Workshops, courses, & seasonal ceremonies. ABOUT THE FARM: Saugeen River CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a Biodynamic farm in Durham, Ontario, providing summer and winter shares of fresh produce. Cory Eichman and his wife Tanya Coulter own and live on the farm with their two children. Cory began his training in Biodynamic CSA farming in 1992. He spent three seasons at Camphill Village Ki
mberton Hills in southeastern Pennsylvania. He then apprenticed two years at the Kimberton CSA with master gardeners Barbara and Kerry Sullivan. The Kimberton CSA was the second CSA to form in North America and much of the Saugeen River CSA’s garden management is based on the Sullivan’s vast experience. The Saugeen River CSA is also part of a network of farms in Ontario that take on apprentices. In addition to two full time apprentices, volunteers and members participate throughout the growing season. WHAT IS A CSA AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Community Supported (or Shared) Agriculture connects farmers with consumers. Members receive a “share” of the harvest by paying a fixed price for the season. A share price is set based on the annual operating costs of the farm and the number of shares the farm can support. Weekly summer shares begin mid-June until mid-November. Winter bi-weekly shares start early December until late March. What are the pick-up times and places? Produce is picked twice a week at your choice of two pick-up locations: Pick-up at the farm is on Tuesdays from 3 – 6pm and in Owen Sound at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays from 7am – 12 noon. How do I join the CSA? First contact Cory to see if there is space available. If there is a waiting list, you will be contacted in February as to whether or not space is available for the coming year. What are the share sizes, prices, and how do I pay? We offer three share sizes: The large share is approximately a bushel of produce a week and is $830, the medium share is $565 and is about half a bushel, and the small is about a third of a bushel at $350. Winter Shares are available separately and cost: $350 for a large share, and $200 for a small. What if I miss a pick-up? Let us know the night before your pickup and we can double your share on another week. You can also have someone else pickup for you. We can bag your share and keep it for you. What does “Free Choice” mean? Some items we give out as “Free Choice.” This individualizes your share, acknowledging that there are some things some people love, and others that people don’t care for. WHAT IS BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE? Biodynamics began in the early 1920’s as the first organized sustainable agriculture movement, countering the rise of chemical farming. A farm is seen as healthiest if it can be organized as much as possible as an independent individuality. This means having the right numbers and kind of animals for the land to provide fertility for the soil, and the right amount of food for the animals to create an inner fertility cycle. Forests, meadows, cultivated fields, wild animals, insects, birds, soil… everything from the stones below to the stars above are seen as “organs” of our farms, which can be held in a healthy balance. The basics of Biodynamics comes out of the spiritual scientific work of Rudolf Steiner. Spiritual science tries to understand how the spirit works into and through the physical in all aspects of life. SAUGEEN SCHOOL FOR SACRED AGRICULTURE: New for 2013!!! We are exploring a slight shift in some of the farm’s activities. We have always had a balance of education and production here, and want to add more learning opportunities. Complementing the educational offerings, we will also be hosting seasonal ceremonies, blessing the farm and the life that supports us.
