Tag Archives: The Cutting Veg

It's not too early to consider your 2011 CSA share

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CSA share

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From Farmer Daniel of The Cutting Veg:

Hello Farm Folk,

The Cutting Veg is thrilled to offer another year of freshly harvested, local, organic produce through our Four Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) locations in the GTA! A CSA is a mutually beneficial partnership in which individuals or families receive fresh, local, organically grown produce weekly, while supporting local farmers and sustainable growing practices. The Cutting Veg Organic Farm grows and sources local, organic produce, and community members come to their chosen depot from June to October, to choose their weekly share. CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT! With March having arrived, planting season is around the corner, and in a matter of weeks we will be in the field, planting peas, onions, arugula, salad greens, Asian greens, and more.

Pick-up locations:

For more information, or to register for the 2011 season, visit http://www.thecuttingveg.com, or contact Daniel at 647-388-7444, or daniel@thecuttingveg.com.

This year I will once again be involved in Everdale’s CSA at First Narayever Synagogue near Bathurst and Harbord (part of Hazon’s network of CSAs) and will post information on that one when information becomes available. It might seem odd that I’m on the organizing committee for one and promoting another (I vaguely recall one person commenting on this last year), but I’m happy to spread the word about different Community Supported Agriculture programs such as The Cutting Veg. I believe in eating local food, in season. I believe in making Community Supported Agriculture as convenient and accessible as possible. It’s community supported agriculture and these programs must be located in places convenient to their users.  It’s not competition among Community Supported Agriculture programs, it’s partnership and awareness-building. Be a part of your community’s!

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Like garlic? How about 9 varieties of garlic?

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Garlic Bulbs

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The Cutting Veg grows over a dozen varieties of garlic from various places in the world. Starting with 100 bulbs in 2005, The Cutting Veg has built up its volume of seed stock to the point of a harvest of 20,000 bulbs in 2010. This year’s harvest was done over this past weekend.

I got the following email from my friend Farmer Daniel of The Cutting Veg, and wanted to share it with you. The order form that was attached to the email can be found here:

Hello Garlic Lovers,

The Garlic Harvest is done! Thanks to the hard work of 40+ people over the last three days, we have finished harvesting our 20,000+ bulbs of the freshest, localest, organicest garlic around. Specifically, we have nine varieties available for order this season: Persian, Tibetan, Russian, Salt Spring Island, Korean, Ukrainian, Italian, Former Yugoslavia, and Sicilian. The Cutting Veg is also introducing our “Value Packs”, and “Large Value Packs” this season, for folks who aren’t yet addicted to certain varieties, and want to sample a wide spectrum, at a discount price. For more info about the various varieties, and their unique qualities, please visit http://www.thecuttingveg.com/global-garlic/varieties-available.html.

The garlic is now hanging in the barn, enabling it to cure. The curing process is vital in enabling the garlic to store for many months. Once the curing is completed (3-4 weeks), we will need to cut the garlic off the stalks, clean the bulbs, and label them.

This means your garlic order will be available sometime in mid-September.

If you would like to place an order, please fill out the attached garlic order form [see below], and email it back to me. In your email, please also indicate your desired pick-up location (see below for options), and your chosen method of payment. Please note that orders will be filled on a first-paid, first-filled basis.

Options for receiving your garlic order:

1. Pick up at Sorauren Farmers Market, in Sorauren Park, near Dundas St. West and Lansdowne, on a Monday, between 3 and 6:30pm
2. Pick up at Temple Sinai, at 210 Wilson Avenue, near Wilson and Avenue rd, on a Tuesday between 2:30 and 6pm.
3. Pick up at the Park Road Organic Harvest CSA, at 28 Park Road, near Bloor and Yonge, on a Wednesday between 3 and 6:30pm.
4. Pick up at the Kavanah Garden, in the Vaughan/Thornhill area, near Bathurst and Rutherford Rd, on a Thursday between 3 and 6:30pm.
5. Have your garlic shipped to you. (Cost $20 within Ontario, and $30 to other provinces)

Payment Options:

1. Cheque, made out to The Cutting Veg, and sent to 21 Kenwood Ave, Toronto, ON, M6C 2R8
2. Paypal (www.paypal.ca), with payment directed to daniel@thecuttingveg.com.

If you are interested in growing your own garlic this year, check out the following link for basic growing instructions: http://www.thecuttingveg.com/global-garlic/how-to-grow-garlic.html

For garlic sampling recipes (to get to know the various varieties), check out http://www.thecuttingveg.com/global-garlic/garlic-recipes.html.

Volunteers
The Cutting Veg is always looking for volunteers. It’s a fun gig and you get to take home some of what you pick, as well as getting a lesson about organic farming (see my post from last September). To volunteer, email Daniel with the subject line, “Sign me up for TCV E-News”. The weekly Farm Talk newsletter includes a “Volunteer Needs” section. For example, a recent newsletter prior to the garlic harvest said, “We will be welcoming volunteers this week and next from Sunday – Thursday, between 6:30 and noon. If you would like to come and help out on one of these days, please rsvp that you intend to come, and let us know if you will be driving, or need support with a lift. The farm is approx 30 mins from Toronto, and I will send you directions, if you rsvp that you will be driving.”

RSVP to the e-newsletter and let him know when you want help out. Newsletters occasionally include recipes and other fun stuff.

Tell him I sent you.

Eat well, be well.

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CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) the GTA

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Despite the frosty week, we’re well into spring.  10 days into May already. This means two things: Outdoor farmer’s markets are opening soon (I have 3 within walking distance of work and home) and it’s almost CSA season. CSA = Community Supported Agriculture, aka harvest share, and each year Toronto’s options are growing.

