Indigenous Food Share (IFS) CSA

“This was my first CSA share and I love receiving it! It makes my week. I have a ten month old son who recently started eating solids and he has enjoyed so many foods from the share! It has been wonderful to know he’s eating locally grown, organic produce. The fact that we are able to support an Indigenous farm means so much to me. Pinagigi!”

-IFS Member 2022

“I really enjoy the wonderful IFS boxes and that they are culturally curated. This year the cost was covered and I'm grateful for having continued access to healthy food while I'm on a budget. Pinagigi for all you do!”

-IFS Member, 2022

"It was fun to get some of the processed foods like the sun-dried tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, and herb-infused oil. This got me excited about processing some of the things I grow at home."

-IFS Member 2017

"Having access to fresh produce is extremely important on the path to leading a healthy lifestyle. It’s also given us the opportunity to try a larger variety of vegetables that we might not otherwise buy on our own."

-IFS Member, 2017

Our 2023 Indigenous Food Share program is full. Sign-up for our waitlist below.

2023 IFS Waitlist Form

Our Indigenous Food Share program strives to serve Native families. Non-Native allies, we welcome you to shop from our stand at the Four Sisters Farmers Market this season -- we'll have plenty of delicious produce to offer you from May to October! Everyone is also welcome to contribute to the cost of another family's share: complete Steps 1 and 2 below and our online storefront will open with an option to donate.

Step 1: Create or Log-in to your existing Local Line account.

Step 2: Request access to our Indigenous Food Share price list.

Donate!

Thank you to our 2023 Indigenous Food Share Members!

Our Indigenous Food Share program (IFS) strives to prioritize Native families, and this past year we did a pre-sale that was open only to our youth program families, IFN partners, and previous members.

In addition to IFS, our produce will also be available by preorder and at our farmers market stand (every Thursday// 11am-3pm // June - October) at the Four Sisters Farmer's Market located in the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) parking lot.

New in 2023:

Share Size

We are offering a weekly small share. The weekly small share will replace the every other week half share that we have offered in previous years. The weekly small share will be include 6 - 9 items per week. If you are new to bringing food into your home through a weekly share program, this is a great way to get started. It is also a good size share for households with 2-3 relatives. The weekly share will keep a steady stream of produce coming to you, without overwhelming your refrigerator every other week.

Payment Plans

We were happy to continue offering a sliding scale payment model for our Indigenous Food Share program. This payment model reflects part of our mission, which aims to increase food access to Native families in the Twin Cities. This year, we are also offering a work share option where IFS members can work on the farm as another way to pay for their share.

We are so grateful for your continued support, and can’t do this work without each and every one of you! Miigwech / Pidamaye / Ahéhee' / Pinagigi / Wado / Goshted / Thank you!

If you have any questions, please email anthony@dreamofwildhealth.org.

Types of Shares:

IFS shares begin June 6 and go through September 23, 2022.

Full Share: $600

A box every week (16 boxes)
Good for a family of 4 who enjoy veggies.
Cost: sliding Scale from $0-$600+
Workshare Option Available

Small Share: $300

A box every week (16 boxes)
Great for individuals, couples, small families or those learning to use more veggies
Cost: sliding scalre from $0-$300
Workshare Option Available

To make our shares accessible to program families and community partners, we offer a variety of flexible payment options, including: payment plans, sliding scale rates, EBT/SNAP, workshare plan, and other options. We are committed to working with families on a case-by-case basis. Free and reduced priced shares are available.

WHOLESALE ORDERS

If you are interested in placing a wholesale order for your organization, institution, restaurant, etc., please contact anthony@dreamofwildhealth.org or jason@dreamofwildhealth.org for more information and availability.

2023 Indigenous Food Share Information:

What is an Indigenous Food Share?

Indigenous Food Shares seek to put the ownership of our food system back in the hands of the community. IFS is a unique way to connect with DWH farm and provide healthy Indigenous foods at low cost to your family. IFS utilizes a community supported agriculture (CSA) model. In traditional CSA models, members invest up-front in the farm and receive a share of the farm’s produce during the growing season; starting in 2022, we are adding a variety of new, more flexible payment options for families who need them (see “Payment Options” section for details). Each week (or bi-weekly for half shares), boxes are delivered to members at a drop site, for members to pick up.

