Vegetable Baskets (CSA)

Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is a system of growing and distributing organic produce that restores the link between farmers and the surrounding communities. Successful in Japan and Western Europe since 1965, CSA today operates on thousands of farms in North America.

In early spring each year, local households purchase subscription "shares" of the year's harvest from a local organic farm. CSA "shareholders" pay for their produce at the beginning of the growing season, providing the necessary start-up capital for farmers to purchase seeds, supplies and soil amendments, eliminating their reliance on expensive bank loans and helping to pay for the real cost of food.

CSA is a system that benefits everyone:

The farmer gains a healthy, economically viable farm business; the consumer receives affordable, fresh, healthy organic food, the local economy is strengthened; and the local environment becomes healthier as CSAs cut down on transportation and packaging.

What is a share?

In the 2009 season we are offering two types of CSA.

• Toronto CSA
  • Each share is roughly 8 seasonal items every other Thursday from the beginning of June to the end of October. There will be 11 deliveries in total. Baskets will be delivered Thursdays to drop-off locations in the Dufferin Grove park and Leslieville areas. The entire season is worth $350.
• Farm Pick-up CSA
  • Each share is roughly 7 seasonal items every week from the beginning of June to the end of October. There will be 20 pick-ups in total for full-shares and 10 for half-shares. Baskets are ready for pick-up from the farm from 10am-7pm on Tuesdays. The entire season's share is $500. Half-shares are $250 (pick-up every other week)
  • During farm visits members are welcome to visit and feed the animals or tour through the garden.

  What to expect in your basket

  June	August	October
  Radishes	Tomatoes	Sweet Potatoes
  Salad mix	Potatoes	Garlic
  Strawberries	Sweet peppers	Onions
  Spinach	Carrots	Butternut Squash
  Romaine	Beets	Candycane Beets
  Cabbage	Kale	Carrots
  Broccoli	Garlic	Swiss Chard
  Chives	Green Onions	Rutabaga