Everything you need to know

 

The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been around for about 20 years and is starting to catch on in Canada.

Under this system, the customer signs on for the entire growing season and pays a predetermined price for a portion of the weekly harvest. If it's been a good growing season, there will be lots of food. On the other hand, if the farmer had particularly difficult challenges, there will be less to go around.

This system benefits the consumer in that they are provided with weekly baskets of a variety of fresh produce. Many CSA farms go one step further and offer organically grown produce. It's almost like having someone tend your own personal vegetable garden. All you have to do is pick it up.

When there is an abundance of a particular crop (and there almost always is), you the customer benefits. If there is a failure of a particular crop (and this too can happen) there will be less or none of that vegetable.

It's not like the grocery store, however. You get what is ready in the garden. It's a good way to learn what is in season. We provide regular newsletters with information on the farm and the food you will find in your basket in the coming weeks, including a couple recipes and how to store them.

In our case, all but a couple varieties of vegetables are from certified organic seed. All are untreated and GMO-free. We prefer the heritage varieties that were bred for taste, not a long shelf life. We also feel it's important to keep these old variaties alive. They are part of our history and could someday place a critical role in our future food supply.

You also have the added benefit of knowing where your food comes from and how it was raised, and you're supporting your local economy.