Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! 100% of our the produce grown by Green Earth Harvest is USDA certified organic, and has been for 20 years.

A farmshare subscription is an important partnership between our farm and our local community. When a portion – or a “share” – of our farm’s upcoming harvest is purchased in advance of the season, it guarantees the participant will receive their portion of our delicious vegetable harvest and allows us to accurately plan and grow food to meet the needs of the community.

The farmshare subscription model is beneficial to both the farmers and community: you secure your local, organic veggies for the season and we use your payment to plan, purchase seeds, prepare the soil, plant, cultivate, and, ultimately, harvest your veggies!

Green Earth Harvest testimonial graphic

What we hear most often is our customers value knowing exactly where their veggies are grown; seeing the care and priority we place on farming sustainably and organically, and, of course, how remarkably delicious our veggies are!

Shareholders also enjoy learning about different varieties of vegetables, having the flexibility to select exactly which veggies they prefer from each harvest, and even trying veggies they’ve never tasted or even heard of before! Find out more from a few of our farm fans.

 

Our Spring Season pickups begin mid-May (4 weeks – very limited availability), Main Season begins mid-June (20 weeks), and Late Fall Season (4 weeks) immediately follows last week of our Main Season, with the final pickup of the season the week of Thanksgiving.  Ordering opens December 1st and we recommend you make your purchase as soon as you can since we do sell out.

In the Spring Greens Season, the shares are full of greenhouse goodies including fresh lettuces, radishes, green garlic, basil, beets, arugula, spinach, etc.

                                                                     

The Main Season is when the greatest variety of vegetables are grown and eventually harvested. You’ll see all types of greens (kale, rainbow Swiss chard, Bok choy, spinach, head lettuce, arugula, mustard greens, and collard greens), garlic scapes, scallions, turnips, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, tomatillos, broccoli, potatoes, leeks, cabbage, beets, a variety of summer,  winter squash, garlic, and cucumbers, just to name a few! 

In addition, we offer U-Pick days where you have the opportunity to head into the fields to pick your own extras – cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, ground cherries, peas, and a variety of green beans, which aren’t always green!

                                                                     

By the end of the growing year, you’ll delight in the Late Fall Seasons’ abundance including a variety of greens, winter squash, our out-of-this-world carrots, pie pumpkins, onions, potatoes, kale, and plenty more!

                                                               

We aim to provide you with shares that allow you to explore a variety of vegetables, including both “staple” and unique veggies.

                      

No matter where you pick up your veggies, you’ll have the opportunity to select exactly which ones you prefer from that week’s harvest!

On the farm, you will bring your own container/bag and shop your way through our market-style pickup in the barn to fulfill your share. For our off-farm, delivery, and contactless pickups, you will receive an email at the beginning of the week letting you know which vegetables will be available that week. You’ll complete a brief form selecting your preferred vegetables and the amounts you’d like to take home that week. We’ll harvest, prepare, pack, and deliver your farm-fresh veggies to your pickup location/home just for you!

A great part about our program is that you can customize a subscription which is exactly right for you/your family. Our Standard Size share is great for a family of four and/or veggie-enthusiasts and typically includes 8 – 9 vegetable “units” each week. Our Personal Size is great for individuals, a small family, or if you’re unsure of where to start. It includes 5 – 6 vegetable “units” each week. A “unit” equates to a bunch of carrots or beets or kale; a 6oz bag of spinach or mustard greens, 3-4 sweet peppers, 5-10 heirloom tomatoes, a bag of new potatoes or onions or tomatillos or garlic. To see what a unit looks like, view a pickup at the farm!

And, the same is true for the pickup frequency you select; you’ll want to consider what works best for your schedule and the volume of veggies you will want to consume. You can collect a share either weekly or every-other week (biweekly) during each season. We recommend starting small as you can always stop by our farmstand for more. Going in on a farmshare subscription with a friend (boxmate) is a great way to start if you’re unsure!

We also offer a limited supply of a Sampler Shares, which includes 5 pickups during the twenty-week Main Season (on-farm only: Tuesdays & Fridays 3-7pm) whenever it’s convenient for you – no set schedule!

                       

When you are a farmshare participant/shareholder, you will not only take home a share of our just-harvested, locally grown organic vegetables, you’ll also have our support – and that of our shareholder community – to make it a great veggie experience.

