How to Sign Up for the 2024 Out on a Limb CSA
How does the Out on a Limb Apple CSA work?
Shares cost $175, due upon enrollment. Former CSA members may re-enroll starting April 1st. We accept new members from April 24th right on through the end of August or whenever we reach capacity. If you would like to be on the wait list for 2025, please send us an email.
CSA distributions take place every other Wednesday starting in early September. There are five deliveries in total. Over the course of the season you’ll receive 20 or more varieties of rare and highly flavored apples with a wide range of uses, appearances, histories and tastes. You will get approximately 10-11 lbs. of apples at each pickup. Each variety will be in its own labeled bag. You will receive a mix of dessert apples for eating fresh and culinary apples. We will make sure you have enough of the culinary varieties to cook up into a dish.
We publish a newsletter to accompany each of the apple shares. It includes historic and culinary information about each of the varieties, recipes, a calendar of apple-related events and general information on apples. You can read past issues of the newsletter here.
When and where do I pick up my share?
We offer pick-up locations in Belfast, Brunswick, Clinton, Portland, Trenton, Whitefield, and at our farm in Palermo. Please specify your pickup location when you sign up. We will confirm all pick-up locations and times in early September.
Don't live near one of our pick-up sites? We often have groups in Hallowell, Damariscotta/Newcastle, Friendship/Cushing, Camden/Rockland, Bar Harbor, Deer Isle, and Brunswick/Topsham/Harpswell/Bath that share the driving of pickups from our different locations. We also have a group of shareholders from the Lincoln/Sudbury, MA area that share the driving to the pick up in Portland. If you are interested in joining one of these or setting up a group in your area, please let us know, and we can connect you with others who may be interested as well.
Can I order additional apples for winter storage?
We also offer the option of purchasing extra storage apples in advance, in 1/2 bushel (approx. 17.5 lbs) or full bushel (approx. 35 lbs) quantities to be delivered with your last share in November. They will be a mixture of our favorite "keepers," such as Northern Spy, Roxbury Russet, or Stark – or maybe even a few Black Oxfords. If you would like to order storage apples, just include an additional $35 for a 1/2 bushel or $65 for a full bushel in your check. You can order as many bushels as you would like when you sign up.
How do I sign up?
Enrollment for fall 2024 starts April 24th. It is always a good idea to check this website before you send in your check to make sure there are still shares available as the CSA often fills up quickly. Send your check for $175 made out to “Out On a Limb CSA” to:
Out On a Limb CSA
P.O. Box 12
Palermo, ME 04354
Please include your name, snail mail address, phone #, email address and pick-up location with your check.
Shares are limited, and enrollment is on a first come, first served basis.
Are the apples organic?
The apples that we provide come from our farm as well as from other local orchards. The apples from our farm are grown using organic methods but are not certified. Apples we source from other orchards may be organically grown, conventionally grown, or grown conventionally using Integrated Pest Management techniques.
Can I get additional apples or other fruit?
Throughout the season we occasionally offer larger quantities of some apple varieties as well as some unusual plums, peaches, grapes or pears from our farm . When these are available, we will send you an email to let you know. If you’d like some, tell us how much, and we will deliver them with your next share. You can leave us cash or a check when you pick up.
Can I get apples mailed to me?
We receive many requests to mail apples out of state. While many orchards are happy and able to do this, we do not ship our apples through the mail. The reason for this is twofold. First, the apple varieties that we select for our CSA are chosen for their flavor, not their ability to withstand the rigors of our postal system. We can't guarantee that our apples will arrive to you in NY or CA looking as tasty and beautiful as when we picked them. Secondly, we encourage you to seek out unusual apples that grow in your area. Visit the small orchards near you, and ask the growers what old varieties they offer. Take the time to look beyond the Honeycrisp, and you will probably find some surprises that are unique to your area of the country. We'd love to hear what you discover.