Nestled just outside of New Hamburg, Green Hart Farms is a small “market garden” farm run by mother-daughter duo Linda and Kendra Danner. The farm’s mainstay is its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which provides weekly boxes of fresh vegetables and flowers to customers throughout Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Stratford, New Hamburg, Baden, and Guelph. For its loyal following of customers, being part of the CSA is more than just a way to feed their families—it embodies the sense of community at the heart of local food.
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
CSA is a model where consumers subscribe to receive fresh, seasonal produce (and sometimes fruits, eggs, or other items) throughout the growing season. The upfront payment helps farmers manage the costs of planting and harvesting, while members get the convenience and connection of regular deliveries or pick-ups, direct from the farm.
Creating an Exceptional CSA Experience
Since they began with community supported agriculture 8 years ago, Linda and Kendra’s main focus has been to create one of the best CSA experiences possible. With flexible options and a range of benefits, it’s designed to make eating local food easy and convenient for busy families.
- Weekly or biweekly deliveries of fresh, locally grown produce.
- Choice of veggies each week, allowing customers to select what suits their tastes.
- Convenient home delivery (or pick-up locations for Guelph residents).
- Discounts for returning members and flexible payment options.
- New meal planning tools to help customers make the most of their veggies
In addition to providing delicious, fresh produce, Green Hart Farms is committed to ecological farming practices that protect the land and support the environment. From minimizing tillage with biodegradable mulch to planting pollinator strips and using natural pest management, the farm’s practices ensure healthy, eco-friendly produce grown in harmony with nature.
Putting the ‘Community’ in Community Supported Agriculture
Beyond providing quality local food, a big part of what makes CSAs special is the sense of connectedness they create. At Green Hart Farms, creating connections is intrinsic to their business. From weekly updates that keep customers involved in the growing process to a private Facebook group for sharing ideas and meal inspiration, Linda and Kendra consciously foster a community centered around good food, well-being, and shared values. While juggling the many tasks of running a small farm, these personal connections are what make the hard work worth it.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing from our farm members about how much better they’re feeling from eating more vegetables, or how well the seedlings grew that they bought from us,” shares Kendra.
Building a Sustainable Future
With the recent threats of tariffs, demand for locally grown food is on the rise. By lowering transportation distances and reducing dependence on cross-border supply chains, CSA’s are a valuable way to promote food security, ensuring that communities have access to fresh, nutritious food, now and in the future.
Fortunately for Green Hart Farms, meeting this demand fits perfectly with their existing goal to expand their membership by 15-20% this season. Among their other plans this year are adding more perennial cut flowers and increasing their production of storage vegetables. Despite the rising cost of supplies and other challenges, the farm’s careful planning and customer satisfaction keeps them on track to grow and thrive. Looking to the future, the farm aims to create a sustainable business that not only pays a living wage to its employees but also supports a resilient local food system.
Supporting Local Food
There are many ways to contribute to strong local food systems, but eating local food is a simple place to start.
“The best way to support local producers like us is to try to buy locally grown as much as you can–whether that’s being part of a CSA, going to a farmers’ market, a farm store, or choosing the ‘Product of Ontario’ tomatoes in your local grocery store.”
Visit Green Hart Farms’ website to learn more about their CSA program and how you can get involved.