I begin with the proposition that eating is an agricultural Act
Pictured: Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes
Available: August to October More
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a direct relationship between a local farm and its community of eaters that strives to cultivate a balance between the countryside, city and the environment. By becoming a CSA member, you commit yourself to a share of our farm's harvest, providing us with a guaranteed market for the vegetables we grow. By paying in advance, our small family farm is able to focus on farming, instead of going into debt each spring, months before we receive any money for our crops. In exchange for this commitment, we are able to provide you and your family with the freshest, healthiest vegetables possible, using farming methods that are beneficial to you and the environment. We are also able to give you a "return on your investment" in our farm of 15% more vegetables than what you would normally receive.
During the Season, June through October, members meet at pre-determined pick-up locations to receive that week’s share of the harvest. Members are asked to bring there own bags or boxes to take home there vegetables which helps us to cut back on waste. In addition, we provide you with recipes and cooking tips to keep you inspired in the kitchen, as well as newsletters to keep you informed of what’s happening on the farm. Members can sign up for a full share of 18 weeks, or a half share of 9 weeks, picked up every other week.
18 weeks mid-June through mid-October - $500
$500 gets you an extra 15% ($575 worth of veggies)
9 weeks picked up every other week from mid-June through mid-October - $275
$275 gets you an extra %15 ($315 worth of veggies)
Members can pay all at once, or in 2-3 installments throughout the season. Please let us know if you would like to make alternative payment arrangements, we are very flexible and understanding.
We have a limited number of work-shares available. Those interested in this option need to commit to one day a week of moderate farm work during the season. In exchange, they receive a full CSA share as well as extra veggies for canning. Please contact us for more details.
This consists of 2 pick-ups of winter storage veggies, at the beginning of November and the beginning of December. The cost is $100. Members can pay in full or installments of a $50 deposit and $50 at the time of the November pick-up. The cellar share veggies will consist of:
The above quantities will be divided between the two pick-ups (each pick-up will contain half of the above quantities).
Where can I pick-up?
1. Downtown Kingston - Barrie and Clergy (Old Farm Fine Foods)
2. West End Kingston - Gardiners and Bath Road
3. Downtown Gananoque - Gananoque Town Hall
This depends on each household’s weekly eating habits. For vegetarians who cook all of their own meals, they may go through a share in a few days. Others comment on how well the veggies keep and that it takes them a while to get through everything. Many people who are unsure will often start off with a half-share and can bump up to a full share later in the season if they like. To help gauge how the CSA would suit your household’s needs, please see our projected list of weekly CSA boxes - June, July, August, September and October.
Many people will have a friend or family member pick-up their veggies for them when they are away. This makes a great gift for your house-sitter. If you let us know ahead of time, we can usually make accommodations for half-shares, who can then pick-up on one of their off weeks. However, we understand that life doesn’t always go as planned and are pretty flexible in the event of emergencies. For those who are away a lot during the season, we recommend our new Market CSA.
Our CSA program is the cornerstone of our farm. It has allowed us to grow our business over the years in a fair and responsible manner. It has become increasingly evident that the traditional supply chain that gets us the food we eat is broken and dangerously unsustainable. This system, which shifts all the profit from this food into the hands of multi-national corporations, and away from the farms that grew it, is undeniably corrupt. Community Supported Agriculture programs have been developed in direct response to this system and have become a creative way of bypassing it. There are many ways to participate in your local food system and CSA is just one of them. Going to Farmers market, supporting restaurants or stores which buy responsibly from local farms; we hope you will continue to do all of these in addition to joining our CSA.
CSA in not always perfect, some seasons are better than others due to weather, insect infestations, farmer error (organic farming has a steep learning curve). It can be a difficult adjustment for those who are used going to the grocery store each week and getting whatever they want.
However, it is the transparency of the system that allows the consumer to see the actual costs, trials and tribulations of the food that is in their fridge and its seasonal nature. The hope is that this more than makes up for it. Plus, our food just tastes better! You can eat the dirt on our potatoes and not have to worry about peeling your carrots because you wonder what chemicals they were grown with.
© 2012 Roots Down Organic Farm, 145 Taylor Rd. West, Gananoque, ON. All Rights Reserved.
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