Participate

Get a harvest share now for the start in April 2024

With a harvest share, you receive fresh vegetables from community production every week and are part of a sustainable food system.

Jump straight to registration if you already know, or read on to find out all about “AS” (share certificates) and “EAT” (harvest shares).

How does meh als gmües work?

meh als gmües is a vegetable cooperative in Zurich North and works according to the principles of community-supported agriculture. In concrete terms, this means that members buy a share of the harvest for an entire season – April to March – in advance, help with production – directly or indirectly – for at least 20 hours per share during this season and collect the harvested vegetables from one of three depots every week.

How can I join?

1. Become a member of the cooperative by subscribing for at least one share certificate (AS) of CHF 250. Refundable after leaving, at the end of each season.
2. Order one or more harvest shares (EAT), depending on the amount of vegetables you need each week. You need one share certificate per harvest share.
3. As soon as a slot becomes available for you, you will receive a confirmation. The season starts in April. If you join during the season, your assignments and the price of the harvest shares for that season will be reduced proportionately (see below).
4. Register online for upcoming work assignments, which you will then carry out in the garden. Each harvest share and season involves 20 hours of work.
5. Collect fresh vegetables from one of three depots every week.

This page is currently being translated to English.

Do I need gardening skills?

No.

While you help out in the garden, you will be guided by our garden team. However, if you know your way around, you are more than welcome to contribute your expertise or – depending on your wishes – to expand it in an area you are not yet familiar with. It is not uncommon for members to develop new interests in the garden.

Is it suitable for families with children?

Yes.

Many families with children of different ages are already members. There is also plenty for the little ones to discover in the garden. There are also constant efforts to make the activities family-friendly and networking between families is actively encouraged.

Accompanied children are always welcome in the garden. In principle, this also applies to the outreaches. However, it is not advisable to bring children along for certain tasks, such as harvesting, as the work takes place outside in the field. Children aged 14 and over who are motivated to help will also receive a “Böhnli” (see below). Younger children should rather explore than work in the garden.

Where and how can I pick up the vegetables?

meh als gmües has three depots:

• One is at the garden at Reckenholzstrasse 150.
• Another depot is located on the Hunziker Areal at Hagenholzstrasse 106a.
• Since 2022, we have had a third depot in ABZ Jasminweg 1+2 at Holunderweg 25.

When you sign up, you choose which depot you will collect your vegetables from between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. You weigh and pack the vegetables yourself.

What is the cost of a harvest share (EAT)?

1. Work assignments of 20 hours per season and harvest share
2. An annual operating contribution of between CHF 800 and CHF 1200 per harvest share, depending on your financial situation
3. At least one share certificate (AS) of CHF 250 per harvest share, one-off and repayable

1. The work assignments

Everyone works at meh als gmües: Each harvest share includes at least 20 hours of work. Of course, you can also do more, depending on your interests and abilities.

During the work assignments, you will be guided by our garden team. You can work during the week, on Saturday mornings or afternoons and sometimes in the evening during the summer. The work assignments are advertised via the online platform and you will be credited with a digital “Böhnli” for each completed assignment of approx. four hours.

For various assignments, there is the option to customize the duration and, for example, work for two hours at a time instead of four. As soon as you have completed four hours, you can request a “Böhnli”.

2. The Operational Contribution

Joining meh als gmües should not be a financial burden. With this in mind, our members supported the introduction of – self-declared – income-based operating contributions in 2017.

With the same quantity of vegetables and the same amount of work assignments, you therefore have three farm contributions to choose from.

* The season starts in April. If you join during the year, the contribution is reduced proportionally. See below.

3. The share certificate (AS)

For every harvest share you receive, you also need a CHF 250 share certificate, which is refundable on cancellation.

By owning at least one share certificate, you are also a member and therefore co-owner of the cooperative and have a vote at the general assemblies.

You are welcome to subscribe to several share certificates. As of the 2021/22 season, meh als gmües has been awarded new agricultural land for long-term use thanks to our great commitment. We are growing, which is good, but also requires a lot of investment. To avoid having to rely on expensive loans, we have called on our members to subscribe to additional share certificates. If all members subscribed to an average of five share certificates, we would be able to finance all planned investments ourselves. We have deliberately refrained from raising the minimum number of share certificates for everyone because, as with the operating contributions, we know that not everyone can afford it equally well. Decide for yourself how much you can contribute when you register. You can also reorder share certificates at any time after registering.

If you leave the vegetable cooperative, the amount will be refunded to you at the end of the financial year – at the end of March.

By signing up and purchasing a share certificate, you agree to our statutes and operating regulations.

How many and which vegetables are included?

One harvest share is enough for one or two people, depending on how often you cook at home and how many vegetables you eat. Our vegetables are seasonal: at the beginning of the season in spring there tend to be fewer vegetables and in high summer there are the most in terms of quantity. In winter, there are mainly various stored vegetables.

The harvest is divided by the number of harvest shares – i.e. if the weather was good and the vegetables grew splendidly, there is a lot for everyone; if the weather was not so good – too dry, too cold, too hot, hail, storm – and fewer vegetables grew, there is less for everyone.

Can I get only half a harvest share?

Kind of.

In order to keep the administrative effort – which is done on a voluntary basis – to a minimum, the harvest share is the smallest unit that can be purchased. However, you can join forces with other people and split this harvest share. The conditions – who picks up which vegetables when, who pays how much and in whose name the share certificate is in – are determined by you. As with all harvest shares, we send out an invoice and take the vegetables to a depot.

In order to bring people together who want to share a harvest share, we have created the “Ernteanteilteiler”, where you can find like-minded people by placing an ad.

Start of the season and important dates

The season lasts from April to the end of March of the following year

The financial year and therefore all administrative matters also have a cut-off date of April 1.

The harvest share (EAT) can be terminated at the end of each season by the end of January at the latest. You can cancel during the year if there are people on the waiting list.

Entry during the year – Only while available

meh als gmües produces vegetables for 300 harvest shares every week. As long as not all of these harvest shares have been allocated, it is possible to join at the beginning of each month during the year. If we are “sold out”, we will keep a waiting list and contact you as soon as a member moves during the year and would like to pass on the harvest share.

Entry during the year at the beginning of a month

Entry during the year is calculated on the basis of “Standard Vegetables” at a price of CHF 1000/season. However, when you register, select the price you want for the following year. You must own at least one share certificate per harvest share (EAT).

What is so special about meh als gmües?

The best way to find out is to ask our members. Here are a few things we are proud of:

• Our vegetables are always seasonal, regional and organic.
• The vegetables find their way to you without packaging waste.
• We also grow vegetables that you would look for in vain in the supermarket. Even ones that you may know “from the past”.
• We hear again and again that home-grown simply tastes better. The good selection of varieties by our gardening experts probably also contributes to this.
• Our garden is not just a place where vegetables are grown. It is also a place of recreation and a place of exchange. A place to make new friends. It is your place.

Are you ready for meh als gmües?