CSA FAQ |
Thinking about joining our CSA? Here are a few answers to common questions you may have.
Community Supported Agriculture / Community Shared Agriculture
CSA stands for "Community Supported Agriculture" or "Community Shared Agriculture". The idea of a CSA farm is that members pay in advance for a seasonal vegetable box subscription, and receive a fair share of vegetables each week over the growing season (usually mid-June to early October). CSA members get to live along with the life of the farm, by sharing in the harvest as it comes into season. Each season offers an opportunity to learn more about where your food comes from, how it's grown, and what's in season from a local farm.
What are the benefits of joining a CSA?
- extremely fresh produce, usually picked the morning of delivery
- hyper local food that allows you to lower your carbon footprint because of reduced food miles
- much less plastic & packaging than store-bought produce usually has
- the chance to experience the beautiful variety of what can be grown in Manitoba
- supporting a small family farm and having a relationship to "your farmer"
- visits to the farm throughout the season with tours, workshops, farm dinners, events
- the chance to try new varieties of interesting vegetables like heirlooms, unique colours and flavours
- the opportunity to build community with other like-minded people who also love local food & farms
What does "ecologically grown" mean? Is the produce organic?
For now we are not certified organic, as certification is a costly and time-consuming process for a small farm to undertake. We can build a direct relationship with our customers so you can learn how we grow first-hand. We do use organic methods and practices, and strive to follow Canadian organic standards. We do not use any chemical sprays, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. We use only organic and non-GMO seeds and soil mixes. For us, ecological growing also means reducing plastic and striving to be a zero-waste business, adding composts, cover crops and natural mulches to build the soil health, encouraging pollinators, creating diverse habitat for birds and wildlife, tending the land carefully, preventing soil erosion, protecting the waterways, conserving water, preserving our ecosystems on and around the farmstead. You are welcome to come visit our farmstead to see how we grow here. Read more about our ecological farming here.
How many items can I expect in a CSA box each week?
Each week the $32 small veg boxes have about 6-8 items, and are a good sized box for households with 1-2 eaters. If you have a larger household you may want to consider getting the large box at $42/week (with 6-10 items and/or larger quantities of certain items). If you think it will be too much food, consider sharing a box with a friend or neighbour. At this point we are only offering two box sizes.
What types of vegetables will be in the boxes?
We aim to grow a rainbow of vegetables! We have a wide range of vegetables, as well as some berries, herbs, cut flowers and fruit. Vegetables include: peas, beans, carrots, beets, radish, spring turnips, cucumbers, lettuces (head, salad mix, romaines), tomatoes (cherry, slicing, beefsteak, roma), zucchini and summer squashes, dry beans, chard, kale, new potatoes, garlic, onions, shallots, pumpkins, winter squash, cabbages. We grow many familiar items, and some that may not be so familiar (heirloom varieties, unique colours etc). We provide a weekly newsletter with recipe ideas.
We don't grow a lot of bulk storage vegetables (e.g. carrots, beets, potatoes, onions) because we don't have a large enough storage facility to keep them. There are other great local farms that have the ability to grow these for you and we are happy to direct you there.
We have also started growing asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, sea buckthorn, black currants, aronia, haskaps, as well as tree fruits (apples, pears, plums, cherries, hazelnuts) - and hope to offer these in future years to our CSA members. We have wild saskatoons, wild plums, and chokecherries on the farm, and may be able to offer these to members who are interested.
We don't grow a lot of bulk storage vegetables (e.g. carrots, beets, potatoes, onions) because we don't have a large enough storage facility to keep them. There are other great local farms that have the ability to grow these for you and we are happy to direct you there.
We have also started growing asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, sea buckthorn, black currants, aronia, haskaps, as well as tree fruits (apples, pears, plums, cherries, hazelnuts) - and hope to offer these in future years to our CSA members. We have wild saskatoons, wild plums, and chokecherries on the farm, and may be able to offer these to members who are interested.
How fresh is the produce in a CSA box?
