Your Membership supports the Environment, Employment (especially young people), Food Security, the Local Economy, and Education.

History

The Veggie Coop is an organic buyers club developed by The Organic Farm and The Lien Farm over ten years ago. Today, the Organic Farm and The Lien Farm operate separate CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). Although there are many similarities, each farm has some unique products and different delivery options. The Organic Farm has maintained the title of The Organic Veggie Coop. The Lien Farm operates the Lien Farm Share.

Membership Info

Members will have access to all of the vegetables and herbs which are produced on the farm. There will be around 80 members in the CSA. This year we will offer two membership options: a small bag at $16 per week ($240 for the 15 week season) and a large bag at $24 per week ($360 for the 15 week season).

Pick-Up Places and Times

Members can pick up their vegetables at the Science Building, Quadrangle Parking Lot, Memorial University at 6 PM on either Tuesday (small bag) or Thursday (large bag) evenings or from the farm chill room on the evening the vegetables are delivered or any time later in the week. Any vegetables not picked up at MUN can be picked up in the farm chill room the following day/evening.

Notice Of Pick-Up

A membership list is developed, with e-mail addresses and phone numbers of people who are supposed to pick-up. A week before the first pick up, people with e-mail addresses will be contacted by E-mail; others will be phoned. Once the season begins, an e-mail reminder will be forwarded the day before each of the deliveries. The starting date is weather dependent. This season will begin on either Tuesday (Thursday), June 20 (22) or Tuesday (Thursday), June 27 (29).

What About Holidays?

Members may take as many as three holiday weeks during the season and receive replacements at the end of the season. The membership subscription is still 15 weeks. We suspend your weekly bags while you are on holidays and add them at the end of the season in what would be Weeks 16, 17, and 18. If you plan a holiday, let us know as far ahead as possible and no later than the Friday before your holiday. An E-mail or a written note passed in at pick-up time is better than verbal information.

Additional Weeks

Members, who miss fewer than three weeks, can purchase one or more additional weeks at the end of the season at either $16.00 or $24.00 per week, as supplies last.

Cost

The cost of the Veggie Coop Membership for the 2006 Season is either $16.00 or $24.00 per week for 15 weeks for a total of either $240.00 or $360.00. New customers pay an additional $40 to purchase two locally made shoulder bags for packing and carrying vegetables.

Payment

Returning Members either $240.00 or $360.00

New Members either $280.00 or $400.00

Members have the following Payment Options:

Total Subscription Enclosed in one check, dated payable: June 15th
Total Divided in Two Checks, dated June 15th and August 15th
Total Divided into four checks, dated June 15th, July 15th, August 15th, and September 15.

Checks are the preferred form of payment. If this is not feasible, then please contact Mike Rabinowitz to make a plan. Please make your check or checks payable to: The Organic Farm.

Sharing A Membership

Often a membership is shared, with two or three families using the vegetables. In this case, we request that the full membership payment be made in the name of only one person, even though, different members from the group may pick-up on different weeks. Nevertheless, we certainly would like to know the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of all the sharing members, so that we can send e-mails to all members and so that we can phone a partner if one of the members forgets to pick-up their bag.

Choice

Can I choose some things and not others? This is a commonly asked question. Unfortunately, we are not able to pack the bags based on individual preferences or requests. The bags are packed on the farm, based on availability for that particular week. When members arrive to meet the truck, the bags are passed out and members are checked off. It is not feasible to add or take away items. However, we try to deal with member preferences in three ways: (1)Member Survey. We surveyed the membership last fall to obtain an over-all idea of which of our vegetables our members prefer. As expected, there was a divergence of opinions regarding "what was best?" and "what did you like least?". However, everyone who answered the survey, in general, was pleased. We will try to provide a variety of vegetables and herbs again this year. (2) Swap Box. Each week there is a swap box which enables members to swap something they don't like for something they do like. For example, we provide cucumbers as often as we can because this is a favourite. However, there is one family that is allergic to cucumbers and always swaps their cucumbers for something else in the swap box. There is another family with two young girls who love chard; this family tries to find something to swap for chard if it is in the swap box. (3) Special Orders: Members have first chance on special items such as artichokes, additional tomatoes, or basil. One mother has children who are allergic to tomatoes. She makes a pesto with basil and parsley which she serves with pasta. She picks up a special order of basil when she picks up her veggie bag.

What To Do If I Wish To Join 'The Organic Veggie Coop'

Please mail the membership form, your subscription payment, and your membership survey to: Organic Farm, 42 Churchill Rd. Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Nl. A1M 2P6. If you are a returning member and it is more convenient to make your payment(s) at the first pickup, then please e-mail the membership application form and membership survey to: OrganicFarm@NL.Rogers.Com

We can also be reached by telephone at (709) 895-2884.

Vegetables

Artichoke, Arugula, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Corn, Cress, Cuccumbers, Garlic, Green Onion, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mizuna, Onions, Pac Choi, Parsnip, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Shallots, Spinach, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini

Herbs

Basil, Chervil, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, French Tarragon, and Thyme.

Other

Salad Mixes, Sprouts, and possibly imported fruit. This years bag/box may also contain Living Plants. Other surprises are in store also!

Donation:

The Organic Farm is involved in several food sharing activities. One of them is the Veggie Coop. By adding an additional $5.00 or more to your membership, we can provide vegetables to other families at a reduced rate -- hopefully, at half the cost. If you know of someone who needs a break this season, please get in touch. You can present the story on their behalf. This is handled in an extremely confidential manner. (We are investigating the feasibility of giving a charitable receipt, under the auspices of a local charity which runs a food bank.) People with Special Needs will be considered for free membership. For Example, if you know someone that has severe allergies to the chemicals used in conventional farming, and can't afford market prices, we will provide a variety of free produce! This may be a Membership or Special Orders.

Harvest Dates

May	June	July	August	September	October
Chervil Chives Cress Radish	Arugula Kale Lemon Balm Lettuce Mint Mizuna Salad Mix Pac Choi Rhubarb	Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Cilantro Dill French Tarragon Green Onion Kohlrabi Lavender Oregano Sage Spinach	Carrots Chard Cuccumbers Garlic Lovage Parsley Peas Shallots Summer Squash Thyme Tomatoes	Artichokes Beans Fennel Leeks Onions Peppers Potatoes Radicchio Rosemary Turnip	Brussel Sprouts Celery Corn Parsnip Pumpkin Winter Squash Tomatillo