Prospect Meadow Farm’s CSA Program Brings the Valley’s Bounty to Community Members
Prospect Meadow Farm began in 2010 when ServiceNet purchased a small farm on Prospect Street in Hatfield. In 2011 the farm launched a hands-on vocational services program for adults with autism and developmental disabilities—the only one of its kind in the region.
Over the years, Prospect Meadow Farm has grown in scope and impact. Program participants at the farm develop essential job skills as they care for animals and raise market crops. The farm is now the largest log-grown shiitake mushroom operation in western Massachusetts, supplies local markets with fresh eggs, and provides produce to many of ServiceNet’s residential programs. Each year, the farm also offers community members the opportunity to purchase a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share.
Each CSA farm share provides a family of four with a weekly bounty of fruit, vegetables, eggs, and more for 19 weeks, from June 13 to October 21. The share also includes a minimum of 1lb of pork products. And as the largest grower of log-raised shiitake mushrooms in western Massachusetts, CSA members can expect some fresh shiitakes.
Prospect Meadow Farm offers special CSA plans for seniors, low-income residents, and residential community programs, and offers various pick-up locations in Hatfield, Chicopee, and Northampton.
The farm also offers a free pick-your-own flower and herb garden for CSA Members.
Farming operations are overseen by Head Farmer Dave Jackson. Jackson has received numerous awards, including Whole Foods Grower of the Year and CSA Grower of the Year.
The farm offers only 150 CSA shares, which will be available until they sell out.
In addition to the CSA shares, Prospect Meadow Farm also runs the Farm Store, open Monday – Saturday. The Farm Store offers a broad selection of locally sourced produce, eggs, meat, dairy products, baked goods, sauces, jams, gifts, and more.
The Rooster Café, located at ServiceNet’s administrative office in Northampton, is a casual lunch and breakfast eatery that features tasty local ingredients, many of them fresh from the Prospect Meadow Farm.
