ABOUT US

Welcome to the Giardini Gardens CSA, a vibrant network of local, sustainable growers tucked away in the foothills of Western North Carolina in rural Polk County. Our homebase is at Giardini Trattoria, a wonderful, rustic Italian restaurant hidden away in a little yellow farmhouse. Our beautiful little farm is part of a larger network of local organic-method growers who supply both our restaurant, a retail market, and this growing CSA network.

Whether you come to have lunch or dinner in the restaurant, giardinigardens, or to enjoy a catered party in the garden pavilion, you’ll always know that you are being served amazingly fresh, cleanly grown local produce. Come on by to just meander through the gardens, pick up some local produce and cut flowers, or to participate in one of our many sustainable gardening educational programs. Whatever it is that brings you to Giardini, we’re sure you’ll be intoxicated by the fresh food and the beautiful surroundings.

ABOUT THE CSA

We are pleased to be able to offer members of our CSA this great way to participate in Community Supported Agriculture which is based on individual choice. Unlike other CSAs where everyone gets exactly the same box of goods each week regardless of their personal taste or needs, with Locally Grown, you get to order exactly what you want, and in the quantities that you want. You receive the top priority of the harvest availability each week. By paying an upfront fee, you help support the local farmers to survive in the months before the produce is harvested, but now that fee goes into a debit account that you are able to draw from in any way you desire throughout the growing season. Each week we’ll send you an e-mail reminder which will send you to our website where all the available goods for the week are listed. You browse the items, order exactly what you would like, and then pick up your individually packaged bag at your convenience any time on pick-up day. The amount you ordered will be automatically deducted from your personal debit account each week. Now, that’s just a beautiful, easy process…isn’t it?

CSA inFARMation

The Seasons – Our season runs almost all year long. We start in early spring (late March or early April) and run all the way through Thanksgiving.

Levels of Participation – There will be (3) levels of participation available for 2011: Level One ($150), Level Two ($250) and Level Three ($350). These fees are to be pre-paid by March 15th in order to establish an account and have the ability to create your own order each week. Even though you have the flexibility of ordering the items and the quantities whenever you want, your debit amount must be used up within the season and is not refundable. If you use up your debit account during the course of the season, you add to your account at any time in order to be able to continue to place orders.

Membership Fee – There will be a basic membership fee of $45 per household which will be added to the initial membership fee payment.

Placing Orders – Every Saturday afternoon, a list of available products will be sent by email to everyone with an account. Customers can place their order online anytime between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning at 10:00 am. Growers receive their orders and harvest on Monday and Tuesday.

Picking Up Orders – Members can pick up their orders at Giardini Gardens (2411 Hwy 108E, Columbus NC) on Wednesdays between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm

Gift Certificates and Sponsorships are available! If you would like to offer the gift of fresh, clean food for a friend, neighbor, loved one, business associate, or family in need, please consider a buying a Gift Account. It’s a really special way to give a very sustainable gift.

Questions? Please feel free to contact Mary Lyth at MDLyth@aol.com