Locally Germinated: a farmer’s cooperative, was founded in 2011, and uses an innovative food business model called Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, to bring fresh, ecologically-grown food to the Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent area. Consumers buy a share in our CSA and receive a weekly basket of produce featuring the freshest seasonal vegetables and herbs. Our members are directly supporting their farmers and our families. In 2012 we offered 50 different crops in the weekly baskets and are adding new ones this year as well as a permanent Herb Garden.
Our CSA customers get the largest, freshest, and highest quality produce we have to offer and get a 10-15% discount over buying our same produce at a Farmer’s Market.
Here are some examples of the fresh, local produce you can expect in your baskets throughout the 2013 season (subject to change):
- In June baskets will have – Lettuce, Snow Peas, Snap Peas, Radishes, Garlic Scapes, and more.
- In July – Beans, Garlic, Summer Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, and more.
- In August – Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Basil, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Melons, and more.
- In September – Beans, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Kale, Onions, and more.
- In October – Cauliflower, Beets, Turnips, Brussel Sprouts, Sunchokes, Leeks, and more.
Our 2013 share options are:
Regular Share (for a family of 3-4) : $25/week for 20 weeks = $500 total share price
Small Share (for 1-2 people) : $15/week for 20 weeks = $300 total share price
Large Share (for preserving or splitting) : $50/ week for 20 weeks = $1,000 total share price
Shares can be paid either in Full or in 3 installments. A deposit of half of the total share cost is required at sign-up before the March 28th deadline. A quarter of the total share cost, will be due with the first weekly basket the week of June 17th (give or take a week depending on the weather), and the final payment will be due the week of August 5th.
Payments can be made in person or by mail with cash or cheque; by email transfer; or by paypal (with a 3% extra charge).
A deposit is required so that we can properly plan for the season and purchase the seeds, baskets, compost, row cover and other equipment we need to start planting. Our first crops go in the ground in early April, and heat-loving crops such as tomatoes and peppers need to be germinated indoors by March. Other crops are started indoors in February.
Space is limited and will be on first come, first serve basis. We are putting a limit on the number of small shares we’re accepting as well as the number of members getting delivery in Windsor (location TBD). In order to offer delivery to Tilbury (for Chatham-Kent members) we need a minimum of 30 paid members from Chatham-Kent (please email for more details). There is no limit for local members who will be picking up at the farm.
We encourage interested members to split a larger share with a friend or family member or to take advantage of the in-season produce to preserve produce for the Winter (by canning, dehydrating, freezing, etc.)
For more information and to sign up please contact Rashel Tremblay at locallygerminated@gmail.com
Find Locally Germinated on facebook or at www.locallygerminated.wordpress.com
How does one sign up for your program?
Hi Maggie, please send a message to locallygerminated@gmail.com for more detailed information 🙂
What do you mean by “ecologically grown”? Is any of the produce organic?
Good question! We strictly abide by organic guidelines and even go beyond them. In the last couple of years it has become law to be certified in order to use the term organic. We have decided that it’s too costly for us to certify at this time since we are a very small operation but the farm in Cottam has been free of pesticides/insecticides/fungicides/herbicides/artificial fertilizers/GMO’s, etc since the early 1980’s and the farm in Tilbury was certified in the mid 1990’s and only recently decided not to re-certify for financial reasons. Ecological means we grow and care for our produce in a way that is mindful of our Eco-system. Some farmers decide to get ecologically-certified because the standards are stricter and more cost-efficient than organic standards. At this time we are open to folks coming to our farms and asking us questions if they feel they need the extra reassurance. We are aware that there are people out there who say they don’t spray or don’t spray much and aren’t being honest and so we are open to folks coming and seeing our operation.
Interested in applying for a share please contact me. I didn’t know you had to be certified to use the term organic either.