Join our CSA!

enjoy fresh-harvested, local organic produce all season

CSA - Community Supported Agriculture

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a great way to support us at ERC in advance of the growing season by purchasing your share of our certified organic harvest to help cover the upfront costs of growing food on a small scale to ensure your food security. In exchange, you will receive not only an ERC CSA Produce Box filled with fresh, locally grown veggies on a weekly basis, but also piece of mind knowing in the event of supply chain disruptions you will still have fresh local produce available.

Why choose us to be your farmer?

As a not-for-profit, your food dollars feed not only yourself but also your community, as all CSA proceeds support our work to grow food for folks facing food insecurity through ERC’s Community Food Box Program.

ERC is not only feeding bodies, but minds and spirits. We are an inclusionary educational demonstration farm with great events and workshops — becoming a CSA member is a great way to become part of the Elk Root Conservation community, AND to be first on the list to purchase our limited quantities of unique honey and fruit - like red-fleshed apples!

What is ERC’s ‘ORAA’?

ERC’s Educational Demonstration Farm is a think-tank of applied research and innovation, continually developing organic regenerative agricultural advancements (ORAA). ERC’s ORAA includes innovative techniques of growing food that protects your food security in these challenging times of climate change, and the planet at the same time. We work with nature not against it. Examples include promoting biodiversity to create our own beneficial insect brigades help address chewing insect pests rather than certified organic sprays that while non-chemical, can still be harmful to flying pollinators; and we do not use black plastic covers to smother weeds, employing instead specialized mulching, cover crops and other efficient weed suppression techniques that do not result in microplastic soil contamination.

ERC’s CSA: mid-May to October

Our CSA will launch in mid-May 2026 and will serve Nelson and the Slocan Valley with two weekly pickup options on: i) THURSDAY (porch delivery in Nelson); or THURSDAYS (on-Farm in Vallican). The CSA will run from about mid-May to October, depending on the weather, for 20 weeks.

We have one ERC CSA Produce Box size. It will include about 6 different items each week. Suitable for a couple or small family, if you are feeding a larger family and require more in your delivery, please reach out and we would be happy to accommodate. You will also be able to add on extra items and specialty items if you wish! A list will be emailed to you a week in advance with add-on items available for purchase the following week.

Your CSA Box Share is priced at $650 for a full season or $325 for a half season. Payment in full is most appreciated at confirmation of sign-up by ERC. Or you can opt to pay in 2 instalments (first payment at confirmation and second by June 1st). We aspire to be inclusive, so please get in touch if you require a more flexible payment plan. *We charge an additional $32 refundable bin deposit at time of purchase. This deposit will be refunded at the end of the season once we have confirmed receipt of both bins assigned to your CSA.

What you could see in your weekly box:

Late Spring/ Early Summer:
8oz salad mix, 8oz spinach, small bok choy bunch, Hakurei salad turnips, radishes, herbs (if available)

Mid-summer:
A grower’s selection of 5-8 of the following: cherry tomatoes, cucumber, beans or peas, head lettuce, cabbage broccoli, carrots, kale or collards or Swiss chard, herbs

Late summer:
A grower’s selection of 5-8 of the following: tomatoes, cucumber, beans, salad mix or head lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, kale or collards or Swiss chard, pattypan or zucchini squash, herbs

Fall:
A grower’s selection of 5-8 of the following: tomatoes, cucumber, beans, salad mix or head lettuce, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, kale or collards or Swiss chard, pattypan or zucchini squash, herbs

Specialty Add-ons:
(for additional fee, when available)

Honey

Basil | Edible flowers

Corn

Potatoes | Garlic | Garlic scapes

Ground Berries

(strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

Tree Fruit

(elderberries, apples, asian pears, pears, plums, peaches)

Sign-up and Fine Print

ERC CSA Sign-Up

Fill out our sign-up form with your information and preferred payment method. We will follow up with a confirmation email and payment receipt then you are all set! For additional details please see our 2026 CSA Package.

NELSON MEMBERS: THURSDAY - Porch delivery between 2pm-3pm within delivery area.

SLOCAN VALLEY MEMBERS: THURSDAY - You may enter our farm gate at 4010 Passmore Lower Road in Vallican, and pick-up between 2pm-5pm.

PRICING: Full Season (20 weeks) $750.00, Half Season (May-July or August-October) $375.00

*We charge an additional $32 refundable bin deposit at time of purchase. This deposit will be refunded at the end of the season once we have confirmed receipt of both bins assigned to your CSA.

The FINE PRINT

  • You can choose up to 2 item to never get in your box

  • If you can’t collect your box on your regular day, you have a few options (3 days advance notice is required of your choice):

    • Have a friend pick up your box;

    OR

    • Skip up to 2 boxes during the season and make those up later in the season;

    OR

    • DONATE your ERC CSA Produce Box to a family in need through ERC’s Community Food Box Program.