls along with enjoying local live musicians, food demos, vendor basket giveaways, and other market events.
DISTRIBUTION at Chelsea: Sat. 8 AM until Noon. (Staff will check members off.)

Tantré Farm (LOCATION–2510 Hayes Rd., Chelsea)

Please park on the North side of Hayes Road or in the driveway for those who have a physical disability. Go behind Main House to the “Distribution Shed” in the backyard. Tantre staff will check off your contact person’s name on the Pick Up List, then follow the instructions on the white boards inside the shed, and get your share box from the walk-in cooler to the left of the shed. Please ask for help if you need help loading your vehicle.

Advantages for pick up at the farm: Walking paths around the fields, visiting the animals, playing, exploring, and picnicking, free u-pick flower bouquets, u-pick opportunities for other produce, extra produce in Grab Box, free-range eggs, and sometimes honey or other extra items for sale.
DISTRIBUTION for Farm: Wed. 10 AM-7 PM and Fri. 2 PM-7 PM (Tantre staff will check members off and some self serve checking)

Washtenaw Food Hub (LOCATION–4175 Whitmore Lake Rd., Ann Arbor)

This location is about 8 minutes directly north of downtown Ann Arbor. There are many buildings at this site, so look for the one that has the “sun window” on the building. When you arrive at the distribution location, please park your car in any of the parking spaces in front of the porch under the sun window or across the parking lot from the porch, so you can shop at our farm market highlighting local produce and other locally made food products. Wednesday distributions are usually on the front porch with shares in a reach-in cooler and extra items on a table outside of the cooler.  Saturday distribution will be INSIDE the Sunflower Farm Market, so please come inside to get directions for your share. A staff member will check off your name on the clipboard and give you instructions. There will usually be someone there to help you, but please let us know if you have any questions.  On Saturdays please let us know that you are here for which CSA program, since we have two types of CSA’s being picked up at the same time. You may unpack your box into your own carry containers or you may return the box the following week.

Advantages for pick up at the Hub: curbside pick up, plenty of free parking, and food artisan/farm market items for sale at the Sunflower Farm Market, which will be open during every pick up distribution.
DISTRIBUTION for Hub: Wed. 4-7 PM (Self-check in or volunteer will check members off) and Sat. 9 AM – 12 PM (Tantre staff will check members off).

MOVE Fitness and Wellness Studio (LOCATION–3780 Jackson Road, Suite K, Ann Arbor)

MOVE (https://www.movewellness.com/) is your local, trusted studio for Pilates, offering private one-on-one sessions, equipment-based and mat group classes, a Pilates teacher training program, and a menopause-specific fitness program. Whether you’re new to Pilates or looking to deepen your practice, the MOVE Team is here to support you every step of the way. Tantre shares will be available outside near the north entrance of the building, with a volunteer on hand to assist. MOVE staff can answer limited questions. Please pick up your share promptly, as there’s no refrigeration. Any shares left after noon will be donated or returned to the farm unless prior arrangements have been made.

Advantages for pick up at MOVE: Tantre members can get $5 off your first introductory private session or your first group class. An introductory private session is the perfect way to work with a trainer to create a fitness plan tailored to your unique goals. Swing inside the studio for a quick tour, meet the front desk team, and ask any questions you may have.
DISTRIBUTION at MOVE Wellness: Wed. 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM (Volunteer will check members off.)

Pure Pastures (LOCATION-1102 Ann Arbor ROAD, Plymouth)

Pure Pastures (www.purepasturesmi.com) is a specialty grocery store in Plymouth that offers grass-fed meat like beef, chicken, pork, soy-free eggs, dairy products, A2 grass fed Michigan milk, fresh local greens, sprouts, mushrooms, and organic, gluten-free, non GMO products. You will find your share on the covered patio in the front or ask staff if they have moved it inside due to weather.  Pure Pastures staff can answer limited questions. Shares will not be refrigerated, so please pick up shares promptly (especially on hot days!) to enjoy your produce at its freshest. Pure Pastures is not responsible for shares left unclaimed, unless prior arrangements have been made.  Contact Deb at 734-385-6748 if any questions.

Advantages for pick up at Pure Pastures: There are opportunities for extra purchases from “a healthy alternative to the big chain supermarkets”.
DISTRIBUTION at Pure Pastures: Wed. 9 AM until 11 AM (Volunteer will check members off and answer questions.)

Argus Farm Stop-Packard (LOCATION-1226 Packard, Ann Arbor)

Argus Farm Stop (www.argusfarmstop.com) is a year-round, every day farmers market featuring over 100 local producers in all categories including produce, meat, eggs, dairy, dry goods, and more. Every purchase you make supports local farms and producers! They also have a cafe for delicious coffee and baked goods just down the street. Shares will be held inside the building. Simply ask a friendly Argus staff member at the front counter, and they will retrieve your box and check your name off on the pick up list. Argus staff can answer limited questions. Please pick up shares promptly to enjoy your produce at its freshest! Argus is not responsible for shares left unclaimed, so shares left there after 3 PM will be donated or brought back to the farm, unless prior arrangements have been made

Advantages for pick up at ARGUS: You have opportunities to additionally purchase a wide array of local products to complete your local shopping experience. If you want to add some additional fruits, veggies, meats, coffee, bread, milk or cookies to your Tantre order, then just order from Argus before Friday at noon, and they will pack your order and have it ready for you to pick up at the same time as your CSA box on Saturday. How cool is that!? Simply go to: ARGUS WEBSITE to view their online store and order from other local producers! Any questions, please feel free to call them at 734-997-5448. 
DISTRIBUTION at Argus -1226 Packard:  Sat. 9 AM until 3 PM (Argus Staff will check members off)

RoosRoast Coffee-Rosewood (LOCATION-1155 Rosewood St, Ann Arbor)

RoosRoast Coffee (https://www.roosroast.com) is a year-round, funky coffee shop in Ann Arbor creating an atmosphere among employees and customers centered on quality coffee.  It comes in from all over the world, and John Roos roasts it in a back shop where he’s also putting together orders, making silkscreen art for coffee bags and embracing a “let’s give it a try” philosophy. Shares will be outside the building on the front Rosewood Lawn by the mail box. Pull up to the curb and please stay in your car until a volunteer checks you off.  You may unpack your box into your own carry containers or you may return the box the following week.  Please ask for help if you need help loading your vehicle.   RoosRoast is not responsible for shares left unclaimed, so please contact Deb at 734-385-6748, if alternate last minute pick up arrangements need to be made. 

Advantages for pick up at ROOSROAST: You have opportunities to additionally purchase a wide array of coffee and tea products to complete your local shopping experience. As well, there are great people and good vibes there!
DISTRIBUTION at RoosRoast :  Sat. 9 AM until 11 AM (Volunteer will check members off)

Honey Bee U-Pick (LOCATION–5700 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor)

Honey Bee U-pick is a seasonal, u-pick farm on the southwest side of Ann Arbor. We offered strawberry, raspberry, and cut flower u-pick. This ancestral farm is part of a land preservation plan, so home to a variety of local wildlife and plants making it a destination for families and individuals alike. Just go to the timber frame barn and our staff will get you your share. If you can’t make it to the site at the last minute for some reason, please text or call Deb at 734-385-6748, so we don’t have to track you down.

Advantages for pick up at Honey Bee U-Pick:  U-pick opportunities available from June until October, especially good for members when u-pick produce are included in your share, plenty of free parking, farm stand with local produce, local eggs, and honey sometimes for purchase.
DISTRIBUTION at Honey Bee: Saturday 8 AM – 12 PM (Tantre staff will check members off)