How do I sign up?
Your spot is reserved once you have informed us of the box options you have selected. To do so, please complete the Local Food Box online sign-up form.
How do I pay you?
You can pay by cheque, cash, credit card, or by e-transfer, in up to five payments. You will be charged a small administration fee if you choose to pay in more than one instalment. There is no administration fee if the box is fully paid up front. More information is provided on our online sign-up form. We can be more flexible about payments for anyone facing financial challenges, contact us to enquire.
What type of fruits, vegetables, and meats can I expect?
Check out this list of the produce and meat items we aim to produce throughout the season.
What if I am going on vacation this summer and will miss a pick-up?
You will be able to skip one vegetable box pickup during the season and receive credit for it if you let us know by email at least 48 hrs in advance of the pickup (this way we have time to take your name off the harvest list that week). A $5 admin fee will be deducted from your Admin Deposit. You can use the credit towards the purchase of extra produce throughout the season or receive an extra box of vegetables at the end of the season. Meats, eggs, honey and flour will be kept at the farm until your next pickup. Flowers and mushrooms will not be reimbursed, and will not be available the following week. Alternatively you can arrange for a family member or friend to pick it up for you.
What if I forget to pick up my box?
We can hold onto frozen meats, eggs, honey and flour until the next pickup but not vegetables or flowers. If you can’t make it to a pickup you are welcome to send someone else on your behalf. Members can give us advance notice to skip one pickup during the season, or have a friend or family pick up the box for them (see question above for more information).
Can I make substitutions?
Yes. We bring extra items to the pickup so you can trade 1 to 2 items (depending on supplies). This applies only to the fruit and vegetable box. See the question below for meat options.
Can I choose the types of meats I will receive?
Yes. One of the meat box options includes a mix of pork, lamb and chicken. You can choose to exclude one of these types of meats for the whole season.
How much food will I receive?
The vegetable box typically contains 6 to 12 items. The meat boxes typically contains between 2 to 5 items.
What is the duration of the program?
The duration of the box program is 20 weeks starting at the beginning of June.
When and where can I pick up my box?
Pickup locations include:
- Tuesdays in Metchosin, from 3:30 to 6 PM at Wind Whipped Farm, 4645 B William Head Road
- Fridays in Metchosin, from 3:30 to 6 PM at Wind Whipped Farm, 4645 B William Head Road
- Saturdays in Metchosin, 9:00 AM to noon in the Wind Whipped Farmstand, 4645 B William Head Road. Your items will be pre-packaged and left out in the farmstand for you to pick up.
What if I receive a food item I am not familiar with?
We are on site to answer questions and suggest recipes.
How does the box pick-up work?
Once a week, you show up at the agreed upon location and time. For the Tuesday and Friday pickups, we will be on site to hand over your box and answer questions. Please bring your own shopping bags for the fruit and veggie box. Your meat box is packaged in a bag and stored in a cooler. Eggs are handed over separately. Flower bouquets are wrapped and ready to put in water. Honey is in a jar. Wheat flour is in a paper bag. For the Saturday pickup option, your items will be pre-packaged and placed in the Wind Whipped Farmstand for pickup anytime from 9am to noon.
Can I change pick up days?
We will do our best to accommodate changing pickup days. Let us know at least 48 hrs in advance of your scheduled pickup. A $5 fee will be deducted from your Admin Deposit. We may have to decline changing pickup days if we do not have the labour capacity to handle the increased workload of harvesting and processing additional vegetables that day.
What is the Administrative Deposit?
An Administrative Deposit of $25 will be added to your order at checkout. During the season you may arrange to skip a pickup (and receive extra produce at the end of the season), change your pick up day, or arrange for a late pickup. Each time a $5 fee will be deducted from the deposit. If you use up the deposit, a second $25 deposit will be added to your account. At the end of the season if you haven’t used up the deposit you will be credited for the remainder. This way, if you don’t make any changes to your pickup schedule during the season, we don’t have to do any extra work and you don’t have to pay the extra fee. The Administrative Deposit also serves as a cancellation fee. If you would like to cancel your order at any time, you will be refunded for the portion of your order that you have not received and we will keep the full deposit amount as a cancellation fee.
Can I cancel my order?
The box program is a full season commitment however we understand that circumstances can change and you may wish to cancel your order. You can cancel your order at any time. Please let us know as soon as possible. You will be refunded for the portion of your order that you have not received and we will keep the full Administrative Deposit amount ($25) as a cancellation fee.
Can I order larger quantities?
At times we have a fruit & veggie “bumper crop” and we are able to offer items for purchase at the pick-ups, or an extra box at the end of the season. For all other products, contact the farms and producers directly.