I have to share with you all a great project my girlfriend passed onto me that is happening here in Edmonton. It is called “The Organic Box”. It provides weekly deliveries of local and non-local organic produce, brought in direct from local farmers and Canadian distributors depending on the season. Each box contains about 15-20 fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to your home or work.
They aim to bring their members as close to their producers as possible, sourcing all their produce from local farmers throughout the Alberta growing season. They will deliver a box of healthy organic, local fruit and vegetables to your doorstep weekly or bi-weekly – your choice. The quality of the produce is guaranteed and deliveries begin mid May and run for 13 weeks. Check it out at www.theorganicbox.ca.
Tracy Fortin
Hey, thanks for the info! I’ve been scouring the Edmonton scene for local food info and over the last few years I’ve found some pretty nice gems. Thought I’d share them since its on topic.
All this is based on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Essentially, its giving farmers money up front in the spring time when they need to buy all their seeds and greenhouse stuff, and in return you get some of the harvest each week or every other week. More on CSA: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Sparrow’s Nest Organics CSA
http://www.sparroworganics.com
Located in Opal, Alberta with weekly deliveries to Edmonton. Certified organic farm and 100% vegan (i.e. all veggies and herbs).
The Good Food Box CSA
http://www.eatlocalfirst.com/the-good-food-project.php
A multi-farm CSA of the farmers on Edmonton’s urban fringe hoping to prevent urban sprawl by connecting Edmontonians to their farmers! Includes veggies, meat, bread, some prepared foods.
Tipi Creek Farm CSA
http://www.tipicreek.ca/home.html (click on ‘shared agriculture’)
A farm northwest of St. Alberta (near Villeneuve) growing veg and fruit. Drop off location is in west Edmonton. They also have a U-Pick strawberry operation
Urban Veggie Collective CSA
Sonja M. does organic SPIN farming in Edmonton (“Small Plot INtensive” farming). Volunteers come to your yard and plant a garden. They grow food on your land. You get some veggies, they get some veggies, extra harvest is sold.
On Borrowed Ground CSA
http://www.CSAalberta.com/
Anita also does some SPIN farming in Edmonton. She will deliver the produce to your door if you like.
EAT Food for Life CSA
http://www.EATFoodforLife.ca
A multi-farm meat CSA care of Tim & Maighread Axe. Tim and Maighread have a property called Terra Caritatis Patris Farm where they raise Red Angus X beef that is exclusively grass-fed, and dry-aged three weeks. They also raise pastured soy-free turkey and chicken. Along with a group of like-minded small family farmers, they are providing monthly packages which can be delivered to your door.
Locavoria
Email: locavoria@gmail.com
“Local food that is well-raised and well-grown.” Not a CSA, but local delivery. They have a long list of local producers that they organize and you then pick up your order at one of 3 locations in central Edmonton.
Some of their producers: (seasonal producers not listed here)
Amber Lane Farm (Herman and Alice Bulton)
Breadland Organic Whole Grain Bakery (Agnes and Csaba Nemeth)
Halwa Farms Organic Produce and Grains (Vince Halwa)
Lola Canola (Patty Milligan)
Prairie Mill Bread Co. (Owen Peterson)
Sunshine Organic Farm (Sherry and Ed Horvath)
Teamwork Farm (Vern and Cindy Rosene)
Sunshine Organic Farm
http://www.sunshineorganicfarm.com/
Located west of Thorsby, Alberta. Not a CSA but they do take orders. Mostly organic meats and some veg.
Greens, Eggs & Ham – prepay plan and listserv
http://liveoriginal.yolasite.com/community-supported-agriculture.php
Not a CSA but also do a pre-pay plan. Just outside of Leduc, they do free range turkey, chicken, duck, duck eggs and heritage vegetables. Ocean Odyssey (Crestwood location only) and CareIt Urban Deli have their stuff for sale.
Ocean Odyssey Inland, 10027 – 167 St. Edmonton, 780-930-1901
Careit Urban Deli – Crestwood, 9672 – 142 St. Edmonton, 780-709-1933
TK Ranch
http://www.natural-beef.net/buy-direct.html
Hanna, Alberta. Organic, grass-fed meats. They deliver every two weeks to Edmonton homes. They also vend at Planet Organic if you prefer that.
Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton (OFRE)
http://ofre.wordpress.com/
This group will harvest your fruit from your yard (eg. crab apples, berries, anything really). Let OFRE volunteers come pick for you: 1/3 of the harvest goes to you, 1/3 goes to volunteers and 1/3 goes to the Food Bank.
Farm Fresh Organics
http://www.freshorganics.ca/index.html
“Home delivery service system delivering a variety of healthy and vibrant certified organic fruits and vegetables right to your door, the majority grown on local (B.C.) certified organic farms when in season. Free delivery to your doorstep can be scheduled weekly (for Edmonton, it’s every Thursday or Friday), or every second week.”
Other food resources…
Alberta Farmer’s Market Association
http://www.albertamarkets.com/
Lists farmer’s markets (8 in Edmonton!), u-pick farms and local restaurants that use local ingredients. Great resource.
The Urban Farmer
http://www.theurbanfarmer.ca/
Edmonton’s Ron Berezan is an amazing wealth of knowledge, and you can absorb some of his insight through some workshops such as Edible Forest Gardens, Creating an Edible Yard, and Home Canning and Preserving.
Slow Food Edmonton
http://www.slowfoodedmonton.ca/?p=45
Slow Food is the ideological counterpart of fast food culture. This group has compiled a list of “good food” sources for Edmonton and area. Membership required to attend events.
Just Food Edmonton
http://foodforalledmonton.org/
A hub for Edmonton food groups, food events, advocacy, etc. Concerned individuals and organizations working together to network food security agencies in the Capital Region.
Edmonton Community Garden Network
http://www.edmcommunitygardens.org/
Don’t have a yard or balcony to grow your own food? Join a community garden and grow food on public land! Over 65 gardens! Go to the “find a garden” tab because there is likely one in your community.
“Homesteading the Avenue” Workshops
http://www.albertaave.org/homesteader.html
Located in the Alberta Avenue community, these workshops are designed to share information and techniques that for many have been long forgotten: Bread Making, Seed Starting, Grafting Fruit Trees, Beauty Care Products, Making a Square Foot Garden, Homemade Cleaning Products.
Wow – What a detailed and thoughtful reply. Thank you to both posters. We will be forwarding this information onto everyone we know and that will certainly do at least a little to grow support for this type of living.