Join our CSA!

enjoy fresh-harvested, local organic produce all season

CSA - Community Supported Agriculture

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a great way to support us at ERC in advance of the growing season by purchasing your share of our certified organic harvest to help cover the upfront costs of growing food on a small scale to ensure your food security. In exchange, you will receive not only an ERC CSA Produce Box filled with fresh, locally grown veggies on a weekly basis, but also piece of mind knowing in the event of supply chain disruptions you will still have fresh local produce available. And, as a BONUS - a tour of the ERC Educational Demonstration Farm! So you can get to know where your food is coming from and the amazing farmers that grow it.

Why choose us to be your farmer?

As a not-for-profit, your food dollars feed not only yourself but also your community, as all CSA proceeds support our work to grow food for folks facing food insecurity through ERC’s Community Food Box Program.

ERC is not only feeding bodies, but minds and spirits. We are an inclusionary educational demonstration farm with great events and workshops — becoming a CSA member is a great way to become part of the Elk Root Conservation community, AND to be first on the list to purchase our limited quantities of unique honey and fruit - like red-fleshed apples!

What is BORA?

ERC’s Educational Demonstration Farm is a think-tank of of applied research and innovation in ‘beyond’ organic regenerative agricultural practices (BORA). ERC’s BORA system includes innovative techniques of growing food that protects your food security, in these challenging times of climate change, and the planet at the same time. We work with nature not against it. Examples include promoting biodiversity to create our own beneficial insect pest brigade instead of using chemical pesticides or herbicides (even those approved for use on certified organic farms) to combat garden pests; and we do not use plastic covers to smother weeds, employing instead mulching, cover crops and other efficient weed suppression techniques.

ERC’s CSA: mid-May to October

Our CSA will launch in mid-May 2025 and will serve Nelson and the Slocan Valley with two weekly pickup options on: i) WEDNESDAYS (in Nelson); OR choose either WEDNESDAYS or THURSDAYS (on-Farm in Vallican). The CSA will run from about mid-May to October, depending on the weather, for 20 weeks. We will also offer the option to purchase an extension to keep going later into fall depending on our produce availability.

We have one ERC CSA Produce Box size. It is about a $40 weekly value, good for a veggie loving couple or small family. You will also be able to add on extra items and specialty items if you wish! A list will be emailed to you a week in advance with add-on items available for purchase the following week.

Your CSA Box Share is priced at $750. Payment in full is most appreciated at on confirmation of sign-up by ERC or by April 1. Or you can opt to pay in 2 instalments (April 1 and June 1). We aspire to be inclusive, so please get in touch if you require a more flexible payment plan.

What’s in Your Weekly Box?

Early spring:
8oz salad mix, 8oz spinach, small bok choy bunch, Hakurei salad turnips, radishes, herbs (if available)

Mid-summer:
A grower’s selection of 5-8 of the following: cherry tomatoes, cucumber, beans or peas, head lettuce, cabbage broccoli, carrots, kale or collards or Swiss chard, herbs

Late summer:
A grower’s selection of 5-8 of the following: tomatoes, cucumber, beans, salad mix or head lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, kale or collards or Swiss chard, pattypan or zucchini squash, herbs

Fall:
A grower’s selection of 5-8 of the following: tomatoes, cucumber, beans, salad mix or head lettuce, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, kale or collards or Swiss chard, pattypan or zucchini squash, herbs

Specialty Add-ons:
(for additional fee, when available)

Honey

Basil | Edible flowers

Corn

Potatoes | Garlic | Garlic scapes

Ground Berries

(strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

Tree Fruit

(elderberries, apples, asian pears, pears, plums, peaches)

Sign-up and Fine Print

ERC CSA Sign-Up

Email elkrootconservation@gmail.com with your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL so we can contact you and send information to you about your share.

NELSON MEMBERS: WEDNESDAY (5 pm pickup) at the Visitors Center in Nelson at Railway

SLOCAN VALLEY MEMBERS: Please choose which pick up day you would like: WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY. You may enter our farm gate at 4010 Passmore Lower Road in Vallican, and pick-up between 9am -6pm.

Let us know if you are paying in 1 instalment on April 1st or 2 instalments (2nd payment due by June 1), or get in touch to suggest another payment arrangement. Please note: a $100 non-refundable deposit on receiving confirmation of sign-up by ERC is required due to the limited number of shares available in 2025.

E-transfer payment to: accounts@elkrootconservation.ca
We have auto-deposit so you don’t need a password, but please let us know if your e-transfer is coming from a different name in the e-transfer message box.

The FINE PRINT

  • You can choose up to 2 item to never get in your box

  • If you can’t collect your box on your regular day, you have a few options (3 days advance notice is required of your choice):

    • Have a friend pick up your box;

    OR

    • Skip up to 2 boxes during the season and make those up later in the season;

    OR

    • DONATE your ERC CSA Produce Box to a family in need through ERC’s Community Food Box Program.