CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) is a community program which helps alleviate the start-up costs of planting season and results in sharing in the harvest. It is similar to a co-op in the sense that it is a communal effort, but we do all the manual labour!!!! It is a program aimed at keeping small, local farms... well, small and local. All the while supporting the surrounding community with fresh, organic vegetables that are picked in due season. When eating fresh carrots from your CSA basket (for example) , you'll know that these carrots were grown without the use of pesticides or GMOs and that they were picked at the appropriate time when carrots should be picked--not 3 weeks earlier and stuffed away to ripen, then put into a truck that has to travel thousands of miles to reach you. On the other hand, a CSA directly connects farmers and consumers to strengthen local food systems.
Your role
As the consumer you pay upfront for the season. This gives the farmer an opportunity to invest in seed and supplies needed for the start-up. In return we commit to providing you with a weekly basket ($30 value) in fresh vegetables, which you would pick up on a pre-arranged day. As a part of the CSA community you also share in the risk that each farmer faces every season...crop failure. Unfortunately there's no telling what the coming year will bring, but with skillful preparation and equipment we are confident that all our customers will be more than satisfied.
Our role
We do the hard work...we're farmers after all! We commit to planting, growing, maintaining, and harvesting the crops, while providing you with a weekly basket of the bounty. We do our utmost to ensure that each basket is filled with a nice variety and the best of the best. Rather than offering substitutions for food you may not particularly enjoy, we offer something called a veggie-swap box. When you come to the farm to pick up your weekly basket, there will be a box of veggies for which you can chose to swap out the item you don't want for an item that is in the swap box. It's always fun to trying something new, learn new recipes & create a dish with your favourite vegetable.
F.A.Q.'S
Can I pay for my share in installments?
Yes you can pay for your share in 2 installments, just call the farm or stop by and provide your credit card information or cash and we will accommodate your request. We could also send you a paypal invoice if you prefer.
Can I sign up for shares any time of the year?
Yes, you can sign up at any time in the season. We will pro-rate the price for you based on when you join.
Can I add items to my share?
Yes we offer a variety of add ons such as grass fed beef packages, organic chicken, organic eggs, gluten free BBQ sauce, maple syrup etc. To save time, you can purchase these items from our online store and we will have them ready for you when you come to pick up your weekly share or you can purchase certain items here at the farm store.
Do you offer delivery?
We do not currently provide delivery service for the CSA.
Can I have a “Community Depot” at my home, community centre, church or workplace?
Yes you can. If the location works for our routes then we need a minimum of 7 people signed up in order to waive the delivery fee.
Do I have to renew each season or will it happen automatically?
Yes you have to renew each season and we encourage early registrations.
What does my CSA membership include?
Weekly baskets of delicious fresh picked heirloom organically grown vegetables. We aim for a $30 weekly value including: · Fresh herbs, sprouts, root vegetables, salad greens, fruit etc.
· Add options such as organic eggs, meat shares: organic chicken and grass fed beef, maple syrup, raw honey, & much more
· Blog updates which will highlight recipes, veggies storing tips, farm stories and upcoming harvests, events & promotions.
· A share subscription (Summer or Fall) also includes 2 adult passes to our Farm Festival -
· An advanced members only purchase option in our CSA program for the following year.
- Referral Service - If you refer a customer that signs up for a full season, we will give you a $15 credit in our farm store.