Regarding the operation of the CSA:
What are the delivery times and locations?
The Saskatoon delivery location is Saturday morning, 621 3rd Ave. N. from 10-11.30am.
The Regina delivery location is Saturday afternoon, a parking lot on Rose Street (one block west of Broad Street), just north of 13th Ave, from 3-5pm.
The Prince Albert delivery location is Friday evening, 5-6:30pm in the parking lot of the minor medical clinic.
The Canora delivery location is Sunday morning, 11:30am-12:30pm at the corner of 1st Ave East and Main Street.
What happens if I know in advance that I won’t be able to make a pick-up because I’m out of town?
You can either get that food in the next delivery (so you’d get two delivery’s worth at once), or it can be split so that you get half of it the month before and half of it the month after. Most people will make arrangements for a friend, family member, or fellow ECO Farm member to pick up their produce when out of town.
What happens if I completely forget and miss my pick-up?
Keith will drive your food back to his farm. If it can be stored, you can get it the next delivery, if it can’t be stored it will have to be sold if possible.
What happens if I become a member and then am unable to complete my commitment due to moving or something like that?
We will simply cancel your contract.
What if we don’t like Brusselsprouts (as an example)? Can we choose not to get them and get something else instead?
Unfortunately, Keith doesn’t have the budget to customize boxes at this time, but this is a goal for the future. For now, you can often trade goods at the time of the delivery. Keith has a box where you can put down what you don’t want and pick up something that another member has left behind.
Can we order a specific cut of meat once as part of our monthly amount of beef?
Yes, if you do this once in a while, Keith will do his best to get it for you. In general, you get a variety of cuts. Some people find they build up a stock of cuts in their freezer so they usually have what they want on hand. You can also usually purchase extra beef (and request special cuts) that are not on your contract, so long as Keith has enough supply.
Do we have to get our set amount of chickens/beef/eggs evenly spread out each month, or can we ask to get more of our chickens one month and fewer the next, for example?
You could get your year’s supply of chickens and beef whenever you’d like it if available. You may not always be able to ask for many dozen of your eggs at once, however, as the chickens tend to produce roughly what is needed to fill every member’s order, and they don’t take special requests!
Does Keith have extras of all of his products, and how do I know what Keith has available for extras each delivery?
Keith sends out an email just before his delivery which lists the extra products he’ll have for sale. He should have extra beef at all times, and usually has extra chickens as well. The amount of extra veggies he has will depend on the year.
Why shouldn’t I just go to the pick-up with cash and buy whatever extras he has that I want, instead of becoming a member?
Keith aims to only grow as much food as he expects he’ll need to fill his member’s orders. Any surplus is not guaranteed.
Regarding the food:
Is the meat (beef and chicken) really organic/GMO free/hormone free?
The beef is certified organic and hormone free. If a cow is sick, Keith may give it a minimal dose of antibiotics to save it and then the cow is sold, but he does not give the herd antibiotics for no reasons.
The chickens are purchased when they’re a day old, and are fed only organic grain and grass for their entire life and are certified organic also.
None of the seeds Keith purchases are genetically modified.
How “free range” are the cows and chickens?
The cows have 300+acres of pasture land to roam in the summer, and in the winter they are kept and fed in a large corral area roughly a ½ city block.
The chickens live in custom built A-frames, which are 8’x 30’ large and house 125 chickens. The A-frames are moved every day so that they cover a fresh patch of grass, which the chickens then “mow.” They are never caged but can’t be allowed to be outside the coops as the wild animals love to eat chicken also.
Are the veggies really organic?
Yes, the land has been organic since1990. The grain crops are certified organic, and the garden is managed according to organic standards but hasn’t been certified as yet.
The eggs are free range and organic. Are they also Omega 3?
Yes, the eggs are Omega 3 as the feed has flax in the mix.
How long can you keep the eggs in the fridge?
You should use them within the month.
Should the flour be kept in the fridge to prevent it from going rancid?
It is best if you can freeze the flour.
Should the canned goods be kept in the refrigerator?
A cold room if the seal is not broken, the fridge if opened.
How long would the canned goods keep?
Years, if kept cool and dark.
What does it mean if I see a bit of green-coloured chicken? Can I eat it?
The vet said that the meat is sterile but I would cut out the green part anyway.
Why are the winter root vegetables not washed?
They store much better and longer if they are kept dry after harvesting.
Why are some of the frozen beans I have been getting black?
The black beans (dark green) are purple beans that are blanched.
How do I know if the seal on the canned goods is good?
The lid should be hard to lift, and it should make a suction sound or “pop” when you open it.
Can I eat the canned goods directly out of the can (jar), or do I need to cook them first?
Yes you can as they have been cooked or pickled already.
Can I eat the sausage the way it comes, or does it need to be cooked?
One kind is a fresh sausage (the full coil vs links) and has to be cooked, I recommend to cook the smoked sausage as well. Sorry – sausage is currently unavailable due to limited beef supply.