By signing up for our IFS, you receive a weekly share of healthy, flavorful, freshly harvested produce from our farm for the season. Your purchase is also an investment in our sustainable farming practices that ensure future generations will have access to healthy food and healthy lives.

How is the IFS unique from other CSA shares?

Indigenous Food Shares seek to put the ownership of our food system back in the hands of the community. All of our produce is grown using Indigenous farming practices. We seek to be a part of restoring the health of our soils and health in our community by rebuilding our connection to Indigenous foods.

Unique to our program is an emphasis on Indigenous foods and medicines. The Indigenous crops we feature have value to the Indigenous community in heritage and/or health.

We include unique ingredients like: wild harvested foods (fruits, berries, nuts, wild plants); teas; herbs; Indigenous salad mixes featuring crops such as amaranth, orach, lambs quarters; and many other Indigenous crops like: beans, squash, corn, ground cherries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, melons, tomatillos, microgreens, edible flowers, and more. We include wild rice in the first box of the season, and hope to include other Indigenous produced foods throughout the season, such as: dried beans, teas, herbs, and other preserved foods.

What’s in a share?

What’s In A Share?

An Indigenous Food Share (IFS) is a Dream of Wild Health program where members pick up a box of produce and Indigenous foods grown at our farm, on a weekly basis.

Each box includes a variety of seasonal produce; usually around 7-12 items. While box contents change with the seasons, we aim for a good balance in each box, such as: salad mixes and greens, herbs, root vegetables, wild harvested items, fruits, snacking veggies, and more.
Unique to our program is an emphasis on Indigenous foods and medicines, including: vegetables, wild harvested foods (fruits, nuts, wild plants), teas, herbs, and more. We include wild rice in the first box of the season, and hope to include other shelf-stable Indigenous produced foods throughout the season, such as: dried beans, teas, herbs, and preserved foods.
Box contents change seasonally, but here’s a snapshot of some favorites: tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, squash, beans, melons, salad mixes and greens, carrots, broccolini, onions, garlic, herbs such as: basil, cilantro, dill; and more!

Check out our Indigenous Food Share Solidarity Fund page to view a sampling of some of our 2021 shares (photos at bottom of page).

What size should I get Large or Small?

What size share should I get Large or Small?

That depends! How many people are you feeding? How familiar are you with a wide range of vegetables? Are you sharing your share with others? In general we suggest that a weekly small share box will serve households with 2-3 members, and large share box will serve households with 4 or more members. If you are new to IFS, the small share might also allow you to grow into the weekly delivery model.

When & Where will I pick up my box?

Where Will I Pick Up My Box?

We have 4 pick-up locations to choose from. Check them out:

Dream of Wild Health Farm - 16085 Jeffrey Road, Hugo 8am - 4pm Thursday and Friday

Mississippi Market on East 7th - 740 East 7th Street, St. Paul - 9:45am to 9pm Thursdays

Indigenous Food Lab at Midtown Global Market - 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis 10am - 5pm

Four Sisters Farmers Market at Pow Wow Grounds - 1414 East Franklin Ave, Minneapolis 10:15 to 3pm.

If you’re unable to pick up within these times/locations, please let us know what you need; we’re committed to working with families on a case-by-case basis. Having someone else pick up your share is always an option (like a family member, friend, co-worker, etc.).

What day will shares be delivered this year?

How do I use what's in each share?

How is your produce grown? / What are your farming practices?

How Is Your Produce Grown? / What Are Your Farming Practices?

All of our produce is grown using Indigenous farming practices; we believe in reciprocity, and follow organic and regenerative farming methods - everything we grow is non-GMO, and free from non-organic pesticides and herbicides. We seek to be a part of restoring the health of our soils and health in our community by rebuilding our connection to Indigenous foods.

Why isn’t the farm certified organic?

Our produce is grown above and beyond what is required in certified organic produce standards. We choose to remain un-certified so that our food can be accessible to all in our community while investing in education around healthy foods.