Down To Earth Organics CSA

Down to Earth Organics C.S.A. A Community Supported Agriculture Project The Farmers are Luke Macmillan, Zach Macmillan and Kellam Laur, along with a handful of volunteers who will be acquiring knowledge and experience in turn for labour. Luke and Zach have always been interested in planting and gardening since a young age, learning from their grandmother, and attending alternative schools growing up; acquiring an organic culture from the Waldorf curriculum. The brothers both spent seasons as interns at Wolf River Farm, as well as the Hill farm. Kellam has worked as a landscaper for multiple years, and has always had a fascination with nature. Our philosophies are very similar when it comes to life and farming: what you put in, is what you get out. A saying from the timeless Persian prophet Zoroaster sums up our philosophies, “he who sows the ground with care and diligence acquires a greater stock of religious merit then he could gain by the repetition of ten thousand prayers.” The Mission is to provide quality organic produce at a reasonable price while supporting a healthy ecosystem. Pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, preservatives, artificial fertilizers and G.M.O.s have been scientifically proven to be unhealthy and indigestible to our bodies and the environment. We believe that community supported agriculture programs are systems that ensure nutritious produce and healthy environments drawing from old-fashioned, hand-picked, organic field cultivation and a futuristic model for local food distribution. Each week, 7 – 10 different vegetables will be included in each share, with a couple weeks maxing out at 12. This is an alternative provided for working people without time to grow food for themselves/family to week-old produce from the supermarket. This allows them to have a share in a piece of land where fresh food is cultivated and reserved for them. The Program consists of shares that are bought by shareholders. “Shares” represent a portion of the land and therefore a portion of the produce grown. Every week, food is delivered or picked up similar to a magazine subscription. Advantages to C.S.A.s are that the customers get extremely fresh produce, get to know the farmers, learn more about how their food is grown and get to try foods they might not have experienced from a supermarket. Shareholders buy half of the seasons produce early to reserve their share as well as give us, the farmers, a chance to buy the seeds and essential equipment to produce vegetables and fruit in return. It is important to be aware that the customers share the risk with the farmers of a bad season but also of a bountiful one. This means that if half of the tomato plants are killed by a hail storm, then fewer tomatoes will be delivered. We will be using mulch to prevent weeds from growing as well as guaranteeing the nutrients used are going to the plants; using 7 ft. high fencing to protect the garden from all animals; mixing a natural spray of garlic, onion, hot peppers, and neem oil, to ensure bugs remain at bay; studying the development of the plants daily to support optimal growth; as well as farming extra acreage to secure a fruitful harvest. We offer 3 options in our program: 1. (Large) Full Share- a full bushel every week for 20 weeks (suitable for a family of 4) $750 or $37/week 2. (Medium) Half Share- half bushel every week for 20 weeks (suitable for a family of 2) $475 or $24/week 3. (Small) Single Share- quarter bushel every week for 20 weeks (suitable for 1 person) $300 or $15/week Payment can made by cheque or cash, all at once in a lump sum or in two separate payments. The first payment is made by April 14 while the second is made by August 1 to reserve your share’s produce for the season. Cheques can be made out to Luke Macmillan and delivery of payment can be made arranged with Luke Macmillan through phone or email with the contact information below. Delivery days will be Mondays. Delivery to your door will cost you a small gas fee of $3.00 per delivery if in a 1 hour radius of Owen Sound. Pick-up days will be Saturdays and are free of charge. The pick-up location will be at the Owen Sound Farmer’s Market from 9 AM to 12:30. There will also be a pick up spot in Port Elgin, at which the location has yet to be selected and confirmed. If given at least 1 weeks’ notice, an arrangement can be worked out to accommodate each other if you’re unable to pick up your share a certain week (ex. during a vacation). Contact Information is provided for any questions or concerns you may have. Luke MacMillan – luke_macmillan@live.ca Cellphone – 519-387-5853 Kellam Laur – kellamlaur@gmail.com Zach Macmillan – zachmacmillan@hotmail.com Extra food from the additional plot of land will be sold in boxes, for a flat rate of $30. This is not from the same acreage as the shareholders investment, though it is being grown to guarentee each shareholder will get what they pay for.