Farmer Spotlight: Lucky Crow Farm

How this female-powered urban farm is reinforcing strong local relationships online. 

Lucky Crow Farm cultivates three plots in Monmouth and Salem, Oregon. Founder Eden Olsen launched the Farm in 2016, after studying sustainable agriculture at Scripps College, managing farmers markets in the Bay Area, ranching in California and growing organic produce in Washington. Beginning with CSA and farmers’ market sales, the female-powered farm expanded to serve restaurants last year and began online sales this season. Eden shared her passion for farming and building community relationships—and how she’s engaging buyers online as well. 

Lucky Crow farms two neighborhood plots, which are the face of the Farm, as well as some family land they are converting from conventional grass seed and using to expand the operation. They launched a 50-member CSA and one farmers’ market four years ago when Eden started Lucky Crow. Most members live within walking distance of the Farm. They’ll come pick up their shares and check out the Farm on a weekly basis. Lucky Crow also offers food bank shares for purchase, which allows customers with means to pay the Farmer while also helping community members in need. Lucky Crow added two major restaurant accounts last year.

When it comes to educating customers about the Farm and practices, Eden really values talking to people and making herself available at markets. Because Lucky Crow is located in a rural area, it’s often a mindset shift for customers to feel comfortable paying prices that reflect a higher-quality product. If someone is able to talk face-to-face with the Farmer and ask why something costs more, they'll walk away understanding the value of soil-health, clean practices and the nutritional value of the food they consume.

Eden continues farm education in a weekly newsletter where she explains the goings-ons, offers food philosophy and explains how to cook that “crazy spaceship-shaped vegetable customers received this week” (hint: kohlrabi). Lucky Crow customers come from a variety of backgrounds—no matter their previous experience with farming or local food, Eden prioritizes making sure they understand what’s going on.

“Social media has proved a great way for Lucky Crow to connect with customers as well as with other Farmers.” It’s a beautiful way to share the Farm’s successes and failures, gain inspiration and ideas, and build the farm’ online community. It provides an opportunity for customers to follow along, get to know the Farmers, and stay invested in Lucky Crow’s work and Brand. 

“I think Farmers often drag their heels on social media or being online, but it’s so worth it to jump in.” At the end of the day, having a web presence on social and email, with a website and webstore has been incredibly helpful to Lucky Crow. Customers are looking and buying online, especially right now. Farming and selling direct-to-market means being a small business owner and the marketing team—you have to do it all.

When Eden decided to offer an online store, she researched multiple platforms. She liked Barn2Door’s pricing with the flat, monthly fee. “As a small farm starting out, I couldn’t afford—and might not ever want— to give up a percentage of my sales. And after comparing with other online store options, the Barn2Door-powered store was easy for my customers to navigate.” 

Eden was already planning on revamping her website this season; it was an added bonus that Barn2Door would build a website at little to no additional cost. It’s huge to have a bold, well-branded, professional website with intuitive shopping. The ongoing contact with the Barn2Door team has been an incredible resource.

Eden recently joined the Women’s Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) as a member. When asked about being a woman in agriculture, Eden responded, “I take that part very seriously. We are proud to be a female-owned and operated business, and to know this is becoming the new normal. I’ve been surrounded by strong women my whole life—they inspire me on a daily basis. I want to see other young women thriving in the agriculture space. I’m dedicated to providing job, education and internship opportunities on the Farm to help them to do so.” 

Barn2Door is thrilled to support Eden and Lucky Crow Farm. Watch the 30 minute Barn2Door + ACRES Webinar for more insights from Eden. You can read more about Barn2Door’s partnership with WFAN, and learn how Barn2Door works in 5 minutes.