CSA – INFO for 2023

Thank you for your interest in our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership.

For the 2023 season, we have continued to focus our growing on Fall and Winter vegetables for our CSA and Online Store.

IT IS NOW TIME TO SIGN UP FOR OUR WINTER CSA!
Please read the details on this page,
and when you’re ready to sign up, click the Green Button

Throughout the 16 years we have been growing and selling vegetables, the CSA membership remains the core of our farm. By creating a partnership between farmers and eaters, we build a connection with mutual benefits. It is a robust, resilient system for accessing the freshest food from your local farms!

CSA 2023 – Here is what it will look like:

FALL CSA – Our CSA offering will begin on September 7th.  We will offer shares on a weekly basis in the fall (8 weeks), freshly harvested from the field (ie. cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, beets, Bok choy, radish, turnip, kale, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss Chard, celery, onions, garlic).  We will also offer our popular Greens Share in the Fall.

WINTER CSA – In November, we will shift to a bi-weekly schedule of shares of a variety of winter vegetables (ie. carrots, beets, squash, onions, garlic, parsnip, sweet potatoes, turnip, watermelon radish, celeriac) that will take us through until the end of February (8 pick-ups over 16 weeks).

WHEN TO SIGN UP?
Now is the time to sign-up for our WINTER CSA. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

ONLINE ORDERS – Our Online Store will operate from September until early March and will offer an opportunity to order our vegetables, other organic foods we source, and our prepared foods.  Our prepared foods include hot sauce, garlic scape pesto, sauerkraut, pickles, etc.

Pick-up Options for the CSA and for Online Orders will continue in Orangeville, Shelburne, Creemore and at the farm in Mulmur.

FALL PICK-UP DATES & LOCATIONS:

We will be harvesting on Wednesdays. Our main pick-up day is Thursday at all of our pick-up locations. If Thursday does not work for you, we provide the option to pick-up from the farm on Friday or Saturday. If you choose this option, we will hold your produce in cold storage.

On Thursday afternoons:
Shelburne – Shelburne Auto & Cycle (Industrial Rd.)
Orangeville – Trattoria Semplice (Centennial & Dawson)
Creemore – 147 Mary St.
Mulmur – Fiddle Foot Farm

Farm Pick-up can be arranged for Friday or Saturday – please make this selection on the registration form.

Our CSA Members have chosen us because:

• Our produce looks, feels and tastes wonderful
• Friendly customer service – a connection to the people growing your food!
• High quality produce grown by responsible farmers committed to improving soil health, biodiversity and a strong local economy
• Convenient pick-up locations
• Good variety, selection and reliability – every week is a surprise!
• Benefits on our online store to supplement your share (no packing fee, no minimum order)
• To support the type of farming most beneficial for people, plants, animals and the planet!

What is Community Supported Agriculture?

The CSA model is a mutually beneficial arrangement between producers and consumers. It allows people to become members of a farm and in so doing, engaged directly in their local agricultural community. After growing vegetables in partnership with CSA members for 16 years, we recognize the importance of this arrangement both financially and socially in building a sustainable and local agriculture. It is unlikely that we would be farming today if it were not for the Community Supported Agriculture model.  The up-front investment made by our members each year has been critical to the development of our farm.

By becoming a CSA member, you share in the bounty of our farm!  CSA members pick up a selection of in-season, fresh, organic vegetables from our farm or at drop-off locations every week during the CSA season. Regular communication from the farmers allows CSA members to learn about our farming practices and to develop a deeper connection to where your food is coming from.

What will be in my CSA Share?

WHAT IF I AM GOING AWAY ?

If you know that you will be away, there are several options:
– make arrangements with family or friends to pick up your share, OR
– donate your share to the Shelburne Food Bank or Family Transition Place

RE-USABLE CLOTH BAGS to REDUCE PLASTIC USE:

We will continue to use our cloth produce bags for the 2023 Fall CSA to minimize the use of plastic. We will ask that you leave the cloth bags behind when you collect your share (ie. transfer all items into your own bags/bins/boxes).

