Farm Share Policies & FAQs
Oxbow Farm Share
Farm Shares are similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and represent an investment in a farm, farmer, community, and mission. Connection and relationships are central tenents to our Farm Share program. Both in relation to how we think about and steward our land and resources, and to how we cultivate relationships with our community and shareholders. Farm Shares create a direct relationship with your farmer and land and provide an opportunity to participate in your food system in a more intimate way, realizing the ebbs and flows of the season and joining us for the journey and the story therein. Shareholders invest in a portion of the season’s harvest at the beginning of the year; their investment helps provide the support for us to continue to grow Oxbow programs and mission, and supports our work in responsible soil and land stewardship. In return, shareholders receive a healthy bounty of produce throughout the season, exclusive updates from the farm, and involvement in the Oxbow community.
There are many forms of Farm Share programs: some are exclusively delivery-based, where members pick up or receive a box from a distribution site; others invite shareholders to the farm to pick up their vegetables in-person, directly from the farmers. Regardless of structure, the core tenets remain consistent: shareholders receive delicious local food, cultivate a closer relationship with their farmer, develop familiarity with how their food is grown, and become connected to the seasonality of their region.
Oxbow is not only a farm; it’s a nonprofit organization that recognizes each integral part needed to build a thriving and sustainable ecosystem. Oxbow grows food and native plants, restores and maintains the land, and educates people about nature and farming so that the cycle can continue, generation after generation. Learn more about Oxbow’s work and mission.
Oxbow is committed to connecting our Shareholders to the land and to the people who care for it. Our goal is to grow a strong community around our Farm Share program, and by sharing our farm with you, cultivate passionate land stewards and advocates for local agriculture.
Oxbow’s Farm Share program and Member Program are two of the many ways that you can support Oxbow’s work and mission. What’s the difference between the two programs?
Farm Shareholders
Shareholders make an up-front investment that specifically supports our agricultural program here at Oxbow. In return, shareholders receive a weekly “share” of produce through one (or all!) of our three seasonal program options—6 weeks in the spring, 20 weeks in the summer, and 6 weeks in the late fall. Additionally Main Season Shareholders will have access to free u-pick flowers all season long, with occasional free events or exclusive u-pick availability.
Oxbow Members
Members support all areas of Oxbow’s work. Membership is valid for 365 days, during which members have access to a host of benefits, including event invitations, special Member Days, program discounts, and more. If you’re not able to come out to Oxbow frequently, or don’t need your fridge stocked with a weekly haul of veggies, then becoming a member is a great way to show your support for our work and mission!
Oxbow Members get 10% discount on the seasonal Farm Share program price (note this just about pays for the first tier of membership!). Members also receive a 10% discount on Oxbow branded items (e.g., hats) at the Farm Stand.
All our Farm Share programs will have the same bring your own bag/box style this year. Like many “traditional” CSA programs, Shareholders receive a pre-determined selection of fresh produce each week. They are invited to bring their own box or bags and pick up their produce on-farm at our beautifully curated farmers market style Farm Share booth. The main difference between Spring, Fall and Main are the length of the programs. Spring and Fall are a short six-week investment, while Main Season spans 5 months. Vegetable offerings vary seasonally, with some access to partner products at different times throughout the year. There are fewer spots available for our Spring and Fall programs, due to lower levels of production in the darker, cooler months.
Pricing is the other notable difference among options. The Main season 20-week program is valued at $700 and the Spring and Fall 6-week programs are both valued at $240.
Spring & Late Fall
Each Tuesday you’ll receive an email as soon as our farmers have finished their harvest out in the field. Each newsletter will include a list of what vegetables (and partner products) to expect at pick up the following day. You may also find: recipe ideas, tips on storage and preservation, weather advisories and other important updates. Our farmers will have all your delicious fresh produce washed and ready for you at the FarmShare pick up table from 2-6PM.
Main Season
During the Main Season, Shareholders will receive their veggie forecast in a Tuesday email with what to expect in the coming week’s markets. Newsletters will also include U-pick availability for the week and highlight flower varieties and availability. Shareholders will choose at the beginning of the season which of our three pick-up days/locations they prefer. We will have on farm pick up both Wednesday from 2-6pm and Saturday from 12-4pm. There will also be the option to pick-up a pre-packed box from the Mercer Island Farmer’s Market on Sunday. For all on-farm pick-ups a swap box will be available to give shareholders the option to swap one veggie for another. The Farm Stand will also be open and available for any additional purchases shareholders wish to make. See the Farm Stand Page for a list of projected availability.
Shareholders have access to all the same U-Pick opportunities as the general public. Any crops harvested will need to be paid for at the Farm Stand (outside of the upfront Farm Share costs). However, U-Pick flowers are offered for FREE all season long to Main Season Shareholders. There may also be other shareholder specific U-Pick opportunities which will be communicated through the weekly newsletters. Expected crops this year are as follows:
Veggies: Sugar snap peas, green beans, cherry tomatoes
Fruit and berries: Raspberries, apples, pears, plums, and grapes
Herbs: Cilantro, basil, dill, parsley
Flowers: Sunflowers, zinnia, marigolds, dahlias and more!
Pricing will be indicated at the Farm Stand.
Please visit our U-Pick Page for important guidelines.
Picking Up Your Share
Spring & Late Fall
Oxbow Farm Stand
Wednesdays 3pm-7pm
Main Season
Oxbow Farm Stand
Wednesdays 2-6pm
Saturdays 10am-4pm
*On-farm U-Pick available, starting end of June/early July.
Frank Wagner Elementary School
Fridays 2:15pm – 3:15pm
St. Mark’s Cathedral (in the carriage house)
Saturday 10am – 2pm
*To avoid wilting vegetables we suggest picking up earlier in the morning (especially on hot summer days)
Mercer Island Farmers Market
Sundays 10am-3pm through 10/8/23
Yes! Absolutely. If you would like to give us advance notice that someone will be picking up in your stead, you can shoot us an email at farmers@oxbow.org. However, our Farm Team does not require advance notice on this point. If you need to send a friend or family member for any reason (be it illness, vacation, or busy life plans) feel free! We encourage sharing produce with community and will not be requiring ID’s or badges in order to access your veggies. We operate on the honor system within our farm family; and trust each person to organize pick-up in whatever way works best for them.
The health and safety of our Shareholders and our staff is Oxbow’s top priority. We follow all current CDC guidelines around health and safety protocols and adhere to food safety standards as defined in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Please do not pick up your Share if you are feeling sick; we are happy to defer box pickup or are happy to send the box with a friend or family member in your stead. Let us know if you have any questions by emailing farmers@oxbow.org or click here to learn more about Oxbow’s health and safety practices on the farm.
If you know you will be unable to pick up your Share on a certain date, please contact us at
farmers@oxbow.org as soon as possible to arrange for alternate pickup. We will do our best to accommodate with an appropriate amount of notice. However, we are only able to accommodate a share displacement two times over the course of a season. Remember you can always send a friend or family member to pick up for you! If you know you will be out of town for more than two weeks, don’t let your produce go to waste – share the wealth with friends and family.
If you forget to pick up your box, it will be donated to Oxbow’s partnering hunger relief organizations. We are committed to reducing food waste and ensuring that community members beyond our farm shareholders have access to organic food.
We are unable to offer refunds or credits for missed pickups.
We are a King County farm located in beautiful Carnation, WA, just 25 miles east of Seattle. Oxbow’s address is 10819 Carnation-Duvall Rd NE.
- Drive slowly (10 MPH) on all farm roads and watch for other guests.
- Follow the signs directing you to the parking area.
- Do not drive past the Farm Stand and into the Oxbow grounds unless you’ve been instructed to by Oxbow staff.
