Imagine a cornucopia of veggies arriving at your home every week: fresh, local carrots, potatoes, onions, salad greens, squash, cooking greens like spinach, chard or kale. And imagine each week the offering changes along with the season and what is growing in the fields, with the occasional fruit being part of the mix.
After a year off, the Organic Vegi Box is back, thanks to Trisha Shanks who is taking on the project after Gillian Redwood’s efforts. Although Shanks took the reins last year, life’s busyness interrupted the business, but the boxes are back this year thanks to the Community Futures small business program.
And although Shanks’ roots come from the city’s concrete jungle, she has a passion for community agriculture.
“I’m a city girl,” she admitted, “I know nothing about gardening, I have to study what is season, but I want to take it on because it’s important: eating well and supporting local community.”
As Shanks learned about distance that food travels to get to our table and experienced the taste the difference between in-season local and out of season imported foods (“Strawberries are a good example,” she suggested), she became a strong proponent for local food farming.
“I’d rather have the food taste like it’s supposed to taste and be the size it’s supposed to be,” she said, “and encourage our neighbours willing to grow it by buying it.”
Two large local growers that many Nakuspians know are Janet Spicer and Andy ‘The Intentional Peasant’ Holmberg, both of whom will be contributing their pesticide-free bounty to the boxes.
But there are other farmers that people may not be aware of, which surprised Trisha Shanks herself. Joel Henschke is another she recently met and who told her “if you name it, I’ll grow it.”
“I didn’t know we had someone like that here,” she said. “I’m really interested in finding more growers right around Nakusp.” Shanks said she would be interested in buying extra produce from growers who had a surplus.
Growers dedicated to producing for the box program are depending on Shanks’ numbers, so participants are asked to commit to weekly or bi-weekly delivery throughout the season. Right now, the number of subscribers is around 40, but Shanks would like to see that number increase to 60 this year.
Members pay a $10 fee for two reusable boxes, and the cost per box is $20 for a single/couple box, and $30 for a family box. The Vegi Box coordinator is hoping to offer box add-ons like eggs that people can order in addition to their veggies, and would like to expand to offer a broader selection of local fare in the future but said that will take time to work out all the details like finding supplying.
For now, boxes will be filled with local veggie delights starting mid to late June on Wednesdays. Subscribers can either pick up their weekly treats or delivery will be available for a $5 flat rate fee within the Village of Nakusp, Glenbank, and Crescent Bay.
Getting a Vegi Box is good, but giving one is great! People can spread the Vegi Box love by buying an extra box for families who may appreciate one but can’t afford it. And if you really want to feel the love, participants can help the program and support local agriculture by picking up from the farms or help on sorting day. And who wouldn’t want to see where their food comes from?
If you would like to sign up for a box or as a supplier, or get more information, email Trisha Shanks at nakuspvegibox@gmail.com, call 265-2065. Or check out the Local Fare Nakusp Facebook page where you will find a link to Shanks’ online survey.
