If you would like a PDF copy of this MOU please email us.
2021/22 THE ORCHARD KEEPERS // CSA
Memorandum of Understanding – September 2021
This MoU outlines the shared commitments involved in the relationship between The Orchard Keepers and their CSA members.
Likely Crops for 2021-22 Season:
Month Harvested | Expected Crops |
Nov (sometimes!) & Dec 2021 | Cherries, Apricots, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines |
Jan 2022 | Apricots, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Apples |
Feb 2022 | Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, Pears, Nashis |
March 2022 | Plums, Apples, Pears |
Principles of Teikei Teikei in Japanese means “cooperation”, “joint business”, or “link-up”. In reference to CSA, it is commonly associated with the slogan “food with the farmer’s face on it”. Read more about the origins of Teiki and CSA here.
- Principle of mutual assistance
- Principle of accepting the produce
- Principle of mutual concession in the price decision
- Principle of deepening friendly relationships
- Principle of self-distribution
- Principle of democratic management
- Principle of learning among each group
- Principle of maintaining the appropriate group scale
- Principle of steady development
As a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) member of The Orchard Keepers (OKs)
I agree:
- To pay the suggested price for the season
- Collect my weekly fruit box from the agreed pick up location
- I understand that if I am unable to collect the box within 48 hours, the OKs may donate the produce
- To support the Teiki principles of CSA
- Receive the Orchard Keepers newsletter and be added to the Orchard Keepers email database.
I understand that:
- I have the right to ask OKs questions about farming methodologies (we would love you to!)
- In the box I will receive fruit including different varieties of cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, pears and apples according to seasonality and farm availability.
- By purchasing a CSA Share, I am effectively backing The Orchard Keepers to grow my fruit
- Factors out of The Orchard Keepers’s control may affect the quality or quantity of that fruit (e.g. hail, too much rain in spring, pestilence)
- I am part of a community that can collectively share risk, as opposed to all of that being on the farmer alone
- This means I may have to share in adversity as well as abundance
- The ‘name your price’ range method is an experimental sales model aimed at collectively subsidising ethical food for those in financial hardship
The Orchard Keepers in turn agree:
- To communicate regularly with members via newsletter and emails
- Understand our role in the education of members about the CSA model and our own farming ethos
- Understand that transparency is accountability
- Agree to minimise carbon footprint where possible (e.g. reduce packaging and transport).
- Agree to maintain organic certification.
- Will strive to grow the highest quality, most abundant and most nutritious fruit as possible
- Agree to farm ethically eg. to treat all parts of the ecosystem with respect
- Agree to continue to educate ourselves and stay knowledgeable about ‘best practice’ in organic farming
- Value the input of our CSA community
- Agree to ‘Pay the Rent’ to Castlemaine Pay The Rent