2012 Food Box

Hali Food Box:  Interested in receiving a weekly basket of fresh, seasonal produce? Then join Haliburton Farm’s  list for the next Food Box Program in 2012.  Join our Food Box farm tour and information session on Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. at the farm.  See directions under map.

This is an innovative way for you to receive a weekly box of seasonal produce, and become closer to the farmers who grow the food and to have questions answered about how the produce was grown or how to prepare it.  Members receive an information e-mail with the list of produce, recipes at times and farm news.

The Program:

• 17 weeks of Summer produce from June 27  – October 24, 2012.

We are looking for members who will support us for the whole 17+ weeks, as the farmers need the consistency for crop planning.

The Produce:

The farmers meet to prepare a list of produce to grow specifically for the food basket.  They fill the basket each week with crops that are in season and at their very best.  These crops include: Beans, Braising Greens, Carrots, Leeks, Lettuce, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Green Onions, Red Onions, Storage Onions, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Purple Turnips, Winter Squash, Tomatoes, Beets, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Garlic, Salad Greens, Kale, Radish, Raspberries, Rutabaga, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Summer Squash,  Spinach, Tayberries and Pears.

Interested?

Sign-up asap. at

Voice mail: (250) 658-0758   Email: info@haliburtonfarm.org.

Haliburton Farm Food Box background and more info

Located just off Pat Bay Highway in Victoria BC,   this farm has with help from farm apprentices-in-training, its own farmers and local volunteers, cared for and started developing the farm into a diversified community farm and learning centre.

The Food box was started in 2007 by 2 farms and has grown to date to 5 farms.  Produce is certified through the Island Organic Producers Association (IOPA).  It is based on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, which connects people to pure food, and to farmers. Members, as participants in the farm community, buy a basket of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables.  This fee helps to pay for the costs of running the farm. In return, the farm provides a weekly supply of produce during the season.

This Producer to Consumer relationship guarantees small farmers a secure market for their produce and minimizes the risks involved in farming. By having upfront payments from members, farm income can be spent on crops, infrastructure and seeds if needed – providing a predictable market for a variety of crops.  Much is picked the day before distribution. Members have the security of knowing that their food was grown certified organically using sustainable methods and that fewer natural resources were needed to transport the produce.

Pick-up days and times:  Every Wednesday or Thursday  11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the farm.

Terms:  Full Payment/Installment dates: Costs are $25 per basket:  $425 for the season or 3 installments of $142 each:

March 1, 2012, July 1, 2012 and September 1, 2012.

Unable to pick up? Kindly arrange with a neighbour, family or friend to pick- up for you.  No credits or exchanges available. If you are unable to pick-up, please let us know in advance. If you prefer, we would be happy to donate your share for that week. Please contact the farm for arrangement if you are going to be late for pick-up.

Own container: Please bring along your own container very week to transfer your produce in.

What’s In Our Food Box? In the Summer we grow a wide variety fruits, vegetables, and herbs.  Every week for 17 weeks from June to November you would get a balanced box of vegetables and fruit worth at least $25.00 per week.

In Winter there remains a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.   This year we are considering a Winter Basket from October to  December every second week.  Stay tuned for more info on a possible Winter Box this year.

Some examples of what could be in your winter box in November and December are: Onions,  fruit, squash, frozen tomatoes, jam, dried herbs, braising greens, carrots, beets, mixed greens.

Farm Visits: Members are invited to visit the farm.   Please call ahead or email to schedule your visit or tour.  If you would like to learn about growing food for the food box by doing work or spend time with the farmers, please turn up every Tuesday and Wednesday between 1 and 3.

On Pick Up Day: To collect your produce,  find your name and read the board to see how each item was priced.  Kindly return the tomato and clean berry containers, we reuse these each week.

Directions to the Farm: By Car or Bicycle: Take the Pat Bay Highway north from Victoria, or south from Saanich or Sidney. Turn east off Pat Bay Highway on to Haliburton Rd. The farm address is 741 Haliburton Rd. A laneway located after Rose Lane provides access to the farm gate (a bus stop sign on the south side of the street adjacent to the lane provides a useful marker). Turn south off Haliburton Rd. on to the lane. As the lane is narrow, please drive slowly and use extra caution when turning on to or off of Haliburton Rd.

By Bus: Bus numbers 70, 72 and 75 run north and south along the Pat Bay Highway through the Haliburton Rd. intersection. From the highway, you have to walk up Haliburton Rd. to the farm lane (see directions above). Bus number 35 runs from the Royal Oak Exchange to Haliburton Rd., stopping just outside the farm lane, but only on weekdays. For bus schedule information, phone Victoria Transit Information (Bus Line) at 250-382-6161, or see http://www.transitbc.com/regions/vic/schedules.

Click here for a map: http://goo.gl/maps/yZcj

Neighbours are encouraged to walk or bike to the farm!

Thank you for your support of Community Agriculture.