Thank you to all those who signed up for our Winter CSA – we are now full for the 2019 season. We would love to see you at the Orangeville Winter Market (dates in the right hand side bar) or you can check out our ONLINE STORE
At Fiddle Foot Farm, our goal is to produce and provide fresh, local, organic vegetables as year-round as possible. This year, we dedicated close to 1.5 acres of garden to growing storage vegetables to keep through the winter months. Some of our storage crops are only now coming out of the ground (carrots, beets, celeriac, kale, turnip) while others were harvested during the summer months (onions, garlic, squash).
WHAT IS A WINTER CSA?
In the winter, we continue our share program where members enjoy a regular delivery of produce from the farm. One of the obvious differences between a Summer CSA and a Winter CSA experience is that the vegetables will not be as varied throughout the winter. However, we do what we can by growing a diversity of crops. The following list represents the full diversity of what you can expect in your shares over the winter months.
Onions
Beets – Red, Golden, Chioggia (candy cane), Rainbow, baby
Squash – Delicata, Brulee, Acorn, Butternut
Carrots – Rainbow & Orange, baby
Celeriac
Garlic
Potatoes – Fingerling, German Butterball
Spinach
Kale
Garlic
Kohlrabi
Turnips – Hakurei, Purple Top, Golden
We also plan to source some items from other Ontario organic farms to add diversity:
Parsnips
Sweet Potato (we don’t grow since they require more heat than we get)
Potatoes – Yellow, Red, Russet
Watermelon Radish
Leeks
You might notice that there are fewer farms offering Winter CSA shares than there are Summer CSA shares! It requires a lot more planning, and is hard work in the cold! A Winter CSA requires proper storage for vegetables in winter and therefore greater infrastructure; there is inevitable loss while vegetables are in storage, which requires planned overproduction; and heating costs for storage and workspace are greater.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A SHARE?
Shares will be given every two weeks from early November until mid-February. Since each share is intended to last you two weeks, they will include a greater quantity of vegetables than a summer share. All of these veggies store very well. All root vegetables are stored in their soil to preserve freshness and flavour. We typically wash and pack vegetables 1 or 2 days before you receive your share. The taste difference compared to what you find in the grocery store is very noticeable!
An example of a typical HALF share might include:
3 lb potatoes
2 lb carrots / beets
2 lb onion
1/2 lb garlic
2 squash
1 celeriac / 1.5 lb radish
1.5 lb parsnip / turnip/ kohlrabi
A FULL share will include double the quantity of a half share (and in some cases substitutions are made for increased diversity).
* Weather permitting, we expect to have spinach and kale in some shares at the beginning and in the case of spinach, also towards the end of the shares
NEW THIS YEAR! Online Ordering
Make use of our new online store to order items you would like in addition to your Winter CSA share. Packing and delivery fees are waived for CSA members! CHECK IT OUT!
WHAT DOES A MEMBERSHIP COST?
We have a great selection of vegetables and are confident that we have adequate supply to last you until the end of February. Slowly but surely, we are extending the availability of locally grown, organic produce!
For 16 weeks of seasonal, locally grown vegetables, the cost is:
Half Share: $265 + $25 Delivery Fee
Full Share: $500 + $25 Delivery Fee
NOTE – by choosing a Full share, you save $30!
Delivery Fee: If you choose to have your share delivered to Orangeville, Shelburne, Alliston or Creemore, there will be an additional $25 delivery fee for the season. There is no additional charge if you choose On-Farm Pick-up.
While full payment upon sign-up is our preference, we accept payment in instalments if necessary (i.e.. Half the amount on sign-up and the remainder on Dec. 15th).
We are offering delivery to Creemore, Shelburne and Orangeville provided a minimum of 6 members sign up in each location.
WHEN AND WHERE CAN I PICK-UP?
Winter share pick-ups will take place every other week:
1. Thursday November 7th
2. Thursday November 21st
3. Thursday December 5th
4. Thursday December 19th
5. Thursday January 2nd
6. Thursday January 16th
7. Thursday January 30th
8. Thursday February 13th
PICK-UP LOCATIONS & TIMING:
On-Farm Pick-Up, Thursdays – 2:00pm – 7:00pm (no additional delivery charge)
Shelburne, Thursdays – Healthy Cravings (155 Main St. E), 2:00pm – 5:30pm
Orangeville, Thursdays – Trattoria Semplice (20 Dawson Rd), 2:00pm – 7:00pm
Creemore, Thursdays – looking for an indoor location, any ideas or suggestions?
Alliston, WEDNESDAYS – Hilltop Acres (3pm-7pm)
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Space is limited in our Winter CSA. Members will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to our existing CSA members.
Sign-Up ONLINE!
Complete and submit our ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM.
PAYMENT:
Option A – E-Transfer
Send an e-transfer to fiddlefootfarm@gmail.com – if your security question is not obvious, please send us an email letting us know what it is…or at least give us a clue!
Option B – Bring Cash or Cheque to the Farm or Market
Option C – Mail Cheque
Make cheque payable to Fiddle Foot Farm and send to the following address:
Fiddle Foot Farm
796530 3rd Line E
Mulmur, ON
L9V 0H4
Other News:
We will be at the Indoor Farmer’s Market in Orangeville again this winter, every other Saturday starting November 2nd, 9am – 1pm inside Town Hall.
Dates for Winter Markets: November 2, 16, 30
December 14, 21
January 11, 25
February 8, 22
March 7, 21
April 4, 18