Cooper Road CSAA number of years ago I became increasingly interested in growing heirloom and unusual vegetables at my farmhouse east of Toronto. I began Cooper Road CSA in 2005 as a way of sharing the bounty. I have always believed that healthy food comes from healthy soil. My produce is grown organically without chemical inputs. The soil is enriched with compost and manure from certified organic beef cattle. I tend the garden by hand and practise crop rotation.
Welcome to Cooper Road CSA
Through your membership you are supporting local, organic and sustainable agriculture. We bought our 13 acre farm in 1990. At that time it contained a field with hedgerows on two sides, a spruce tree, apple tree and a patch of rhubarb. We have planted more than 1500 trees to create a wooded area, an extensive mixed border in the garden area, an heirloom apple orchard and beds for annual vegetables and soft fruits like raspberries, currants, shrub cherries and hardy table grapes. Most CSAs charge a flat fee for the season with little or no opportunity for the members to choose what they would like to order. Members often need to pick up their order. I have set up my CSA a little differently. Members pay an annual fee which covers delivery to their door and customizing their order. Each week I send an email listing what will be available the next weekend and the price of each item. Members select from the list and return their order by email. Payment is weekly by cheque, cash or email transfer. Because of home delivery, membership is restricted to Riverdale, Leslieville and little India. There is a weekly order minimum of $25. If you are going to be out of town just let me know you won’t be ordering that week. Produce includes herbs, many salad greens including heirloom red and green lettuces, arugula and kale, chard, five kinds of potatoes, summer and winter squash, five different beets, carrots, beans, leeks, garlic and about 30 different heirloom and hybrid tomatoes. I also support my neighbouring farmers by complementing my produce with their products. These include seasonal produce like asparagus, strawberries and certified organic cultivated blueberries, occasionally grass finished beef and eggs throughout the season. Throughout the year I also offer products from my kitchen. These have included ramp (wild leek) pesto, spinach and garlic scape gnocchis, jellies using natural pectin, wild applesauce, pickles and relishes. I post a blog which was shortlisted in the Canadian Weblog 2012 Awards. You might get a good sense of what I grow and my philosophy from some of the posts.The address is http://cooperroadcsa.blogspot.ca. If you are interested in becoming a member or have any questions please send me an email at [email protected]. From Benjamin, a member for three years. “We really enjoyed being part of the CSA, and are definitely interested in 2014! We were very happy with the produce that we received, as well as the ease and informality of ordering. Something I enjoyed was learning about and trying several different varieties of a given vegetable. We were also happy to have the option to buy things from other farmers in your area (berries, esp!)” Cooper Road CSA is available weekly in season by delivery or pick up at my house. Contact me for details of delivery area and this year's season. |