How is being a 'Farm Share Member' different to buying organic veggies at the farmers market or the supermarket?

We believe that hard working, environmentally conscious food growers should receive a stable income. By buying a share of the harvest in advance of the growing season you enable us to plan what to plant and harvest. This means that we can invest our time and efforts into growing the best quality food for you, instead of worrying about whether we will be able to sell it.

We also believe that hard working environmentally conscious food eaters should have access to fresh, nutritionally rich, uncontaminated foods and should not be limited to the selection available at the supermarkets.

By buying a share of the harvest you can spend your time trying out our simple, delicious, seasonal recipes and eating them with your friends and family, instead of worrying about what to buy and where to find it.

When do I collect my basket?

Once a week at your selected collection point.

Sequoia: Wednesdays from 4pm to 7pm June to November
Shediac Market: Sundays from 8am to 10am July and August
Farm Gate (Grande-Digue): Sunday from 10am to noon June to November

How big are the baskets and what do they cost?

A small basket contains 5-7 small bunches or bags of different vegetables. This is enough for 1 to 2 people. The cost of membership is $330 for the growing season ($15 per week).

A large basket contains the same as the smaller basket with extra of some of your favourite veggies plus some different items (see 'what will I find in my basket for examples). This is enough for a family or two vegetarians. The cost of membership is $550 for the growing season ($25 per week).

What will I find in my basket?

A selection of local, seasonal, organic vegetables, herbs and some fruits, freshly picked and washed, complete with recipes and instructions for preparation. The content will change with the season so there will be more leafy greens in spring, more fruiting veggies in summer and more roots in the fall. Our goal is to provide as interesting and diverse a selection of vegetables as possible including old favourites plus a few more exotic items.

Example baskets:

June

Small: Radishes, salad greens, green garlic, rhubarb, mixed herbs, Chinese broccoli.

Large: Radishes, salad greens, green garlic, rhubarb, mixed herbs, Chinese broccoli, Swiss chard, beet greens, watercress.

August

Small: multicoloured carrots, cucumbers (lemon, English and Lebanese), small salad greens, garlic, Heritage tomatoes, selection of herbs.

Large: multicoloured carrots, cucumbers (lemon, English and Lebanese), large salad greens, garlic, Heritage tomatoes, selection of herbs, multicoloured beans, beets, mixed sweet peppers.

October

Small: small carrots, Brussels sprouts, salad greens, Kale, garlic, herbs.

Large: large carrots, Brussels sprouts, salad greens, Kale, garlic, leeks, pumpkin, herbs.

When can I start to receive vegetables?

The program starts the first week of June which is when we start to have a wider selection of vegetables available, and will continue until the end of October. Both before and after this time you will be able to find our produce at the Dieppe and Moncton Markets, Sequoia and at our farm in Grande-Digue.

Can I bring my basket back to be re-used?

The most simple way to reuse the container that your vegetables are delivered in is to leave it at the collection point. If you transfer your vegetables from the container into your own cloth bag(s) when you collect them, you will be able to see everything in your basket and then all of the containers can be returned to the farm to be reused.

The Shediac market is only open during the summer, where can I get my basket at other times?

During the spring (from Early June to July) and fall (from the start of September) you can collect your basket either from Sequoia in Moncton or our farm in Grande-Digue.

How do I find my collection point?

You should choose a collection point close either to your home or place of work. Sequoia is located at 132 Weldon St (near the Shoppers Drugmart on St George) and is convenient for purchasing other organic non-perishable items. For maps of the collection point locations please visit our website.

What if I am going to be away for a week and can't collect my basket?

If you are unable to collect your basket why not ask a friend or family member to collect it for you. Don't forget to call at least 24 hours in advance to let us know that someone else will be coming instead of you. If you are going away, so are unable to eat the contents of your basket, why not ask that friend or family member to eat them for you. We are sure that they will be happy to help!

If this is not possible please call us to discuss other options.

Can I change my collection point during the season?

Yes, but we require a minimum of 1 weeks notice to do this.

What if I am late to collect my basket?

The goal of the Farm Share program is to minimise the time between harvest and purchase so that you always receive the freshest vegetables. This means always collecting your basket as soon as possible from the collection point. If you arrive late, your vegetables may not be as fresh as they should be. A good solution is to ask a friend or family member to collect your basket for you, and don't forget to call ahead (at least 24 hours in advance) to let us know who is coming instead of you. Any uncollected baskets are donated to the closest food bank or soup kitchen.

What if I forget to collect my basket?

If you forget completely then, rather than waste your veggies, your basket will be donated to the closest food bank or soup kitchen. We cannot store baskets overnight or bring them the following day. We cannot offer reimbursements for forgotten baskets.

Can you deliver to my home?