CSA shares are packed to order, meaning we pack only what our members have ordered each week. This minimizes food waste, and allows the produce to be as fresh as possible. We pick our produce and herbs when they are at their peak, by hand and in small batches, again to ensure ripeness and freshness. Usually we harvest on the morning of delivery (or within 24 hours of delivery), meaning produce is much fresher than what you get in a grocery store. We have the opportunity for CSA members to pick-up their boxes at our farm, and hope to include some u-pick options in the future (that's about as fresh as things can get).
Where can I pick up the CSA boxes?
We have local on-farm pick up on Friday afternoons from 4-6 pm. More specific details are provided when you sign up for the CSA.
How does home delivery in Winnipeg work?
We offer home delivery to 3 neighbourhoods in Winnipeg: St. Boniface, Wolseley, and North Kildonan. If you live in another neighbourhood and would like home delivery please get in touch, and we will see if we can add you to our delivery route.
Home delivery happens on Tuesdays. We deliver your veggies to a pre-arranged secure and shady/cool area (e.g. your porch, your garage, etc). You leave out a cooler and ice pack and we leave your veggies in your cooler.
Home delivery happens on Tuesdays. We deliver your veggies to a pre-arranged secure and shady/cool area (e.g. your porch, your garage, etc). You leave out a cooler and ice pack and we leave your veggies in your cooler.
What happens if I forget to pick up my box? Can someone pick up for me?
Members are expected to pick up their box each week during the pre-arranged pick-up hours. We cannot hold your boxes for you after the pick-up time. Any boxes not picked up will be donated to a local food program or food bank. If you know you are going to be away during the pick-up time, you are most welcome to send another friend or family members to pick up your box.
Are there any choices or is the box pre-packed?
OCSA boxes are pre-packed with a set amount of food value. However, at our Friday farm pick-up there will be a "choice" table with some options, or a place to trade in items you don't need. You can add on extra veggies to your box through our online farm store (e.g. bulk basil, extra tomatoes, cucumbers for pickling etc). The online farm store also has jams, preserves, sourdough breads, pies, herbal tea and more, so you can add on and customize what you need for every given week. ORDER BY SUNDAY EVENING for the following week.
What are the CSA dates for 2024?
The Fresh Veggie Box CSA for 2024 will run for 19 weeks, from mid-June to mid-October. Specific dates to be determined.
How does payment work?
We require a non-refundable deposit of $100 to hold your spot at time of registration, by May 1, 2024 at the latest. The rest of the CSA payment can be made in one or two installments, by May 1, 2024 and July 1, 2024. Payment for the balance of your CSA share is preferred by etransfer, cash or cheque. More details to be provided at time of registration.
I can't afford a box right now by would love to join. Are there other options?
In 2024 we started a Community Fund donation program. CSA members have the opportunity to contribute a donation toward this community fund which is specifically for making subsidized shares available. If you want to inquire about receiving a subsidized share for yourself or someone you know, please contact us at: [email protected]
How are the veggies packaged?
We try to minimize waste and try hard to avoid plastic in all our packaging. We mainly leave produce unwrapped, and often unwashed (or lightly washed) to preserve freshness. We have paper bags and compostable bags, as well as compostable plant-based clamshells (which can be returned to us), and reusable glass jars for certain items. For our local Friday pick-ups we ask that all members bring their own bags or coolers to take home your produce. We hope to offer cloth bags as well, which can be washed and reused each week.
What do I need to bring to the CSA pick-ups?
Please remember to bring bags or coolers/boxes to bring your produce home each week. You may also want to bring smaller produce bags to transfer pints of smaller items. Occasionally we will have extras for sale at the pick up, especially if you attend a farm tour or farm pick-up. Cash is always appreciated for those purchases, but we can also take credit card.
Will there be opportunities to visit Swallowtail Farmstead?
Yes! If you are picking up your share locally then we will see you every Friday! We are also planning one farm tour/open farm day during the season. We would love to organize a farm dinner if there is enough interest from CSA members! In 2024 we are hoping to find time for building a wood-fired outdoor oven at Swallowtail Farmstead, so can then host pizza dinners for CSA members. There may also be opportunities for farm workshops, as well as work bees/volunteer projects. Remember that CSA members get 10% off all our classes and events. Once you register for the CSA, you will receive a weekly newsletter with more details about farm events.
I still have questions! Can you answer them?
Yes, of course! For more questions please contact Karin at: hello(at)swallowtailfarmstead.ca