Community Supported Agriculture
Our Community
Our community consists of a variety of people who care about their food. Although we have very diverse backgrounds and specialties, we all treasure wholesome, nourishing food. As a community, we can nurture all the components necessary to maintain a system capable of producing and distributing freshly grown, biodynamic vegetables.
Members provide funds, creativity and support to a team of farmers who organize, grow and harvest produce. As farm steward, I make sure all the pieces are in place for the farm to sustain itself, while producing a surplus of food. All that is expected from members is to expand their culinary horizons by their willingness to explore new varieties of vegetables. CSA members enjoy the seasonality of eating directly from a garden, and embrace the many different styles of vegetables.
Members stay connected through our weekly newsletter and our website. We even have a Facebook page. As well as electronic communication, there are also regular opportunities to meet in the garden for mingling and sharing a potluck dinner, or helping out with weeding and harvesting. A variety of events such as plant walks, campfires, workshops and movie nights are also offered throughout the summer.
A fluctuating team of members help coordinate all these activities. You can join the CSA’s team of coordinators if you like by sending me an email describing your interests.
The Harvest Share
The harvest-share entitles a community member to a bounty of garden produce for 17 weeks. Food is ready for distribution around Summer Solstice (end of June), with the season ending a few weeks after the Fall Equinox (mid October). The cost of a harvest-share is $550 dollars. These funds help with the purchase of seed, tools, utilities and machinery as well as organizational costs, certification, distribution and professional resources.
The harvest-share consists mostly of vegetables, but you will also find fresh culinary herbs and the occasional treat, such as bouquet of flowers, dry herbs for tea, honey, etc. If you’re curious to know more, you can visit the FAQ section or read up past newsletters to see what members were eating at that time of the season.
When deciding how many people to include in your harvest share, ask yourself how many meals you prepare at home, how many of them include vegetables as a main course and whether or not you like to process foods for juicing, sauces, preserves, winter storage, etc. Are you open to designing your meals around local and seasonal trends? We hope to provide one household with a valuable contribution to their weekly vegetable supply. Simply put, one harvest-share can satisfy one to four people.
Perhaps this is your time ordering a food basket, or you’re just a little apprehensive about buying a full harvest-share. If you’d rather make a smaller comitment, we are offering a biweekly harvest-share. For $300 you will receive a full harvest-share once every two weeks.
Collecting Your Bounty
Riverglen Farm is easily accessible to a good portion of Ottawa’s West-end neighbourhoods. Many people enjoy picking up their weekly bounty at the farm. Pickup hours are 4pm-8pm, every Monday and Thursday. One could easily drop in on the way home from work or come in the early evening once traffic has died down. Take the opportunity to linger a while and explore the garden or the nearby river.
There are also pickup locations around town. I can drop off food to locations in downtown, Hintonburg, Westborough, Britannia, Nepean and Kanata, just as long as there are at least 12 members picking up from that location. It takes minimal effort to host the pickup location. All we need is an out of the way spot to setup a table or shelves. Every week, I unload a few Rubbermade bins of vegetables and members pickup their food during the hours specified by the host. All unclaimed food becomes the property of the pickup host.
It is a member’s responsibility to pickup their bounty every week. It does take some effort to add another weekly task to any busy schedule, but please try to pickup your food every week. If you can’t make it one week, offer your bounty to a friend or colleague. Once vegetables get to their destination, they can’t come back nearly as easily.
A Farm in the City
We are very lucky to have access to land in the National Capital Commission’s Greenbelt. Being within the City of Ottawa means many people can easily visit the farm. When planning a visit to the farm, please take the time to acquaint yourself with visiting hours and safety guidelines which will be published online and in our newsletter. Pay attention to your surroundings and you will notice tools, rocks, electric fences, ducklings, flowers and great big squash!
With open mind, eyes and heart, we’re sure you will appreciate the creative energy burgeoning at Riverglen Farm. Thank you for taking interest in Food Sovreingty.