Moncton/Dieppe/ Riverview is a large community and it would take a lot of gasoline to drive around everyone's houses individually. Ideally you should choose a collection point close to your home or workplace to make the process as convenient as possible for you.

How will I know which basket is mine? What if someone takes my basket by mistake?

There are only two sizes of basket. You will sign each week to indicate that you have collected your basket and to ensure that you get the right size.

What if I can't collect my basket in person?

If you send someone else to collect your basket please call at least 24 hours in advance to let us know who to expect in your place.

Can I just buy one basket?

What makes our 'Farm Share' program different to shopping at the market or at a grocery store is that we ask members to join for the entire season and to demonstrate that commitment by becoming a member in advance. This allows us to know how many baskets to prepare and enables us to plan for the entire year instead of week by week.

We understand that you may be hesitant to make a commitment for a whole year, so we do allow you to leave the Farm Share program if you are not satisfied (see 'Can I cancel my membership?').

If this doesn't sound right for you, we would still love to serve you. If you wish to purchase vegetables from us occasionally you can find our produce at the Dieppe and Moncton Markets on weekends and at Sequoia from Monday to Saturday. Larger orders can be placed by calling (506) 533-1087. For weekly availability of produce please visit our website www.amarosia.com

Can I pay when I collect my basket?

(See above 'Can I buy just one basket?')

What payment methods do you accept?

We ask that you pay for your membership by cheque or cash from February to May at the latest. Once all of the Farm Shares are sold we will place your name on a waiting list for next year (or for later this season in case someone drops out).

If making a one off payment would be a major problem please contact us to discuss other options.

Can I cancel my subscription?

We expect that you will enjoy being part of this program but in the event that it doesn't suit your needs we do allow you to opt out with full refund for any outstanding baskets. The only question that we will ask is 'How could we have served you better?'.

We hope that this makes provision for you if you are hesitant to sign up for an entire season.

I am allergic to tomatoes, do I have to receive them?

We are confident that you will enjoy everything that you find in your basket, even the items you have never tried before. For those people who cannot eat certain items we provide a 'swap box' at each of the collection points where you can swap an item that you can't eat for something that you can. This is not an opportunity to take extra so remember to put in as much in as you take out:-)

If you have severe restrictions to your diet then becoming a Farm Share member may not work for you. We will continue to provide a wide range of vegetables and herbs at the Dieppe and Moncton Markets and at Sequoia from at least May to November. We look forward to serving you there.

Are the vegetables all pre-washed?

We do wash all of our vegetables to remove excess dirt and soil so that you won't make a mess of your kitchen. However, all veggies, no matter where you buy them, should be rinsed again before eating unless it says on the label that they are ready to eat.

Do you include meat/ fruits/ dried goods in the baskets?

All items in the baskets come from our farm unless we specify otherwise. We offer a wide range of vegetables and herbs, plus some fruits. You can find a complete listing of everything that we grow on our website.

From time to time we may offer the option of purchasing additional other organic products such as lamb, fruits, vinegars etc. You will be notified about these options through the newsletter

What will I find in the newsletters?

Newsletters contain updates and news from the farm, information about the growing season and what will be available soon. We also include recipes, preparation and storage tips plus nutritional information from the Holistic Dietician and a good guess as to what will be appearing in your basket the following weeks.

Where do I get my newsletter?

Your newsletter or recipes can be collected when you pick up your basket. Newsletters and recipes will be archived on the website a little later.

Can I visit the farm?

During 2008 we will be hosting two farm open days. One will be exclusively for Farm Share Program members which will provide a great opportunity to not only meet the people who grow your food and to see where it is grown, but also to meet other Farm Share program members. We will notify you of the Farm Share program open day and the general open day through the newsletter.

We also offer the opportunity to volunteer on the farm for either a whole or half day. This is not a farm tour (where you see the whole farm) but is a great opportunity to learn a lot about a specific activity such as trellising tomato vines, harvesting beans or learning about weed control. You will have the opportunity to work along side us, doing what we do, and get a real in-depth experience of how your food is grown. Please call ahead so we can book a convenient time.

We would love to be able to give individual tours and to be able to cater to people who drop by on the spur of the moment, but realistically we just don't have the time. Every minute that we spend showing you around the greenhouse, the salad is not getting picked. Please visit us during one of the open days or come and volunteer instead.

Where do I sign up?

Contact us by telephone, 533-1087, or by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it including your contact information, the box size you require and the delivery location. You will then need to mail us the cheque or money order.

Mail the form and your cheque to Amarosia Organic Garden, 469 Rte 530, Grande-Digue, NB, E4R 5E1. Or alternatively bring the form and cheque to Sequoia.

I still have some questions...

You can always get in touch with us in person at the market, call us or send us an email. Our contact details here.