WHAT'S A CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a distribution model based on strong relationships and trust between the members and the farmers. It can be a wonderful and reliable avenue for selling produce for any farmer, but it is especially beneficial for new farmers because the pre-season sign up provides us with income to cover the costs of starting operations (seeds, tools, infrastructure, etc.). CSA programs cut out the intermediaries, meaning the money you spend on your CSA goes straight back into the farm - and you get your produce fresh and straight from the land.
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This membership option gives you 100% of the choice over which vegetables you receive and when. There is no requirement to commit to picking up vegetables every week, though it is always an option. Place an order every week or every month - it’s up to you! However, all of your credit must be used by the end of the season - it is non-transferable and non-refundable.
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Every week, you will be sent a link to our online store. You can shop for your favourite seasonal veggies and flowers, purchasing as many or as few of each as you like.
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This share style is much more flexible, though it is on you to ensure that your credit is used. A weekly order of ~$20 or a monthly order of ~$80 will allow you to use all your credit in the allotted time period. We kindly ask our members to have used 50% of their credit by the end of August.
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All CSA shares are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
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Why we love it
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We get to set the inventory and offer only what we have available. We do our best to offer a wide selection of veggies/ flowers every week and grow plenty of favourites (greens, carrots, tomatoes) so that there are plenty of high-quality fresh veggies to go around.
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Having some guaranteed customers will help us plan for the season. Receiving payment in advance helps us to cover costs when costs are high and cash-flow is typically low. Your support helps us grow!
Why you’ll love it
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You get to choose exactly what you want from our selection of the highest quality, in-season vegetables and flowers.
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Buying a share in advance gives you access to our newsletters and special offers (like bulk items). You can feel good knowing that you’re helping the farm get off to a running start in the spring by prepaying.
SOLIDARITY SHARES
We acknowledge that fresh local vegetables are not always accessible for all folks, especially those who are marginalised and/ or on fixed incomes. We have a Solidarity Share Fund composed of donations from our members and a generous community that can be accessed by anyone that needs financial support to access our shares. We hope this program will allow more community members to access the CSA while ensuring fair compensation for the farmers. Anyone who is interested in a CSA but cannot, for any reason, afford a regularly priced share is welcome to these funds as they are available, just send us an email (springtide.organics@gmail.com).
Donations will be set aside into a solidarity fund and will be accessed upon request. Funds up to 50% of the total cost of a share may be accessed and the remainder may be paid in installments. These shares are based on donations, so will be available on a first come first served basis. We will do our best to ensure that all requests are met, but can make no guarantees.
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Please reach out if you are interested in a solidarity share.