NEw Year, New Plans

A Sustainable Path for Roots & Shoots: 2026 CSA Details

Happy new year!!

Robin and I are back in the office, plugging away at crop planning, hiring, and planning for our farm-store expansion.

Most of our staff are off for the season but Tim and Amanda are coming in, here and there, to to make sure we're behaving.

Farmers are always excited for the new season. I've been saying for years we need a t-shirt that says "there's always next year".

I'll be starting our tomato plants in 2 weeks!

We’re trialing new varieties of cherries and chicory, setting big goals for our greens, and focusing on a bumper crop of carrots and squash

We're nervous about the weather- it's increasingly unpredictable.. except for the heat.. that seems to be a guarantee.. and that's always tough on our team and the crops.

But we're strategizing and preparing and hope we can weather the challenges of 2026.

CSA Baskets

As always, Our CSA remains the main focus of our business.

We're very proud of the diversity we offer and have been loving the customizable aspect of the boxes.

Customization allows us to continue to grow weird and wonderful things without forcing everyone take things they don't want.

We can offer produce to every kind of kitchen - those with little kids who only like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and carrots, and those with more adventurous eaters! Either way, we still love growing really great tasting food for you.

A more measured approach

Part of our strategy to make a more sustainable farm is lower the number of baskets we produce. This is to take the pressure off our team during the hectic growing season. We will be moving from 400 baskets in the summer and 180 baskets in the fall to a steady 320-share capacity and extending our season to a full 28 weeks.

By levelling out our production, we are focusing on:

• A Healthier Farm Team: Reducing the peak summer volume allows us to maintain a smaller, more specialized, and better-compensated team. It means less burnout and more focused attention on the details that matter.

• Field Precision: A smaller share/week count allows us to be even more precise in our planting and harvesting, ensuring that our excellent quality remains the standard from the first radish in May to the last leek in November.

• The Full Seasonal Story: Instead of a 20-week summer sprint and a separate fall share, we are inviting you to stay with us for the entire arc of the growing season. It’s a 28-week commitment to eating with the rhythm of the land.

  
  

What to Expect in the Fall 

For those who usually stop at the end of October, the extension into November is a beautiful shift. While the heat-loving tomatoes and cucumbers fade, the cooler months draws out the sugars in cold-hardy crops making them tastier and more nutrient dense

We’ll also be supplementing your autumn bins with local sweet potatoes, squash, and potatoes from our farming friends (Ferme Chapeau Melon, Waratah Downs, Ferme Fils & Son and Ferme aux Pleine Saveur)

We will also extend the "summer" season by bringing in tomatoes and cucumbers from a local non-profit greenhouse in Gatineau called "Serres l'Outaouais".

We will also heat our greenhouses (with electric heat) to ensure that we have a variety of produce until Christmas.

If you’re hesitant about what’s available in the local fall harvest, don't be! It is our favorite time of year!

And you can trust that your box will be filled with produce and products that are

• 100% local and Canadian

• from farms with integrity

• will be sent with minimal packaging

• will have never been on an plane!

• have great taste!

  
  

Securing Your Spot 

Because we have reduced our peak summer capacity by 80 spots total share s, we expect our 2026 memberships to fill up quite quickly. We hope to fill these spots with members that have supported us in the past.

Click here: Signup now:

(discount codes below)

EXTRA Benefits

This year we are expanding our on farm store and kitchen (more on this in a few weeks).

This means we will have more consistent ready to eat meals, sauces and dressings. We will also have year round space for people to enjoy a meal or coffee and snack at the farm.

We will also be offering workshops and hosting events!

What does this mean for our CSA members??

We will be offering a 5% discounts to all our members at our cafe and store and for any event or workshop we have! You will get a member card in your first basket.

We will also have all our dressings, sauces and meals available for sale to be delivered with your basket!

NOTES ON VACATION

Designed for Your Summer Plans We know life happens and travel is part of the season. To make your membership as flexible as possible, you can customize your schedule right at sign-up.

• Choose up to 3 weeks off (or 2 for bi-weekly) and deduct those costs from your total immediately.

• If you have a last-minute trip we can put your share on hold. Or you could consider gifting your basket to a neighbor or friend is a wonderful way to share the farm experience.

• If you get a discount based on bulk purchases you are eligible for up to 3 vacations without penalty. NOTE we will be adding a $3 fee for every vacation taken after the first three.

Stay Current: To keep the farm’s cash flow sustainable, we encourage you to use all your credits by the end of the season. For any last-minute holds that result in a store credit, we ask that you use up your credit within the year. IF this is not possible, you can roll over credit to 2027 for a small $10 administrative fee.

These discount codes can still apply. You can copy and paste the code in when you checkout:

CODE	Pourcentage de réduction	your minimum subscription cost
3% - $750	3%	$750
4% - $1000	4%	$1000
5% - $1500	5%	$1500
6% - $2000	6%	$2000
7% - $2500	7%	$2500
8% - $3000	8%	$3000

Can’t Commit to the Full 28 Weeks?

No problem!

If the new full-season model doesn’t fit your schedule, you can still get your veggie fix. While we prioritize and offer discounts for full-season members, you can customize a shorter plan by following these steps:

1. Sign Up: Register for the season as usual.

2. Select Your Weeks: After signing up, go into your account and manually select the weeks you wish to skip by placing those baskets "on hold."

3. Payment: Choose Visa/Credit Card as your payment method. This ensures you are only billed for the specific weeks you actually receive vegetables.

4. 
   

Please note: The bulk discount codes listed above apply only to full-season commitments.