MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
2024 CSA MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
We, the farm, wish to provide you with fresh, local, seasonal food and you, the member, wish to receive a portion of our harvest. This agreement outlines our shared commitments to that relationship. By purchasing a membership share, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined herein. Please retain a copy of this agreement for your records.
Becoming a Member of CloverCroft Farm
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which is basically a subscription for vegetables. Members pay up front to secure their share. We farmers then use the money to buy seeds and equipment and get food growing. Then, each week, beginning in mid-to-late June 2024 running 20 weeks until mid-late October 2024, we provide fresh, local vegetables to our farm members.
Growing Practices
We believe in providing fresh, seasonal, local veggies from our farm to your home. We believe people should have a relationship with their food, one that gives back to both you and the land. Instead of organic certification, we believe in “face certification: a direct contact between farmer and consumer that creates an environment for trust”. We believe in transparent farming practices and being open and honest about all inputs used on our farm. We do not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, or any genetically modified seed. As a practice, our farm records will be available to all members. We welcome any inquires about this stance.
Shared Risk
Members of our farm get the opportunity to share in the abundance of a local Southern Ontario farm. With that opportunity there are risks associated with our growing season. We are committed to minimizing those risks, yet risks will always remain. We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week. The quantity of produce, however, may vary from week-to-week due to extreme weather, insects, or other production factors despite our best efforts. By joining our CSA, you are agreeing to share the risk of crop failure with us and our other members.
In the unlikely event of crop failure: If only a small portion of crops fail, we compensate for the failed crops by filling your box with other crops grown on the farm that are ready for harvest at that time. If a large portion of crops fail, we may not be able to deliver any products in some weeks. Should this happen, members will be contacted directly, as soon as possible.
Shared Reward
In addition to our CSA, CloverCroft Farm sells to farmers markets. When production of our CSA crops are especially abundant, we pack as much as possible into your share. However, we don’t want to overwhelm our members or deliver so much produce that it goes to waste. When we feel that members have received enough of certain crops, we handle the surplus by selling it to interested parties in Toronto, to local restaurants, or by donating it to local food banks.
Picking Up
You are responsible for picking up your share each week within the prescribed times from the pick-up locations:
CloverCroft Farm (Near Ayr/Paris): 285 Ayr Road, Paris ON, N3L 3E2. Thursdays, 330pm - 7pm.
Toronto:
Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market: Near Dundas and Shaw, Tuesdays, 3pm-7pm.
Etobicoke: Islington United Church, 25 Burnhamthorpe Rd. Toronto ON, M9A 1G9. Tuesdays 2pm to 7pm.
Cabbagetown: Salt & Tobacco, 521 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X 1P3. Tuesdays 2pm to 7pm. Or Cabbagetown Farmers Market (Riverdale Park West), Tuesdays, 3pm-7pm.
You are responsible for observing the pick-up site rules, which are as follows:
1 Pick up your share within the timeframe stated above. Although we deliver high-quality produce to the site, the quality will decline quickly if not picked up on time, and left in heat or sun.
2 Be respectful of the property of the pick-up locations.
3 Follow any additional rules posted at the pick-up location site.
4 Bring your own bags (reusable or plastic bags, boxes, egg cartons, etc.)
If you cannot pick up your share, you must arrange for someone else to pick it up for you. You are responsible for explaining the pick-up procedure to your substitute. If unforeseen circumstances arise, please contact CloverCroft Farm as soon as possible as we try to accommodate emergencies. Shares that are not retrieved within the designated pick-up time will be donated to a local food bank.
You will be receiving the freshest produce available short of growing it yourself, we will wash the produce to a reasonable degree. Please take the time to properly wash and properly store all produce each week once received.
Member Fees
By selling membership in advance of the growing season, CSA reduces the heavy burden of up-front costs for the farmer. Your membership fees provide us with money to purchase seed and equipment before the season starts, and we appreciate your commitment. Below are the shares offered this season:
If you are Paying in Full: payment is due at sign-up. If you are paying in instalments: A payment schedule will be sent to you, and a $15 surcharge applies for missed payments. Full payment must be made before the season starts in mid June.
If you request a refund at any point, your refund will be pro-rated for the weeks that you received a share and a 5% fee will be held back to cover the extra administration required. Refunds will be addressed within 8-12 weeks of request.
Communicating with the Farm
The best way to communicate with us is via email, text, or phone, email being the most effective. You can contact us by email at clovercroftfarm@gmail.com or by phone/text at 226-922-7892. We will do our best to respond as soon as possible, though in the heaviest parts of the season, computer admin work happens sparingly and most effectively on rainy days.
We will communicate with you primarily by email. When you sign up, you will be added to our MailChimp distribution list. Please read your emails from us. We depend on mass emailings to be able to communicate important information such as necessary changes to your distribution schedule or to our farm events. Once pickups begin, we will email a weekly newsletter giving you information about the crops available that week, cooking and storage ideas, or other farm related news.