Want help finding one near you? Here’s a guide to some CSAs in and just beyond Toronto.

The Cutting Veg

I’ve already blogged about The Cutting Veg’s new CSA, Park Road Organic Harvest, near Yonge and Bloor, with pick up on Wednesday from The Park Road Healing Arts clinic. For those farther north The Cutting Veg has two more: The Tikkun Adamah CSA (“Repairing of the Earth”) is located in the Bathurst and Rutherford Road area, in partnership with the Kavanah Garden, with pick-up taking place on Thursday afternoons. The Pri Adamah CSA (“Fruits of the Earth”) is located in the Wilson and Avenue Road area, in partnership with Temple Sinai, with pick-up taking place on Tuesday afternoons. All of The Cutting Veg CSA’s run weekly from the beginning of June to the end of October. Visit The Cutting Veg’s website and Kavanah Organic Community Teaching Garden’s website more information.

Mid town? Want more options? Summer produce, artisan goods and meat

Culinarium at Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton is hosting 3 Share Programs this year.

Summer Produce CSA

From June to October enjoy 19 weeks of farm fresh local organic produce from the Triple Cord Mennonite community in Aylmer Ontario. More information.

Ontario Artisan Share Program™: Summer program.

Every other Thursday for 18 weeks from June to October pick up your basket of Ontario Artisan food stuffs. A great way to sample the variety of wonderful foods produced here in our fine province. Shares include fresh fruit and veggies, artisan cheese, meats, legumes and various pantry staples such as flour, jam, syrup etc. Each week the basket will feature something different based on availability, harvest or seasonality. More information.

Meat Share Program

For the conscious carnivore, Culinarium offers Pork, Lamb and Beef shares plus a Mixed Meat Share for those with small freezers.

Culinarium™ has revived the ancient ritual of feeding our families with meat from a single animal, bred by passionate stewards of the land – local Ontario Farmers. Through Culinarium™ you can now buy a “share” of an LFP certified, pasture raised animal from a farmer you know and trust.

More information.

Everdale Organic Farm

Perhaps you’d like to join a CSA but The Annex/Harbord Village is a more convenient as a pick up location? Everdale Organic Farm and the First Narayever Congregation have been partnering for four years to bring farm-fresh produce to the community. This is the one that I’m directly involved with, as CSA member and committee member.

Qs and As about this CSA:

How does the Everdale/First Narayever program work?

Everdale Farm, an organic farm and environmental learning centre, and the First Narayever Congregation have partnered to bring this Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program to the Annex.

A CSA strengthens the relationship between the people growing food, and those eating it.  Members pay in advance for the season based on the size of their weekly share (small, medium, or large).  Then, Every Tuesday from June 15 to October 26, members choose the produce that they want from a market set up at the Narayever, located at 187 Brunswick Avenue, just north of Harbord Street.

What happens if I can’t make it one week, or if I’m only around for part of the summer?

You pay for your share based on the number of weeks that you want to receive it.  The on-line registration form allows you to exclude the weeks you will be away.  You can even choose just a fall share (September and October).

If your plans change and there’s a week you can’t make it, you can cancel your order and receive a refund by sending an email to the farm as long as you provide two-weeks notice.  At any time, you can also choose to donate your weekly share to those in need.  Finally, we are flexible about who picks up your produce.  For times you can’t get there, we encourage you to send someone in your place.  We’ll show them how it all works when they come.

What if there are things I don’t like at the market?

Our CSA is unique in that you are able to choose what you want each week based on what’s in season.  We are not a box program.  Instead of prescribing what you must take, shares are based on a point system: you get a certain number of points every week and you can use them towards whatever produce you want.

Why should I join a CSA when I can go to a Farmer’s Market?

The CSA is about more than buying organic, local groceries that taste great.  A CSA is also about creating community.  Each week you have a chance to talk to the farmers and to meet other members of the CSA.  Our CSA organizes workshops to learn how to preserve the harvest – so you can eat locally throughout the year.  We also plan trips to Everdale farm to see firsthand where our food grows.

Our CSA has a social conscience.  Each year, we partner with an organization to which we donate any uncollected or donated shares.  Last year alone, we provided about 80 boxes of fresh, organic food to families in need.  This year, shares donated or not picked will be given to The STOP Community Food Centre for use in their community kitchen.

Finally, joining the CSA is a cost effective way to get local, organic, high quality produce.  A harvest share costs far less than the same produce purchased at a local farmers’ market.

[Andrea adds:  Why not join a CSA and shop a farmer's market?]

Is this a Jewish CSA?

While based at the First Narayever Congregation, the CSA is open to all members of the community.  The CSA is grounded in Jewish values of environmentalism and social justice, but is welcoming to anyone.  We do offer Jewish-themed activities, especially around the Jewish holidays, and our weekly newsletter includes commentaries on issues from a Jewish perspective, but we would welcome ideas and contributions from other perspectives as well.

For more information, please email TorontoCSA@gmail.com or Harvestshare@everdale.org

View map of 187 Brunswick.

Hungering for the outdoor markets?

If you’re wondering when your local farmer’s market opens up, The Cookbook Store posted some dates to their blog two days ago. Also check out Farmer’s Markets Ontario and the Toronto Farmers’ Market Network.

Now, whichever location or format is most convenient for you, go forth and join a CSA!

Eat well, be well.

Related post:

Slow Food Toronto – Community Shared Agriculture (CSA)

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