Today is the final Winter CSA pick-up for the 2025/26 season. Two stories to tell so I won’t be repeating them to everyone.

First eggs. For those who get eggs usually, I’m a bit short. The cold weather the past two weeks has kept the chickens focusing on keeping warm. For those who have pre-paid, I will have them for you. I may not have enough for everyone else but by next week, of course, I’ll have more, so if you want to arrange to pick some up just let me know. Texting is best (519 369 8116)

The Turtle bean story: I grew some, not many, beans last season, interplanted with the popcorn, with the intention of giving them out in the winter shares. The trick with getting dry beans fully cleaned comes with the name, they need to be dry. In the fall I picked a sunny day and cut out all the plants, laying them on tables in the barn to fully dry down. I had intended to work on cleaning them in the fall. Then one of the early snows in November came with a lot of wind, and the entire inside of the barn got a layer of snow, including the beans. I shifted them around and got the snow off, but with all the other windy snowstorms it became ridiculous. I have a fanning mill that can clean them pretty well, but the dryness became an issue (the fanning mill got snow on it too). Anyway, since it’s the last winter pick-up one of the options is a small bag of black beans in their pods. It will be novel, definitely not efficient. Not sure I’ll do it again, but life and learn 🙂

This week will be the last of the Winter CSA pick-ups on Friday. On Thursday will be the first seeding for the Spring CSA. I’ve been spending this past week getting the greenhouse ready for seeding. All my soil mix ingredients are frozen solid… This is the most frozen I’ve seen it since starting the Spring shares three years ago. I’ll be bringing compost and peat into the house to thaw out before I can make any mix… but first I have to use a pick axe to chop off hunks of compost.

The sun is getting stronger, so hopefully the ground in the greenhouses will be thawed by the middle of March to plant the kale and lettuce… we’ll see 🙂

There’s still room in the main season csa, but the spring is full. Will post more soon.

Hello!
There are just a couple of Spring shares left and a few main season shares still open. Sharee sizes and prices are posted on the Basic CSA Info page. If you have any questions you can reply to this post, but give your name and contact info since the website doesn’t tell me who has replied. Or email saugeenrivercsa@gmail.com

First I want to thank all of you who helped keep this community supported farm going through 2025! 2026 will be the 30th season for the Saugeen River CSA. It could never have kept going without the commitment of so many of you! It’s a testament to this amazing community!
As a reminder, return members can sign up through January for a spring or main season share. It’s great if you can make an initial payment now to help cover the seed costs. In February, if there is space, I will start accepting new members.

And also, as a reminder, tomorrow, January 2, is the next winter csa pick-up. With the weather and holiday schedules I know some of you may not be able to make it tomorrow. If you can’t please let me know so I’m not waiting for you, and you can arrange another day to pick-up.

Finally, starting this week I’ll be leading more Taiji and qigong sessions Sunday mornings at the Durham Art Gallery and Monday and Wednesday early afternoons at Golden Tiger in Hanover. Contact me if you want more information.

The days are already starting to get longer!

Not exactly a farm post, but related to the School for Sacred Agriculture (in the sense that our body is our most important tool which needs to be maintained, and our connection to the Earth can be deepened).

Taiji and qigong have been part of my life since I was 15 and I began teaching in my twenties. Since then my practice has ebbed and flowed. 13 years ago I joined the Golden Tiger School of Kung Fu in Hanover and attained my black sash last year, in which Taiji sword is part of the practice.

This fall I began teaching a Taiji Qigong class (empty hand, no sword) at the Durham Art Gallery and will be starting another 6 week session on Sunday mornings January 4. There’s room for others to join. Also, starting January 5 I’ll be teaching this same form at Golden Tiger in Hanover on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 1-2pm. This is an exercise and moving meditation for all ages and fitness levels. If you are interested in joining either of these groups let me know and I can share more info.

The best is to email me: saugeenrivercsa@gmail.com

I’m beginning the seed ordering process and am now accepting RETURN Spring Share and Main Season members. If you had a share last year, or in a previous year, you are welcome to sign-up. There has also been created a Barney and Liz Memorial Fund, which I’ll talk about at the end. As always, I can accept e-transfers to saugeenrivercsa@gmail.com, cheques, cash, or Saubucks.

The base share costs will be the same as last year and the Capital Contribution is voluntary: $100 suggested, but whatever you would like:
Spring Share – $150 + Capital contribution
Main Season Shares: Weekly Small – $425 + Capital
Bi-weekly Small – $225 + Capital
Weekly Medium – $650 + Capital
Bi-weekly Medium – $350 + Capital
Weekly Large – $900 + Capital
Bi-weekly Large – $490 + Capital

As was mentioned in a post this past spring, Barney and Liz Barningham had made generous contributions to this farm over the years, including anonymously purchasing shares for other people in the community. This year, a contribution was given to the farm with a desire to carry on that tradition. That allowed the farm, with the logistical help of local community members Roger, Lydia, and Suraiya, to give nearly 400 lbs of produce during the summer to the Durham Foodbank and OSHARE. As well, I will be taking a small winter share + potatoes to the Durham Foodbank all winter.
You do not need to be a CSA member to contribute to the Barney and Liz Memorial Fund, anyone is welcome to help out.

Thank you all!

Cory

From today the only phone/text number to reach the farm is my cell: 519 369 8116. After 29 years (a Saturn cycle) the old number 519 369 3567 is CANCELLED.

Tanya has made a new batch of tea from herbs gathered and dried this year. Pick some up at the winter csa pick-up or arrange to come by for some: cash or Saubucks. Email Tanya at tcoulter12@hotmail.com or call 519 372 7898. It will be available at the STC Market Day Nov 30.

The Winter csa shares are picked up in the root cellar. Go through the green door on the north side of the yellow cabin (I’ll have a sign pointing you in the right direction). Pick-up time is from 2-6pm. I start the winter shares an hour earlier to accommodate driving conditions and less light. For reference, here are the planned dates for every other weekly pick-up:

November 7, 21
December 5, 19
January 2, 16, 30
February 13, 27