Country World News
Work and Produce Divided at Farm
By CAROLYN ROST, Country World Staff Writer April 2, 2009
On a farm located among the rolling hills of Washington County, workers are busy preparing the soil for the upcoming growing and harvesting of their spring vegetables.
The workers are members of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program operated by Home Sweet Farm. According to farm owners, Brad and Jenny Stufflebeam, the farm is "a unique opportunity for families to receive a weekly share of seasonal produce harvested fresh from our farm."
Prior to starting their own farm, the couple owned and operated the first 100 percent organic retail nursery in Collin County with a focus on herbs, native plants, perennials and antique roses. According to Brad, their goal was to one day own a CSA farm. In December of 2004, the Stufflebeams purchased the parcel of land located near Brenham, and began cultivating enough crops to start their CSA program.
Today, the produce is delivered to three drop sites in Houston. There is also a pick-up site at the farm and a monthly market day where other local producers can sell their products -- from fresh eggs to grassfed beef. Currently, the farm has around 125 members who are committed to the CSA for a year and pay $800-900, depending upon the drop-site, for a 30-week share. Members subscribe to the farm at the beginning of each season and, over the past four years, membership has grown.
"It's taking off really well," Brad said. "It shows us there is just a huge demand right now for local food. We are the largest CSA farm serving the (Houston) metroplex. In a way, that's kind of sad because we really should have a lot more farms in this area."
Washington County, he said, is the birthplace of Texas and the rolling hills, sufficient rainfall and diverse soils provide the setting the earliest pioneers admired.
"This was all farming community at one time. We are hoping to, in our small way, kind of revitalize that and help inspire other people to get back into farming."
In 2005, the farm had 26 families join their program. Membership has doubled every season since, he said.
"We've kind of capped it off here at 125 families just because that is a good number for us with the amount of land that we are farming."
According to Brad, 12 acres of the 22-acre farm are cultivated at this time.
"We will have about four acres of produce in each season, so it is always rotating around on the farm."
The idea of community supported agriculture is to get people involved, Brad said. Along with subscribing to the farm and receiving fresh produce every week, people can gain firsthand experience in small farm production.
"We find that there are a lot of folks that want to learn how to grow food and we figure the best opportunity for them to learn how to do it is to be out here doing it with us. It has been real rewarding for us because we get to meet a lot of great folks that are dedicated to come out every week and they end up becoming our friends. Then, at the same time, they are getting that learning experience and we send them home with a box of produce so it is rewarding for all of us that are involved."
For workshare members Mimi Lawrence and Julie Herman, learning how to grow their own vegetables and being a part of the process is the reason they are involved. Herman resides in Cypress and makes the 40-minute drive every Tuesday to volunteer at the farm.
"I've been doing this about a year," said Herman. "I do it because I enjoy gardening and because Brad knows so much. I am hoping some day to do this at home."
Lawrence, who resides in Pattison, has also participated in the program for almost a year.
"My main reason is I believe in supporting the small farmer," Lawrence said. "Of course, an added benefit is that I get a share in this and through just being here I am learning... Brad is very inspiring. He's encouraging others to try their hand at farming and growing produce for themselves and also to sell at farmers markets. He is even encouraging others to compete with him and perhaps start their own CSAs. He's quite an important figure I think, here in Texas, when it comes to the CSA movement and spreading the word of buying local and sustainable agriculture."
To be a part of the workshares program, Brad said volunteers are asked to make a commitment.
"We ask for folks to commit to us for at least a month because we just spend so much time training them and showing them what to do. We don't want them to be just someone visiting for a pick-your-own experience. We want this to actually be a work program. It's just a few hours every morning when they come out."
According to Brad, workshare days are held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Projects change throughout the year, but include such tasks as harvesting and handling produce, crop management, greenhouse production, CSA distribution, weed, pest and disease control. And, depending on the season, workers are always busy planting a variety of different crops.
"Because our customers are in that weekly delivery, we have to give them a good variety of produce; at least eight things each week," Brad said. "So throughout the year, we are probably growing around a hundred different varieties of vegetables and herbs."
Tomatoes, he said, are one of the items people are most excited about.
"We will have about 38 different varieties of tomatoes -- A lot of the standard red ones, but also a lot of open-pollinated and heirloom varieties with a lot of different colors because we try to make food exciting again for folks. Our hope is that when they get home with that produce for that week, they've got a rainbow of colors in there and it just makes kids want to try a tomato again."
Another way the farm is getting both kids and adults excited about farming again is through their market growers symposium. In March, the farm held their first two-day event which was designed to help new and experienced growers "get the job done." During the afternoon, hands-on farm tours and farm demonstrations were held, including working with Lela, their draft horse. Just like in the early days of farming, the Stufflebeams are bringing horse power back to the farm.
"It has added a whole new dynamic to the farm," Brad said. "She is here because she has a purpose, and when we are going full speed in our CSA season, we have her hitched up three or four days a week. She is an important part of the program."
For the couple and their two daughters, Carina, 11, and Brooke, 9, being able to work together as a family and providing fresh produce for others is an important job and a job they enjoy.
"It's a real blessing being able to work together full-time on the farm, but also as a family. That is probably the motivation behind it all. Just that motivation to work together as a family, and when you are doing it at the scale that we are, it is definitely full-time work."