Generally, yes. The benefit of switching to a pre-curated veggie selection means that as long as our Farm Team is able to get into the fields and harvest, your vegetables will be packed and ready for you to pick up – regardless of Farm Stand hours for the day. Farm Shareholders will be prioritized above any other restaurant or grocery store customer. As investors in our Farm Team you deserve our care and commitment, and we will work our hardest to make sure your weekly produce is available to you no matter what.
That being said, if conditions in the field are too dangerous to harvest safely – perhaps due to extreme smoke or flooding – we do ask for some patience and flexibility from our shareholders. Trust us, we will get you your products, but we may need just a little extra time to do so. As always, we will communicate any changes to our harvest or pick-up schedule as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about pick up never hesitate to reach out to us at farmers@oxbow.org or call our Farm Team phone number: (425) 788-1134 ext. #2.
Pick-up locations are meant to be fixed throughout the season. Logistically it is too complicated to accommodate swapping locations week by week. However, if for some reason you need to switch to a new location for the remainder of the season email us at farmers@oxbow.orgat least a week in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate. For those picking up at Mercer Island Farmer’s Market, a survey will be sent out before markets end on October 8th to have you select the pick-up location that will work best for you the remainder of the season.
Payments and Policies
Spring & Late Fall
Investment in Oxbow’s Spring and Late Fall programs give Shareholders 6 weeks of fresh organic vegetables, while also helping our farm purchase the materials, organic fertilizers, and equipment we need to farm each season.
The total cost for the full 6-week season is $240, payable in one lump sum prior to the start of the season. Every week, our farmers will build your Share valued at around $35.
*Our Late Fall program includes a Gratitude Share and our Spring program includes a Solstice Share. These special weeks may include fruit and other goodies in celebration of that season’s harvest. These weeks are valued at $65.
Main Season
Investment in Oxbow’s Farm Share gives Shareholders 20 weeks of fresh organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
The total cost for the full 20-week season is $700, payable in one lump sum* prior to the start of the season. The Main Season Farm Share is available for returning 2022 shareholders for $650.
*We want our farm share to be accessible to as many people as possible; therefore, a payment plan option is available – transaction fees apply. Oxbow is also pleased to offer EBT farm shares for families in need. Please contact us directly if you would like to set up either of these payment options: farmers@oxbow.org.
Yes! New this year we are offering our CSA for individuals and families receiving SNAP benefits and are dedicated to ensure our produce is accessible and available to all our community members. We will charge EBT weekly when you come for your box pickup. Currently we are only able to offer these benefits at our on-site Farm Stand. Please contact us directly if you would like to set up an EBT payment option: farmers@oxbow.org
A one-time payment is due in full at the time of signup. Payment by online credit card via our Farm Share sign-up page is preferred. Please contact us if you need to make alternate payment arrangements. Your Shareholder spot is secured at the time of payment.
Payment plan & EBT shares: For Main Season Shareholders we’re happy to accommodate options that work for you or your family. Contact us directly at farmers@oxbow.org to arrange either. Please note that payment plans are not eligible for early bird discounts. Transaction fees may apply.
Sign-ups open to returning Shareholders and Oxbow Members first. If you participated in our most recent season, you will get an email from us letting you know the week before sign-ups open to the public.
If a season does not sell out to existing Shareholders, it will then open to those on our email newsletter list. Join at the bottom of this page to be notified.
Finally, if there are still open spots we will announce them via social media and on our website.
Similar to most Community Supported Agriculture programs, our Shareholders partner with Oxbow farmers to share in both the risks and successes of a growing season. Shareholders provide critical funds to help expand our annual budget and support our farmers with the work they do in the field. We plan our crops based on your participation and commitment for the entire season and are unable to offer refunds for shares that have already been distributed (whether or not shareholders were able to pick up their vegetables). We understand life happens and plans shift, but if you are unable to continue with the season please let us know as soon as possible.
Oxbow Members get 10% off all CSA shares!
Learn how to become a member and use your discount!