COMMUNITY
SUPPORTED
AGRICULTURE
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is a farm program that recognizes the importance of the relationship between producer and consumer. Membership in a CSA creates relationships between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it. This supportive relationship helps to create an economically stable farm operation. Both farmer and consumer share responsibility in both the benefits (fresh, local, healthy and ethically grown produce) and risks (bad weather, illness, pests) that are inherently involved in the practice of farming. The consumer gives the farmer one payment early in the year when the biggest expenses (leases, seed, fertilizer, equipment maintenance/repair, rentals, tilling, etc) are incurred by the farmer and the CSA member benefits from a weekly or bi-weekly supply of the freshest and tastiest produce throughout the growing season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each week you will receive a bag of the best and freshest items from our farm harvested by us, your farmers. We grow over forty varieties of vegetables and strive to produce a wide variety for every pickup. As part of our CSA, you'll also receive a weekly newsletter that will keep you updated on the farm, tell you what to expect in your weekly bag, and provide you with recipes that feature our in-season produce. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in our loop!
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PRODUCE WE GROW
Potatoes, chard, lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, beans, carrots, beets, onions, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, celery, herbs, summer and winter squash, zucchini, eggplant, cauliflower, cucumbers, leeks, fruit, and preserves. We may also try to source produce from neighbouring farms if we don't grow it ourselves or have a crop failure. We also have some exciting new veggies we are experimenting with growing this season too, stay tuned!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A CSA?
CSA stands for "Community-Supported Agriculture." It's a partnership between a farm and its community. CSA members pay a subscription fee at the beginning of the growing season, which the farm then uses to buy seeds and supplies. In return, the farm harvests “the cream of the crop” for members and delivers it each week to a pick-up location. The CSA model creates a direct connection between farmers and eaters.
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HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL THIS FEED?
You know your family best and how many vegetables that get consumed. We have two options, our full-share CSA where you receive six to eight items every week, or our half-share CSA where you receive three to four items every week.
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WHEN DOES YOUR CSA START AND END?
We will start in July (we usually aim for the first Monday), and continue for 12 weeks - mid/end September. We will email CSA members when we have a better idea of when we will be starting as our growing season is so dependent on the snow melt, the last frost, germination, etc.
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WHERE DO I PICK UP MY CSA ORDER?
Pickup is at my home in Brandon, MB - my address is disclosed during check-out!
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WHAT KINDS OF VEGETABLES WILL I RECEIVE?​
Each week, you’ll receive the freshest vegetables in season. We grow over forty types of vegetables (see above) and strive to provide a wide variety week-to-week, so there’s always something you love and never too much of something you’re tired of.
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WHAT KINDS OF BEEF CUTS WILL I RECEIVE?
If you choose to sign up for the veggies and beef CSA, you'll receive ground beef, a variety of cuts of steak, stewing meat, and roasts. Our beef is cut, wrapped and frozen at pickup.
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WHAT IF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COOK A CERTAIN VEGETABLE?
Each week, you'll receive a newsletter with a list of what's in the bag, along with recipes, meal ideas, and cooking inspiration to help you in the kitchen. Also, if there's a vegetable you just don't want to receive, you can swap it out for something else at pickup.
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ARE YOU CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
We're not certified organic. In the future, we would consider becoming certified, but for now, the paperwork and costs don't make sense. We rigorously follow organic practices on the farm: we use no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, we plant habitat for pollinators, and we use lots of compost to nourish the soil.
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CAN I PAY IN INSTALMENTS?
Yes. It helps the farm if you pay in full at sign-up, but it's fine to pay over the course of two or three instalments too. If you're worried that the instalment plan may not work for you, just email us and we can work something out.
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WHAT ARE YOUR PAYMENT OPTIONS?
When you purchase your CSA from our online market, you can pay via eTransfer, credit card, Debit/Visa or Paypal. If you would like to pay by cheque(s), contact us to set up a payment plan.
WHAT IF I MISS MY BAG?
We encourage you to set appropriate reminders for each delivery to remember to pick up your bag. If you miss a pickup due to forgetting, we donate the bag of vegetables to a family in need and there is no make-up bag the following week. We often get emails from folks asking to come pick up their bags after they've forgotten, we do our best to schedule this, however we practice boundaries around work and family time and often don't check our emails after pickup time so we can have the mental break.
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I'M GOING TO BE AWAY FOR PICKUP, WHAT DO I DO?
If you are going to be away for one of the pickup dates, consider asking a friend, family member, or co-worker to pick it up for you – that is the easiest solution. You do not need to let us know, but you are welcome to if you like. Please ensure that you provide them with the correct pick up location and time.
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WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE SOMETHING IN MY BAG?
Participating in a CSA is a great way to eat the best and freshest of the season and to try something new. However, if there’s something that doesn't tickle your fancy, consider sharing it with a grateful friend, family member, or neighbour or swap it out of our weekly trade box at pickup. If you have an allergy or food intolerance, please contact us prior to signing up and we will let you know if it’s something we can work with.
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I WANT MORE VEGGIES THAN WHAT'S IN MY CSA BAG!
Amazing! Individual produce items will still be available in our online market every week as they are available and in-season. Simply place an order and we will make sure to add it to your CSA bag.
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I'M WORRIED THAT THE CSA MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME.
It might not be! Our CSA is a good fit for those who want to make fresh, spray-free vegetables a regular part of their day. CSA members value being connected to a farm and supporting beginning farmers in their community. If you're not a big vegetable eater, don't cook often, or only want a few types of vegetables, then purchasing individual items from our online market might be a better fit for you.
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HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU WITH A QUESTION?
Contact us here! We’re always happy to answer questions!