in a nutshell
weekly box of certified organic vegetables, plus berries when available
runs for 18 weeks from June to October
pick up Tuesdays or Thursdays 2:30-6:30pm
weekly newsletter with farm happenings, box details, and recipes
$25 weekly box, total box share is $463.50 ($25.75/week x 18 weeks)
includes $0.75/week contribution towards a subsidized community box for community members that otherwise could not afford a share
OUR CSA is currently on pause
we hope to restart again some time in the future!
“We were members last year and absolutely loved all of the fresh produce and fruit. It was so fun to see what would be included in the box each week. I have referred my neighbours to the program. It is so wonderful to have an organic farm in the neighbourhood. Thanks Erin and Jon!”
What is a CSA?
CSA stands for 'Community Supported Agriculture. It is a way for the community to support farmers by signing up and paying for a share at the beginning of the season; this helps the farmers purchase the seeds and other inputs needed to get going. The ‘share’ members receive is a weekly selection of the best in-season vegetables the farmers produce.
The CSA relationship is a commitment on both ends. We commit to providing you with the healthiest, freshest, tastiest food we can, and you commit to us by paying up front, by letting us choose what vegetables you will receive each week, and by being open to trying new things! By joining a CSA, you will also build a relationship with your farmer, the land, and a deeper relationship with the food you eat.
What will I get in my share?
Each week you will receive 6 to 8 items chosen by us, featuring the best of what we have growing in the field.
Most of the veggies will probably be familiar to you. We also grow a variety of ‘specialty’ crops that you may not have come across at the grocery store before, like Japanese salad turnips and garlic scapes. These items are what makes a CSA extra-special! We will share simple tips on how to prepare these delicious veggies in our weekly newsletter.
Because we are part of a community farm, we will also occasionally include items from our Haliburton Farm neighours.
Some things you can expect to find in your share at some point during the season:
carrots beets kale potatoes cherry tomatoes raspberries lettuce fennel herbs chard beans zucchini garlic onions winter squash cucumbers salad turnips peas pac choi blackberries daikon green onions peppers
Please note that while we do our best to provide all our members with a diverse mix of produce, we work at the whim of Mother Nature, and cannot guarantee the exact items that you will receive over the season! We also unfortunately do not currently have chickens, so no eggs are available.
In addition to the food, we will send out a weekly newsletter that contains information about the items in your box, how to prepare them, and some of our favourite recipe suggestions. We will also share what is happening on the farm so that you and your family can learn more about exactly how those veggies made it to your plate.
where do I pick up my share?
Choose one of the two pick up options for the full season:
Haliburton Farm, Saanich:
Our main pick up is at our farm site, Haliburton Community Organic Farm, conveniently located in Saanich, across the Pat Bay Highway from Elk Lake.
Pick up will be on Tuesdays from 2:30-6:30pm.
Runs June 8th-October 5th (tentative, may begin 1 week later due to spring weather)
Produce will be pre-packed into paper bags and set up at the Haliburton Farm Stand
Contactless pickup, in light of COVID-19 situation
Fernwood (near Belmont Ave and Vining St)
We now offer a pickup in Fernwood for our Victoria customers!
Pick up will be Thursdays from 2:30-6:30pm
Runs June 10th-October 7th (tentative, may begin 1 week later due to spring weather)
Pick up will be at a community member’s yard, in a covered cabinet
Shares will be pre-bagged and labeled with member’s name
Contactless pickup, in light of COVID-19 situation
Because we are a small farm, we do not have the capacity to customize shares, or to change the schedule. If you will be out of town, you are welcome to have a friend come pick up your share, or you can let us know and we will donate the food for you. We cannot issue refunds for missed pick-ups.
how much does it cost?
Our CSA shares are based on a $25/week share. We always aim to have a bit more dollar-wise (about 5-10%) compared to the same box of food at the farmers’ market, as we appreciate that you are making a commitment to support our farm!
Here is an example of a mid-summer share
bunch of carrots
salad mix bag
cherry tomato pint
bunch of kale
fresh onions
beans
raspberries half-pint
The price of our CSA is $25.75/week for 18 weeks (mid June to mid October), for a total of $463.50 for the full season. We offer payment plans if a full upfront payment is not realistic for you.
Why the extra $0.75? We want to keep the ‘community’ part as active as possible in our CSA, rather than just being ‘customer subscription agriculture’. The extra $0.75 each member pays per week is used to subsidize the price of one additional full-season share for a family that is unable to afford the cost of a share. Access to healthy, local food is important to us, and is a large part of why we decided to start a CSA.
A CSA is a full season commitment. We have a very limited number of shares and unfortunately cannot offer refunds.
how do i know if the CSA model will work for me?
The best way to know if a CSA program will work for you and your family is to try it out! However, the following points should help you figure out more:
You cook regularly Generally speaking, the share is a good amount for 2-3 people, or even 1 if you eat a lot of veggies.
You can be flexible with your cooking and menu planning If you like to experiment, try new things, and be spontaneous in the kitchen, then a CSA would be great for you.
You are open to trying new things Most of the vegetables in your share will be familiar, but we pride ourselves on growing great veggies for our members that you won’t find at Thrifty’s too! We will always provide info in our weekly newsletter about them.
An actual relationship with your farmer is important to you Being a CSA member is about more than an economic transaction. You are making the choice to really be involved in food production - the successes and the challenges. If our farm experiences a crop failure due to something out of our control, like blight in our tomatoes, you may not get much of the crop in your box. On the flip side, our members also share in the abundance if we have a bumper crop!
You are not just looking for a cheap deal We’re not saying that you shouldn’t be conscious of the cost of your food, or realistic about what you can and can’t afford. But our food doesn’t always compare dollar-for-dollar to what you could pay at the grocery store - although often it does! By joining our CSA, you are getting the freshest, delicious, certified organic food.
Thank you for your support!