Well the end of the 2012 CSA season is creeping in. The birds are migrating, the wood-stove is in use, and we are finally getting to slow down a bit. We are so grateful for another successful season, not to say that there weren't many challenges and bumps in the road. But as the seasons have progressed so have our understanding of the true nature of farming and the importance of accepting the challenges.
With the passing of our third season we are ready to embark on a new chapter in our lives. We are in the process of buying a farm! The significance of the event is extremely important for many reasons. For one, Brian and I are so ready for our own home. No more leasing, no more feeling a yearning for permanence. We want a place for our family to truly call home and learn and grow together. We want to take root and build our dreams together knowing that the nails we pound and the posts we set will be permanent fixtures in our lives.
But also, and so so so importantly this is a really really really big deal for small-scale sustainable agriculture and our CSA.
This is a huge mile marker for our community. We have shown the world and ourselves that small scale sustainable agriculture is real, is viable, and is here to stay.
Brian and I moved to ND 3 years ago. We had $5,000, a pick-up truck, a horse trailer full of farming equipment, and a dream. The community of Bismarck and Mandan was so supportive and ready for our CSA. In three years we have gone from 50 members to 163 and we have quite a waiting list. Brian and I with the help of faithful volunteers, friends, and absolutely wonderful CSA members have created a thriving CSA full of life and vibrancy. Every Saturday families come out to the farm and pick strawberries, play, and enjoy making that connection to the farm. The CSA members have put their money where there mouth is and employed a family farm to grow their food. Our CSA members then had the challenge of putting their mouth where their money went and learned how to prepare and enjoy all the wonderful flavors that locally grown foods provided. We have all learned and grown together, from learning new recipes to paying attention to the weather more, to experiencing the challenges of agriculture. We have shown that yes smaller scale agriculture is a viable business. Vegetable farming is a real profession. In fact, it is so viable that in three years we have created a thriving enough business to be able to purchase a farm. Smaller scale farms all over the country right now are few and far between and not cheap either, and here around Bismarck and Mandan it is especially true.
This farm purchase is also a milestone because it means that Riverbound Farm will really become a long-term fixture in our community for years to come. This is our profession, our passion, and our dream and we want to share it with the community for the next 30 years. We have all worked together to demonstrate that this is real, this is significant, and when a community of people get together for a common goal (local organic vegetables and a community farm) then it can be done. Our CSA members are our livelihood. We have a vision of nourishing the CSA members on many levels for years to come, connecting with a farm and nature, developing a relationship with the farm and experience of farming, and with nutritional nourishment from fresh organic local vegetables and meats.
The new farm is loaded with possibilities. It is beautiful and welcoming. There is plenty of space for children to run and play. It is also easier for CSA members to access the vegetable crops and fields. We have so many ideas and dreams for the new farm and we really want to share the farm with the community. We want to really get people involved in helping build this community farm. Starting in May we will host work days every Saturday. We need to plant the new pick-your own area, build a play area, build a CSA shed, and breathe some CSA life into the farm. We want CSA members who have the desire to get dirty to have that opportunity. We are so excited and can hardly wait to see this process unfold.
So if you want to help create the new Riverbound farm and solidify it's place in the community please don't hesitate to let us know how you want to participate, and sign-up for the 2013 season.
With the passing of our third season we are ready to embark on a new chapter in our lives. We are in the process of buying a farm! The significance of the event is extremely important for many reasons. For one, Brian and I are so ready for our own home. No more leasing, no more feeling a yearning for permanence. We want a place for our family to truly call home and learn and grow together. We want to take root and build our dreams together knowing that the nails we pound and the posts we set will be permanent fixtures in our lives.
But also, and so so so importantly this is a really really really big deal for small-scale sustainable agriculture and our CSA.
This is a huge mile marker for our community. We have shown the world and ourselves that small scale sustainable agriculture is real, is viable, and is here to stay.
Brian and I moved to ND 3 years ago. We had $5,000, a pick-up truck, a horse trailer full of farming equipment, and a dream. The community of Bismarck and Mandan was so supportive and ready for our CSA. In three years we have gone from 50 members to 163 and we have quite a waiting list. Brian and I with the help of faithful volunteers, friends, and absolutely wonderful CSA members have created a thriving CSA full of life and vibrancy. Every Saturday families come out to the farm and pick strawberries, play, and enjoy making that connection to the farm. The CSA members have put their money where there mouth is and employed a family farm to grow their food. Our CSA members then had the challenge of putting their mouth where their money went and learned how to prepare and enjoy all the wonderful flavors that locally grown foods provided. We have all learned and grown together, from learning new recipes to paying attention to the weather more, to experiencing the challenges of agriculture. We have shown that yes smaller scale agriculture is a viable business. Vegetable farming is a real profession. In fact, it is so viable that in three years we have created a thriving enough business to be able to purchase a farm. Smaller scale farms all over the country right now are few and far between and not cheap either, and here around Bismarck and Mandan it is especially true.
This farm purchase is also a milestone because it means that Riverbound Farm will really become a long-term fixture in our community for years to come. This is our profession, our passion, and our dream and we want to share it with the community for the next 30 years. We have all worked together to demonstrate that this is real, this is significant, and when a community of people get together for a common goal (local organic vegetables and a community farm) then it can be done. Our CSA members are our livelihood. We have a vision of nourishing the CSA members on many levels for years to come, connecting with a farm and nature, developing a relationship with the farm and experience of farming, and with nutritional nourishment from fresh organic local vegetables and meats.
The new farm is loaded with possibilities. It is beautiful and welcoming. There is plenty of space for children to run and play. It is also easier for CSA members to access the vegetable crops and fields. We have so many ideas and dreams for the new farm and we really want to share the farm with the community. We want to really get people involved in helping build this community farm. Starting in May we will host work days every Saturday. We need to plant the new pick-your own area, build a play area, build a CSA shed, and breathe some CSA life into the farm. We want CSA members who have the desire to get dirty to have that opportunity. We are so excited and can hardly wait to see this process unfold.
So if you want to help create the new Riverbound farm and solidify it's place in the community please don't hesitate to let us know how you want to participate, and sign-up for the 2013 season.
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