Viking Supported Agriculture program returns for spring 2020

Greetings,

Once again this year, Western's Office of Sustainability is facilitating its Viking Supported Agriculture (VSA) program that connects students, staff, and faculty to farmers who deliver boxes of their farm fresh items, a “farm box,” directly to campus. This year, there are vegetable/fruit, seafood, meat and egg options. You can learn more about the benefits of connecting to farmers in this way at Sustainable Connections' CSA website. Getting good food to people in times of crisis and supporting local and sustainable agriculture is a highly supportive activity that each one of us may be able to participate in for the greater good of our community.

Let us know you are interested: In order to help meet minimum delivery amounts for each farm, the Office of Sustainability is collecting information on how many of you are interested in purchasing a farm box from one or more of the available farms. Once a minimum number of people have indicated their interest in a specific farm, we will inform all interested parties to make contact with that farm to sign-up and make payment arrangements. Please read the attached information below on the farms and items available this year, and complete this form.

Donate a share: Food security is currently a challenge for some of our community members. We are interested in knowing whether you might choose to pay for a portion of a farm box for a student in need. You will see a question on the form regarding this opportunity.

Pick-Up Details: The Office of Sustainability is coordinating the pick-up location and dates. This year, the pick-up will be located at the Office of Sustainability, High Street Hall 23. Farms will deliver their items in either single-use containers and/or bags (due to virus concerns), or multi-use containers that are sanitized between uses.

Please complete this form by Friday, April 17, at 5 p.m. Once the results are received and compiled, we will email you with the sign up instructions and deadline. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of Sustainability with questions (linda.sterling@wwu.edu).

Thank you for your interest in supporting our local farmers!

Warm wishes, The Office of Sustainability Team