Being a shareholder is much more than simply picking up your vegetables each week. During the harvest season, you’ll receive our weekly newsletter connecting you with news from the farm, the weekly harvest list,  and new recipes to explore. U-Pick opportunities on the farm will also be available throughout the Main Season, allowing you and your family to get out in the fields to harvest your own cherry tomatoes, paste tomatoes, ground cherries, peas, and green beans!

Year-round, we offer a number of farm events including our May Plant Sale and Pizza Nights on the Farm (just for shareholders), along with Music and Yoga on the Farm.

We also partner with other local farms who bring their products to Green Earth Harvest throughout the growing season including: Flat Tire Farm (Michigan fruit), Hufendick Farm (local and humanely-raised meats, eggs, and milk), Seversons’ organic grains, nook & crumb’s naturally leavened sourdough breads, and Sweet Pea’s Stems (specialty cut flower bunches grown on our farm)!

While our vegetables are the main attraction, we also sell our raw wildflower honey from the beehives right here at McDonald Farm, along with products from our local farm partners who offer local fruit, eggs, milk, meats, organic grains, sourdough breads, and flowers throughout the growing season!

You can pick up your farmshare at our farm in Naperville, where all our organic veggies are grown. We also offer five off-farm pickup sites and home delivery to the following zip codes: 60440, 60490, 60504, 60532, 60540, 60563, 60564 and 60565!

 

 

Naperville – Green Earth Harvest

McDonald Farm -10S404 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville

Downers Grove

Private residence near Ogden & Main St., Downers Grove

Hinsdale

Redeemer Lutheran Church -139 E. 1st St, Hinsdale

Lisle

North American Pizza & Culinary Academy
1970 University Lane,  Lisle

Lombard

Lombard Historical Society – 23 W. Maple St, Lombard

Winfield

Private residence near County Farm & Jewell Rd., Winfield

View additional details on our pickup times and options.

Depending on your preferences – weekly or biweekly; pickups on the farm, at an off-farm location, or home delivery; standard or personal size; Spring, Main and/or Late Fall Seasons – the prices range between $31-$60 per pickup/delivery. (find our pricing by specific share type)

With the farmshare model, our shareholders pay in advance of the season, guaranteeing their portion of our harvest while financially enabling us to plan, prepare, and plant for the year. Four-month payment plans are available for every share! Just select the payment plan option from the drop-down menu when selecting the size of your share, check out to make the first payment, and the next three installments will be automatically charged to your credit card on the same day as your purchase each month. (An $8 service fee has been added to the payment plan’s total price)

2024 Farmshares are now available for purchase. Click “Purchase a Share” above!

Payments can be made online using credit cards and e-check, and we offer 4-month payment plans to spread out the cost of the season.

We understand conflicts happen which is why, during our Main Season, we offer pickup options on both Tuesdays and Fridays at the farm. We do ask you select your primary pickup day so we can plan our harvests, but should you ever need to come on the alternative day, it’s always an option.

Should you be out of town for the entire week or you’re picking up at an off-farm site, we suggest having a friend or family member pick up for you. Sharing your share is a great way to support our program and can be a wonderful gift for your friends/family. 

We also offer one  “vacation credit” for the Main Season. If you are out of town or unable to pick up during your assigned week, simply notify us in advance and you’ll be provided the opportunity to make-up your missed week, either by collecting an extra share later in the season or by selecting a few extra vegetables during your regular pickup days!

The good news is if you end up missing a week and decide not to make it up, we will always donate your share to our local food pantry, Loaves & Fishes, so your veggies will be distributed and appreciated!

                                               

There are many ways to connect!

Children’s Summer Camps on the farm are offered throughout the summer and various volunteering opportunities are available.

The Conservation Foundation offers Conservation@Home, Conservation@Work, and Nature Rx programs that promote connections with nature, along with the preservation and restoration of our natural environments. Find out more!

Please email our Business Manager, Sheryl Fasone, at [email protected] or call her at (630) 428-4500 x154.

Connect With Us

You are always welcome to contact Green Earth Harvest Business Manager, Sheryl Fasone, with any questions about Green Earth Harvest. Email her at [email protected] or call her at (630) 428-4500, Ext. 154.

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