Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) Project
Upper Canada Heritage Farm is offering 30 memberships in our new CSA project (see Details below).
Half shares are now available - contact Barbara for details
What is Community Shared Agriculture (CSA)?
Community Shared (or Supported) Agriculture is an approach to growing and purchasing food products in which the farmer and consumer are working cooperatively. In CSA, the farmer grows food for a predetermined group of customers. The customer enters into an agreement of purchase with the farmer prior to the start of the season. The farmer gains a guaranteed market; the consumer gains high quality, fresh food as it becomes available.
The consumer-producer relationship is strengthened through the increased involvement of the consumer on the farm and with the farmer. CSA members have the satisfaction of knowing where their food comes from and the farmer who grows it. The farmer has a guaranteed market coupled with up-front cash from member payments that can eliminate the need to borrow start-up capital.
Farmers also benefit by developing a long-term community interest in the viability of their farm. Reconnecting people with the land and the farmers that support them is an important part of Community Shared Agriculture.
Details of Upper Canada Heritage Farm CSA
We have adapted the CSA model to fit our heritage meat production. Members will receive:
- half a pig
- a third of a cow
- five chickens
- fifty duck eggs
In addition, members are invited to take part in the farm through workdays and potlucks. Members are offered a plot of land for their own vegetable garden should they wish it. And members are welcome to wander our 100 acres at their leisure.
Members will receive a monthly newsletter to let them know what’s happening on the farm, what’s coming up, and recipe ideas.
We are always looking for new farm-generated products and ways to share the bounty. Members will be given first crack at any new thing the farm produces. Ideas for future offerings include cut flowers, potted herbs and cedar and pine saplings. Members are encouraged to come up with new ideas for our farm.
Membership in Upper Canada Heritage Farm CSA Project
Agreement to Purchase
Membership is for a 6 month period from the date of signing the Agreement to Purchase, during which members receive:
- half a pig (about 85 lbs hanging weight)
- third of a cow (about 90 lbs packaged weight)
- five chickens (about 5 lbs each)
- 50 duck eggs
$1,150 value for $955
Shared Risk
It is the nature of a CSA project to share the risk between the farm and its members. Potential for risk is quite small in this project, since weather and insects are not factors. However, there is the slim possibility that we might encounter factors beyond our control, for example, a disease causing high mortality, a barn fire, or ducks that don’t lay enough eggs. You may receive a pig or chicken that is not as heavy as estimated, but on the other hand, you may receive a heavier animal.
Payment Schedule
| $477.50 | due upon signing the Agreement |
| $172 | upon receipt of pork |
| $243 | upon receipt of beef |
| $50 | upon receipt of chickens |
| $12.50 | upon receipt of first half dozen duck eggs |
| $955 | Total payment |
I, __________________ , agree to the terms stipulated in this Agreement to Purchase.
| _______________________________ | _______________________________ |
| Signed | Dated |
I, Barbara Schaefer, owner/farmer of Upper Canada Heritage Farm, agree to provide to the best of my ability the products listed in the Agreement to Purchase.
| _______________________________ | _______________________________ |
| Signed | Dated |
Contact Barbara for more information at heritagemeat@sympatico.ca.