Background

For over 40 years, John Givens Farm has been a cornerstone of the Santa Barbara community, growing certified organic produce with a commitment to soil health and sustainability. Through Something Good Organics, Carolyn connects families to this locally grown, freshly picked bounty year-round.

As the CSA grew, so did the challenges of managing operations while running the farm and raising a family. Overwhelmed by administrative tasks, Carolyn turned to Farmhand, gaining the tools to streamline operations, build stronger community connections, and strategically grow her CSA with high-value members. Here’s how she did it.

Running a CSA was a constant juggling act for Carolyn of Something Good Organics. Between managing backend messages, handling administrative tasks, and communicating with members—all while running her farm and raising her family—she was at her limit. Even with her sister helping out, the workload and endless back-and-forth with customers became unmanageable. Then Carolyn met Ari, who introduced her to Farmhand, and everything changed.

Taking the Leap

Within days of signing up with Farmhand, Carolyn's CSA was revitalized. Farmhand helped her create a fresh new website and blog that reflected her brand and values while providing a better experience for her members. With Farmhand handling customer support and admin tasks, Carolyn gained back more than 7 hours each week.

She used this newfound time to focus on growing her CSA strategically. Carolyn built relationships with the local community, including schools like the Waldorf School and city businesses, educating families and organizations about the importance of local food. By targeting these higher-value areas, she attracted members who were not only eager to join, but also willing to invest more deeply in the CSA experience.

Farmhand also helped Carolyn stay more connected with her existing members through engaging weekly newsletters, blog posts, and more face-to-face time at pickup sites. This combination of strategic outreach and personal connection deepened the relationship between Carolyn and her community.

Results That Matter

By partnering with Farmhand, Carolyn was able to grow her CSA with purpose. Her new focus on high-value community partnerships brought in 50 new signups in just 30 days. These new members were highly engaged: 50% added a second subscription for items like eggs or bread, and 25% opted for three or more weekly subscriptions.

Thanks to Farmhand, Carolyn not only increased her CSA’s revenue but also strengthened the bonds between her farm and her community. Her story shows the power of having the right tools to prioritize what matters most—connecting with members and growing her CSA sustainably.

By delegating administrative tasks to Farmhand, Carolyn freed up time to focus on expanding pickup sites and building strategic partnerships with higher-budget areas (families) like the Waldorf School, and local city businesses. As a result, she gained 50 new sign-ups in just 30 days, with 50% of those members adding a second subscription and 25% opting for three or more subscriptions.