We will wash the bags between every use. If you are not comfortable with re-usable cloth bags, then we encourage you to order vegetables from us through our online store instead of the CSA. Online store orders will continue to be packed in plastic and paper bags.

SHARE SIZES AND OPTIONS

How many people does a small share feed?  That depends on how you eat!  We hope that the photos above will help.  A Small Share generally feeds two people who cook less often, small/young families, or a single who cooks a lot.  A Large Share generally feeds two people who cook a lot and families of four or more.  The Large Share often includes double the quantity of the same items, but sometimes we include a greater diversity of items instead.  Consider buying a Large Share if you would like to preserve vegetables (freeze, can, dry, make soups, etc.) for the winter.

Greens Share – VERY POPULAR!

If you or your family enjoy eating a lot of greens, we recommend signing up for a Greens Share during our FALL CSA.  In exchange for allowing us to plant, grow and harvest greens more efficiently, you pay less for these greens than you would on our online store.  This can be a nice complement to a regular vegetable share or enjoyed all on its own!  A Full Greens Share will include an average of 1 lb. of greens per week, including lettuce mix, head lettuce, mesclun mix, spinach, arugula, mustard mix, kale and more. A Half Greens Share consists of 1/2 lb. of greens each week. 

Work Shares – $100 off your share price + 10 hours on the Farm

For the 2023 season, we are offering a small number of work shares.  By committing to 10 hours of work on the farm, you can reduce the cost of your share by $100.  The Work Share provides an opportunity for learning and involvement in our team. Working times must be scheduled ahead of time for Tuesdays-Fridays between 8am – 5pm. Scheduling can be flexible.

Community Share Fund – Please consider making a donation

For the past few years, the Community Share Fund has been able to subsidize two CSA shares for members of our community who needed some financial support (through the Family Transition Place and Shelburne Food Bank programs).  We are hoping to raise more funds to provide more subsidized shares this season.  We believe that nutritious and locally grown produce should be accessible to all members of our community.  While this fund will by no means reach all those in need, we would like to do what we can.  If you would like to support this effort, please add your contribution to the total on your membership application.  Consider that a small share costs roughly $25/week, any small amount that you can contribute is greatly appreciated.  

Volunteer Opportunities

If you would like to discuss particular or regular volunteer arrangements or if you have particular interests, please let us know. Throughout the season, we will communicate a number of volunteer opportunities to our CSA members.  This is by no means mandatory, but is simply an option for those CSA members who would like to develop a closer connection to the farmers and the farm that is producing their food. We feel this is an important way to continue the get-to-know-you process and tighten the gap between producers and consumers.

Farm Visits

CSA members are most welcome to visit the farm to experience the farm first-hand – in fact, we encourage it!  Please call ahead and understand that if we are busy, your tour may be self-guided!

Communication with Members

Communication throughout the season with CSA members will be by email, through this website and our FACEBOOK and Instagram page where we will post newsletters, recipes, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events and photos on our homepage.  You will automatically be added to our Mailing List to find out what’s happening at the farm. There is also an option at the bottom of our website Join Our Mailing List.  This means that you will automatically receive email notification if we add something new to the blog / news page.

Why do we need CSA?

Our current food system gives us all cause for concern.  Our food is trucked in from thousands of miles away. We do not know the farmer who grew the food or the practices they may have used.  CSA seeks to address these concerns.  Members help farmers earn a decent, reliable income while supporting local, organic food and regenerative farming practices.

CSA is Right for You if:

You want to eat fresh vegetables, locally grown and in season.

You care about what you eat, where it comes from, and how it’s grown.

You want to develop connections to the people and land that grow your food.

Share the Joys and Risks

In the CSA arrangement, members share in the risks of farming. For example, if a particular crop is affected by weather or pests, member shares may be smaller or less diverse. However, if the year is good and there is a bumper crop, members reap the rewards! This allows farmers to focus on doing what they do best: growing delicious organic food.