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| Stam Farms market share treasures |
What is a
CSA? Community supported agriculture,
which is a partnership between you the consumer and the farmer as the
grower. A typical CSA share is paid for
in advance, and in return throughout the growing season you will receive a
basket of gorgeous produce weekly, bi weekly etc.
Will I get
to choose what is in my CSA share? Each
farm runs their program differently.
Some do offer flexibility and choice with items in the share allowing
you to select your preferred greens, roots etc according to what is
available. Other farms put together the
same shares for everyone.
How much
produce is in each share? This varies
farm to farm! Most have at least 2 size
options to suit each person or family’s needs.
Why do we
have to pay up front? Paying for the CSA
ahead of time allows the grower to cover up front costs of purchasing seed, growing
seedlings and planting while securing the farmers income for season regardless
of environmental or natural factors. Drought
last year saw many farmers abandoning lesser than crops in order to save others. Not all farms require up front payment, some
may take a payment plan or accept monthly installments. None the less the CSAs were full of what
fared well for each farmer, I know ours certainly were!
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| Gorgeous Matchbox Garden share |
Farming grueling
work – think of how hot it was last summer here in Southern Ontario and imagine
working the fields harvesting in that heat!
Seriously, thank a farmer today if you can and better yet support them
with a CSA commitment this year!
Cheers!
Here are
some of the beautiful farms I follow that offer CSAs in and around the greater
Hamilton area. If I have missed you let
me know and I will happily add your farm to the list.
Honest
Field Farms – Hamilton
Manorun
Organic Farm – Lynden
Matchbox
Garden - Caledonia
Stam Farms –
Hagersville – CSA (Market share) is now FULL for 2017 but will have farm gate
produce and other goodies for sale
Tree and
Twig – Wellandport – CSA is now FULL for 2017 but produce may be available,
call and ask. http://treeandtwig.ca
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