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| Erda
Gardens (Directions) Mailing address: P.O. Box 8845 Albuquerque, NM 87198-8845 ph: 505-610-1538 (leave message) email: info@erdagardens.org 
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General Information
Collecting Your Share of the Harvest
Volunteer Information
General Information
The 2009 season is winding down. It has been a great success thanks to all our member efforts. It is time to "put the farm to bed" and begin preparing for next year. Before you make your first pickup of fresh, locally grown, pesticide-free biodynamic produce, there are a few things you should know for the 2010 season:
In order to sign up as a member/shareholder for the 2010 growing season, you must fill out an application to reserve your share of the harvest.
As different vegetables and fruit are planted and harvested at different times of the year, you will find that some weeks you will receive produce that you may or may not have received the proceeding weeks. Early in the season you can expect various kinds of greens such as collards, kale, swiss chard, spinach, lettuce and some other early veggies like radishes. As the season progresses you might find potatoes, onions, garlic, green beans, leeks, beets, sweet potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, different kinds of fruit, etc. From year to year, we may plant a slightly different crop, but feel free to ask what you can expect as the season progresses.
All of our produce is grown locally in the South Valley of Albuquerque using biodynamic and environmentally friendly methods without the use of pesticides or chemicals. We harvest almost all of our produce early in the morning on distribution day, except things like fruit and potatoes, which we often harvest the day before. Each week you can expect approximately 8 different types of produce, herbs or fruit. During the peak of the growing season, it is necessary to harvest between distribution days to keep up with productivity and prevent waste. The produce harvested on these days goes to one of our local farmers' markets, either Nob Hill or Downtown. Selling at market not only helps us meet our financial goals; it helps raise community awareness about our mission as a CSA.
Collecting Your Share of The Harvest
Starting in the first week of May and continuing through the last week of October, member/shareholders come to one of two distribution sites to collect their weekly share of the harvest. At these sites, please remember to check your name off on the distribution list so we can maintain a record of who picked up each day. If you are out of town for a distribution, you may have a friend or neighbor collect your share for that week, if no one will be available to pick up your share, please let us know in advance. Flowers, honey, goat cheese and other value added products will often be available for your purchase as well.
Our main distribution site for the 2010 season will be at our Blake St. location. There is a white and green sign which reads "Erda Gardens and Learning Center." Members who pick up at this site may do so between noon and 2pm or 5pm -7pm. At this site, different produce will be in separate boxes, and you will find a white board that lists what produce is in your share for that week. Please allow yourself some time as you will bag your own produce at this site, we generally have bags, but it is appreciated if you bring your own or extras to contribute. Feel free to bring the kids down and have a picnic lunch and hang out in the garden. We have already begun work on our Children's Garden which is sure to be a fun and beautiful place for your children.
Our alternative distribution site for the 2010 season will continue to be located at 2722 Monterey Ave SE - in the UNM area. This distribution site is at the home of our of members, Jessica. You can contact her at yardwideyarns@hotmail.com. Pick up time at this site is between 4pm and 6pm.
If you are out of town during distribution, you may have a friend or neighbor collect your share for that week. If you are unable to pick up your share a phone call is much appreciated! Flowers, eggs, and value added products will be offered as available at an extra cost during distribution times. If there is another area of town where an additional distribution site would be helpful to you, please contact us and let us know!
Volunteer
We rely on volunteers to make our organization successful. Participation is a fundamental element at Erda Gardens.
Volunteering in the garden is great fun and is a real opportunity to connect with the earth, your food and your community. There are many opportunities to help out. We can always use extra hands on Wednesday mornings harvesting and preparing for distribution. We also have regular workparties, scheduled for the First Saturday of every month where members and other volunteers can pitch in and help out on various tasks around the garden. The workdays are a great chance to learn and to meet other members in the Erda Gardens community. See our calendar for the next one. Bring hats, gardening gloves, water and sunscreen. Jimmy, Spiral, April or other Members will give direction to volunteers in the garden. If these days are not convenient, or you are physically unable to work in the garden, there are many other ways you can volunteer your time and help the garden. We greatly appreciate your efforts. To find out more, contact us at 610-1538.
