This article appeared in my local paper – the Delta Optimist – this past weekend. I am happy to say that we are one of the families who are participating in the Harvest Box Program by the Earthwise Gardens. We are looking forward to receiving our first box of locally grown produce.
Food security is a hot-button issue these days.
As awareness grows, more and more people are expressing the desire to develop strong local food systems and ecologically sustainable farms so communities can be confident of a local supply of nutritious, sustainably grown food.
Community supported agriculture programs are one method to support the growth of sustainable food systems and to provide access to fresh, local produce direct from the farm.
The Earthwise Society's Harvest Box program provides subscribers with 22 weekly harvest boxes of seasonal produce from the Earthwise Farm for an annual membership of $500.
The contents of the box will vary with the seasons, so participants really get a sense of what is available locally throughout the year in our climate.
Shane Sarsfield, a farm intern who has been working on the Earthwise Farm since March, has been prepping and planting crops for the start of the program. Sarsfield expects June's boxes will contain different varieties of fresh heritage lettuce, baby beets and carrots, spinach, rhubarb and baby potatoes.
During the summer, delicious heirloom tomatoes, multi-coloured beans, corn and specialty eggplants will fill the boxes, while in the late fall, the farm will harvest five varieties of winter squash, broccoli, Swiss chard and winter hardy lettuces like Rouge D'Hiver.
"The best thing about the box program is that people can really develop a relationship with the farm — and get to look forward to tasting what's in the box each week," says Sarsfield.
The Harvest Box program will introduce people to some more unusual vegetables like kohlrabi and rapini, both of which will be in the June boxes.
Allison and Madison, two students at South Delta Secondary, are working on a recipe book to help people with preparation tips for some of the less well known or "underappreciated" vegetables. The recipe book is a term project for the Sustainable Resources 12 in Agriculture program offered at the Earthwise Farm in partnership with the Delta school district.
People who want to take part in the Harvest Box program can register by contacting Earthwise at 604-946-9828.
It is also possible for an individual or company to sponsor a Harvest Box for a family in need. Earthwise has partnered with Delta social service organizations Reach and Deltassist to identify families that are most in need of fresh, healthy local produce to supplement their diet.
Donations from $25 to $500 will supply from one to 22 weeks of farm-fresh, seasonal produce to identified families. Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt for their contribution.
The deadline to subscribe to the program is June 9, although sponsorships will be accepted at any time.
Leave a Reply