Locally Germinated: a farmer’s cooperative, established in 2011, uses an innovative business model called Community Supported or Shared Agriculture (CSA) to provide fresh, ecologically-grown food to the Chatham-Kent & Windsor-Essex areas. CSA’s bring together consumers and farmers in support of a healthy & resilient local economy. People from the community buy a Membership or a Subscription and in return receive a Fresh & Local weekly bag of produce featuring the freshest seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs. Our members are directly supporting their farmers & our families. We started off at the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market in it’s very first year & we were part of the Belle River Farmers’ Market’s inaugural year in 2014 & a full season vendor in 2015.
A commitment to strict organic farming methods – no GMO’s, no artificial pesticides/insecticides/herbicides/fungicides, no artificial petroleum-based fertilizers. We use permaculture inspired, sustainable & no-till farming methods to grow food in a way that protects the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare.
Our current farmers:
rashel tremblay – grew up on a farm in Tilbury, ON, and is a music-loving, weed-eating, barefooted, sole parent to three life-learning children.
Michael and Deb Tremblay – have been farming for over 50 years, and transitioned to Organics in the mid 1990’s. They are pioneers in the local organic food movement and live in Tilbury, ON, where they raised 4 children. They grow a variety of crops and raise chickens for eggs and meat. In 2014 they raised heritage pigs for the first time.
Nous sommes bilingues.
We also get a HUGE amount of help, in diverse ways, from the 4 farm children, from rashel’s 3 siblings & their partners, from Andrea (super farm friend, family) & from our many aunts, uncles & cousins (especially Tina!).
Our History: Locally Germinated is currently based on a family farm in Lakeshore near the town of Tilbury. The homestead was established in the 1880’s, the land cleared to make way for farming, and the Ash Trees used to build the still-standing log house that the Tremblay family currently lives in. The farm has been in the family since it was established and passed down through generations of mothers. Deb spent most of her childhood living on the farm with her parents and went on to raise her own 4 children there. The Creek that runs along one side of the farm is Tremblay Creek, named for some of Mike’s ancestors. We have all been blessed to be on this very special land.
Location: The farm is located at 20600 Morris Rd, Lakeshore (outside the town of Tilbury), 30 minutes from Windsor. Pre-ordered veggies (through memberships + subscriptions) are currently delivered on Fresh & Local Fridays. For those using our no contact on-farm pick-up, your Fresh & Local veggie orders will be in our self-serve fridge on Fridays & can be accessed at your convenience.
This is exactly what we’re doing 🙂 Unfortunately we are sold out for this year. If you’d like I can add your email address to our list for next year. You can also visit us at the Downtown Windsor Farmer’s Market on Saturdays all summer.
hey when and how do we sign up for this
I can add you to our mailing list for next year and you’ll get all the details for 2014.
Hi Eric, thanks for your interest! Is your email the same one you registered in order to leave a comment? If so, then I’ll add it to our email list.
no problem!
I’ve added the email you used to comment on the blog 🙂
I’ve added the email you used to comment on the blog, Matt 🙂
done!
no problem.
No problem Vince
Done!
Sorry for the delay, Kelli, you are now added to our list.
You’re on the list, Julie.
Pat – Thank you for your interest! We are not considering a drop-off in Amherstburg at this time. We’re waiting to get word about a farmer’s market in Windsor and then we’ll know the exact day and times for the Windsor drop off. There will also be a farm pickup in Cottam on a different day from the Windsor one. The only thing I can suggest is seeing if you have a friend or family member you can split a share with who does go into Windsor, or Cottam, on a more regular basis.
Hi Jen, please send an email to locallygerminated@gmail.com for more information. Thank you!
We’ll send you an email about volunteering.
Lisa, we don’t have fruits right now. Fruit trees are a major investment and don’t produce for years. We are a new business and haven’t invested large sums of money into fruit production yet. Everything is organically-grown, yes.
We accept cash, cheques, and email money transfers. Please email us at locallygerminated@gmail.com again to work out the details of payment and the address of the farm in Tilbury. This website and your email have the directions/address for the Cottam farm.
Thank you.
All berries require a large investment and time, less than Trees but, still significant. Blueberries in particular cannot grow on land that grows anything else as they are very particular about their growing conditions (acidic soil only). We are growing Watermelons, Cantaloupes, and Honey Dew but each member will only be getting 1 of those each (for a variety of reasons). Yes we grow Tomatoes and other non-sweet fruit (Peppers, Eggplant, Squash, etc.) but it confuses people when we refer to them as fruits because than people expect to be getting sweet fruit like Apples, Pears, Berries, etc.
As we’ve said we are a new business and are growing at a sustainable rate in order to succeed. We are not a grocery store and we are not looking to replace the grocery store. We are doing something very unique, especially in this area, as other farmers do not grow over 60 different types of veggies in one year.
Hi Telly, the only thing I can think of is sending someone else in your place to either location and maybe even splitting with them. Would that work for you? Do you have any friends or family that regularly go to the market?
done! 🙂
Done 🙂
Same here………….
Is there a way to contact you via phone as I have some questions about the availability of produce this fall.
Karen, the only place to get produce this Fall will be at the downtown Windsor farmer’s market that happens Saturdays from 8am-1pm at Charles Clark Square.
Hi Karen, we are going through changes right now and what will happen in 2014 hasn’t been decided yet. You can be put on our email list or sign up for this blog’s updates to get information about 2014 when it’s all been figured out.
Done 🙂
I will send you an email answering your questions, Nicole.
Sorina – I have added you to the list. If the membership email you receive doesn’t answer all of your questions please feel free to email us for further information 🙂
done 🙂
Please add me to your email list. Thank you!
added 🙂
Please add my email to the list if it’s not too late! 🙂
It’s not too late, you’re added 🙂
I’d like to sign up. I’d definitely like to have a location in Windsor, but if that isn’t available I can drive somewhere. As long as it’s organic, completely healthy produce I’m in! Do you sell chicken as well?
Hi Trish, can you please send an email to locallygerminated@gmail.com? We do sell chicken as well 🙂
I am interested in doing the weekly coop. Could you please let me know what I would need to do to sign up. Thank you
Brianne, can you please send an email to locallygerminated@gmail.com, thanks!
Looking to join for this year if there is any available openings. I live in Comber and heard there may be a pickup near Tilbury.
What a fabulous. I would love to be a part of this and support local farmers while supporting my families health. Are you still accepting new members this year?
Tracey – We will be closing to new members soon but it’s not too late yet. If you send an email to locallygerminated@gmail.com I can give you more information on our program 🙂
Hi there, I am a local person trying to find out more information. I am currently expanding my food production and was looking to a model similar to yours however I would much rather contribute to a already vibrant system. I am located in merlin on 8 acres currently doing chicken both eggs and meat, pheasant, sheep are on the way, and I have 1 dairy cow soon to be bred. We are expanding our garden this year and would like to know if you have openings for contributions or if we can simply talk further regarding this subject
Thank you for your time
Hi Jason, I will send you an email to discuss this further 🙂
We would like to sign up for the weekly baskets. How do we do this and how much does it cost?
Hi Judy – information on signing up is on our Membership Information page now 🙂
Hi there i was at the market you had in Windsor on mothers day weekend. A few of my fennel plants didn’t make it. Would it be possible to get more and pick them up on Wednesday? I see you do a pick up on Wyandotte.
Thank you
Hi Lori, how many Fennel plants would you like?
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