By CAROLYN ROST, Country World Staff Writer April 2, 2009
On a farm located among the rolling hills of Washington County, workers are busy preparing the soil for the upcoming growing and harvesting of their spring vegetables.
The workers are members of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program operated by Home Sweet Farm. According to farm owners, Brad and Jenny Stufflebeam, the farm is "a unique opportunity for families to receive a weekly share of seasonal produce harvested fresh from our farm."
Prior to starting their own farm, the couple owned and operated the first 100 percent organic retail nursery in Collin County with a focus on herbs, native plants, perennials and antique roses. According to Brad, their goal was to one day own a CSA farm. In December of 2004, the Stufflebeams purchased the parcel of land located near Brenham, and began cultivating enough crops to start their CSA program.
Today, the produce is delivered to three drop sites in Houston. There is also a pick-up site at the farm and a monthly market day where other local producers can sell their products -- from fresh eggs to grassfed beef. Currently, the farm has around 125 members who are committed to the CSA for a year and pay $800-900, depending upon the drop-site, for a 30-week share. Members subscribe to the farm at the beginning of each season and, over the past four years, membership has grown.
"It's taking off really well," Brad said. "It shows us there is just a huge demand right now for local food. We are the largest CSA farm serving the (Houston) metroplex. In a way, that's kind of sad because we really should have a lot more farms in this area."
Washington County, he said, is the birthplace of Texas and the rolling hills, sufficient rainfall and diverse soils provide the setting the earliest pioneers admired.
"This was all farming community at one time. We are hoping to, in our small way, kind of revitalize that and help inspire other people to get back into farming."
In 2005, the farm had 26 families join their program. Membership has doubled every season since, he said.
"We've kind of capped it off here at 125 families just because that is a good number for us with the amount of land that we are farming."
According to Brad, 12 acres of the 22-acre farm are cultivated at this time.
"We will have about four acres of produce in each season, so it is always rotating around on the farm."
The idea of community supported agriculture is to get people involved, Brad said. Along with subscribing to the farm and receiving fresh produce every week, people can gain firsthand experience in small farm production.
"We find that there are a lot of folks that want to learn how to grow food and we figure the best opportunity for them to learn how to do it is to be out here doing it with us. It has been real rewarding for us because we get to meet a lot of great folks that are dedicated to come out every week and they end up becoming our friends. Then, at the same time, they are getting that learning experience and we send them home with a box of produce so it is rewarding for all of us that are involved."
For workshare members Mimi Lawrence and Julie Herman, learning how to grow their own vegetables and being a part of the process is the reason they are involved. Herman resides in Cypress and makes the 40-minute drive every Tuesday to volunteer at the farm.
"I've been doing this about a year," said Herman. "I do it because I enjoy gardening and because Brad knows so much. I am hoping some day to do this at home."
Lawrence, who resides in Pattison, has also participated in the program for almost a year.
"My main reason is I believe in supporting the small farmer," Lawrence said. "Of course, an added benefit is that I get a share in this and through just being here I am learning... Brad is very inspiring. He's encouraging others to try their hand at farming and growing produce for themselves and also to sell at farmers markets. He is even encouraging others to compete with him and perhaps start their own CSAs. He's quite an important figure I think, here in Texas, when it comes to the CSA movement and spreading the word of buying local and sustainable agriculture."
To be a part of the workshares program, Brad said volunteers are asked to make a commitment.
"We ask for folks to commit to us for at least a month because we just spend so much time training them and showing them what to do. We don't want them to be just someone visiting for a pick-your-own experience. We want this to actually be a work program. It's just a few hours every morning when they come out."
According to Brad, workshare days are held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Projects change throughout the year, but include such tasks as harvesting and handling produce, crop management, greenhouse production, CSA distribution, weed, pest and disease control. And, depending on the season, workers are always busy planting a variety of different crops.
"Because our customers are in that weekly delivery, we have to give them a good variety of produce; at least eight things each week," Brad said. "So throughout the year, we are probably growing around a hundred different varieties of vegetables and herbs."
Tomatoes, he said, are one of the items people are most excited about.
"We will have about 38 different varieties of tomatoes -- A lot of the standard red ones, but also a lot of open-pollinated and heirloom varieties with a lot of different colors because we try to make food exciting again for folks. Our hope is that when they get home with that produce for that week, they've got a rainbow of colors in there and it just makes kids want to try a tomato again."
Another way the farm is getting both kids and adults excited about farming again is through their market growers symposium. In March, the farm held their first two-day event which was designed to help new and experienced growers "get the job done." During the afternoon, hands-on farm tours and farm demonstrations were held, including working with Lela, their draft horse. Just like in the early days of farming, the Stufflebeams are bringing horse power back to the farm.
"It has added a whole new dynamic to the farm," Brad said. "She is here because she has a purpose, and when we are going full speed in our CSA season, we have her hitched up three or four days a week. She is an important part of the program."
For the couple and their two daughters, Carina, 11, and Brooke, 9, being able to work together as a family and providing fresh produce for others is an important job and a job they enjoy.
"It's a real blessing being able to work together full-time on the farm, but also as a family. That is probably the motivation behind it all. Just that motivation to work together as a family, and when you are doing it at the scale that we are, it is definitely full-time work."