Community Supported DEO-Agriculture (CSA)

Avalon Organic Gardens & EcoVillage

Originally started in Sedona in 1994, Avalon Organic Gardens is Arizona’s first true CSA program supporting hundreds of people with fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, meat, and dairy products. In 2007 we moved to a 165-acre stretch of farmland along the Santa Cruz River which was inhabited by indigenous tribes for centuries before becoming a permanent settlement, founded by Jesuit missionary, Father Kino, in the 1600’s. Avalon Gardens borders the Tumacacori Mission (now a National Historic Park), built by Father Kino in 1691 with large grazing fields and gardens to provide for its indigenous community and neighbors. Our mission is to make this land once again a sacred place by living a service-oriented life as a spiritual community.

What is Community Supported DEO-Agriculture (CSA)?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a grassroots movement that started in the USA in the late 1980s, based on ideas from Europe and Japan. CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters which provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Through donations (monetary or otherwise) supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks, and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Members donations help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. The average produce travels 1,500 miles to get to your plate. Eating locally and organically is environmentally friendly and sustainable. For more info visit www.csafarms.org and www.umassvegetable.org.

Avalon Gardens established the first CSA program in Arizona in its truest form as a living agricultural/all volunteer community sharing its resources and the harvest of the land purchased and worked together, while also offering harvests to Share-Members.

What does DEO mean?

The word DEO symbolizes that we are Change Agents/Destiny Reservists called by God from all over the world striving to live wholeheartedly in divine pattern and to educate and inspire people to help change this planet for the better. We are a nonprofit organization and your donations support the agricultural training efforts of Global Community Communications Alliance Church in their Personality Integration Rehabilitation Program.

As an ecovillage we sponsor events year-round and offer workshops and internships. Click here to view a short video presentation on our ecovillage and organic gardens.

How does it work?

CSA Share-members give their donation in advance for a chosen amount of the harvest for a minimum of 6 weeks. Each week members pick up their share at a designated location. There will be a variety of 8-12 fresh, organically grown vegetables in your personalized bag every week.


Our produce is beyond organic!!

We are not “certified organic” by USDA rules and we are not planning to be. Unfortunately it requires expensive and time-consuming paperwork that is getting exploited and commercialized by large corporations who can afford it. Our gardening and farming is beyond organic in practice and all of our vegetables are grown without chemical or synthesized fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. What we do is love the earth and grow healthy soil, using permaculture methods including biodynamics that will, in turn, grow healthy plants that are more resistant to pests and disease. We are planting a wide variety of heirloom, native, and only GMO-free seeds. Our members know us and trust our methods, and can observe our practices anytime during a visit.

What are we growing for you?

You will receive a weekly newsletter that introduces each vegetable with its history, benefits, qualities and recipes. Eating seasonally is a choice and a very healing experience. Most seasons, there are some crops that do exceptionally well and others that produce less than expected. As partners in agriculture, we share the benefits of bumper crops and the risks of a crop failure. Avalon Organic Gardens cannot guarantee the quantity or type of produce that will be available. Below is a projected harvesting list:

  January February March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
arugula small small small small small small     small small small small
basil



  med large large large large large  
beans, pole



  small med med med med    
beets med med med med med med med     small med med
cabbage



small med med med    

carrots small small small small small small small     small small
cilantro



small small small     small small
cucumbers



  small med large large large large  
eggplant



    med large large large large  
garlic small small small small
large large large large large large large
kale & collard large large large large large med small
  small med large
kohlrabi small








large large
melons, variety



    med med med med    
okra



    med large large large    
onion



  med large large large  

parsley



small small small

small small
parsnips



            med med
peas snap


small small med        

peppers, sweet



    small large large large large  
peppers, hot



    small large large large large  
radishes, variety large large large large med med med     small large large
salad mix baby- greens large large large large           large large large
spinach med med med med med med small       small med
squash, summer



  small med large large large    
squash:winter&pumpkin large


          large large large
sweet potatoes



         
med med
swiss chard small med large large large large med
    small small
tomatoes



    med med med med    
turnips
med med



      med med

CSA: Sign up anytime

 Share Type:

Suggested min. donation

Full Share for one person per week

$20.00

2/3 Share for one person per week

$15.00

Transport costs per week:

 

Avalon Gardens Pickup

free

Tubac

$0.50

Day:
Pick-up Location
Time
Thursday:  
  Avalon Organic Gardens

8am - 7pm
Saturday:  
  Tubac - at the Out of the Way Galleria
10am - 4pm

How to Sign Up?

Signing up for our CSA program is easy:

Just click here to sign up for the Avalon Organic Gardens, & EcoVillage CSA program on-line

but before you do, you may want to visit us first.

You may also order over the phone at (520) 603-9932. We accept all major credit cards.
You can also use a check or money order. Send to:

Global Community Communications Alliance
attn: CSA Program
P.O. Box 4910
Tubac, AZ 85646
Make checks payable to "Global Community Communications Alliance". Include full payment for your share and include the following information:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone
  • E-Mail (if available)
  • Share Type

Conditions:

  • NO Minimum signup is necessary for the rest of the season which ends September 1st, 2011. No Refunds.
  • Payment plans are available.
  • Exception: SNAP Debit-card (New Foodstamp program) accepted on a weekly basis.

We feel our CSA member are part of our extended family. You are welcome to visit and/or volunteer in the garden, just give us a call or send us an email.

SIGN UP ASAP—LIMITED AMOUNT OF SHARES AVAILABLE. First come, first serve. Previous members receive priority.

We are certified to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; formerly known as Federal Food Stamps), WIC (Woman, Infants and Children), Senior AZFMNP (Arizona Farmer's Market Nutrition Program) vouchers and Cash Value Vouchers (CVV) for weekly purchases only.

Contact Information

Avalon Organic Gardens & EcoVillage
attn: CSA Program
P.O. Box 4910
Tubac, AZ 85646
Phone: (520) 603-9932
Email:

For more informative Garden Tours (lunch or dinner optional) call Spirit Steps Tours at 520-398-2655.

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CONTACT — P.O. Box 4910 Tubac, Arizona USA 85646   •   Phone: (520) 603-9932   •   Website: www.avalongardens.org   •   Email: