Spring has sprung and the growing season is about to begin.
Central Albertans will soon be enjoying fresh vegetables with the Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program at The Jungle Farm, near Innisfail.
The program is now entering its fifth consecutive year.
“We tried it our first year with the idea that we would have vegetables pre-packaged, washed and ready for people to take,” said Leona Staples, owner of The Jungle Farm. “After the first year we asked for some feedback and asked if (participants) would like the opportunity to be more involved in the process of growing and harvesting produce.”
The answer was yes. Staples said they made some changes for the following year, and the program continues to be a success today.
“The next year people could choose one of the items each week (as a) you-pick choice (weather permitting). We still do that today,” she said, noting the added value of the box and the learning opportunity it provides for children and families.
“To give people that opportunity to have that hands on education, I felt was really important,” she added.
Last year about 100 families participated in the vegetable box CSA program said Staples, adding that they have opened up a few new spaces this year due to the amount of interest. In addition, other changes this year include a BC fruit (box) option, a Thanksgiving box, and new this year, a spring box.
“Every year we try to get a little more feedback and we try to improve it according to what people have asked us for and what they feel is valuable,” said Staples. “The initial program was 12 weeks and this year we've gone up to 14 weeks for our summer (vegetable) box. If someone signs up for the spring box, the summer box and the Thanksgiving box they will get 19 weeks of vegetables, which for Central Alberta is pretty amazing,” she said.
The CSA program covers three seasons and provides several weeks of fresh produce at The Jungle Farm. The Thanksgiving box (one week), the summer box (14 weeks) and spring box (4 weeks),that begins on June 2.
“The spring box is going to be very, very green with items like kale, spinach, lettuce, and radishes,” she said. “We'll get a few greenhouse crops we're hoping from one of the other growers,” said Staples, noting as a member of the Innisfail Growers she has access to other items, depending on what's available.
The program has grown in popularity noted Staples, with interest from people outside of Central Alberta and around the region. For participants outside Central Alberta they can help connect people from a particular area (for example, Calgary) she said, to assist with pick up of the vegetable boxes.
Participants in the CSA program receive a newsletter, recipes and a box of fresh vegetables every week said Staples, noting the increase in interest today about who grows the food and how it is grown.
“There's lots of families that come to us that say they would love to have a garden but don't have the space, the time or knowledge,” she said. “They remember picking peas at grandma's house and loved doing that and want their children to have those experiences,” said Staples. “They want to create that connection of food with their children.”
Applications and payment is required a week prior to the start of a box program. To participate in the CSA program or for more information, visit The Jungle Farm website at www.thejunglefarm.com or visit their Facebook page The Jungle Farm.
