Down On The Farm: Vancouver Island Green Box Programs

By Marilyn Zink

It's been a wet, cold April but staff at Nanoose Edibles have been busy planting for the summer. The farm is focusing on promoting its green box program this year, part of their Community Supporter Agriculture (CSA), according to Barbara Ebell, co-owner with husband Lorne.

"From an environmental point of view, it's more beneficial to concentrate on growing and distributing directly," says Ebell. "It makes a direct connection between the farm and consumer. They're actively committing themselves to a locally grown product."

Ebell says the concept has been hugely successful in other areas, but it's a difficult one for people to appreciate.

"It's an environmental concept, rather than a marketing concept. For it to work splendidly, it has to work in advance. We can't pull it (produce) out of the air in the middle of the summer."

Since most plants take two months to grow, the buyer, who in effect becomes a member of the farm, has to commit to the box program by the end of May.
Distribution covers an area from Nanaimo to Qualicum. The farm will ship to Tofino and Ucluelet as well.

Participants can choose to receive a box for either 16 or 20 weeks, and the contents of the box vary with seasonal availability. Each box contains about 12 items a week, consisting of a combination of greens, berries, tree fruit, tomatoes, peppers, assorted vegetables, culinary herbs and occasional treats. Each box fees 2-4 people. Some people share boxes with a friend or relative, and Ebell says this occurs in 25% of the members. For further information, contact the farm at 468-2332.

Further up Vancouver Island in the Comox Valley, Andrea Ledlin of Elemental Organics has been operating a green box program for seven years. She sources local farms to get certified organic produce. She buys as local as she can throughout the year.

Elemental Organics serves the Comox Valley, Campbell River and Gold River on Vancouver Island, BC. Ledlin will consider covering the Bowser area if there is enough interest. For more information, contact her at 1-866-338-9133.