Cliff and Cari were always, in their words: “on a path to farming together—we just didn’t know it.” Today Rockwell Ridge Farm offers their local Madison, Wisconsin, community pastured pork and eggs, baked goods, and apples and pears from their orchard. Cliff was kind enough to share their farming journey, and the ways they’re shifting business online to address this recent pandemic.

Amy Foster moved to North Carolina right after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Originally from Hastings, MN, she grew up gardening and playing in cornfields around their home. When she met her husband and married in 1998, they wanted some control over their food and how it was produced. They bought land in NC with the intention to homestead and give Amy flexibility to take care of their two young children. Soon, they found a community of conscious consumers interested in purchasing their natural, sustainably raised chicken and beef. Amy shared their experience growing Gilcrest Natural Farm, and the ways they’ve adapted to shifting needs and demand during the pandemic.

The Wright Brothers Farm has at once a very long, and very short history. Since Fall 2017, the Farm has been selling fresh produce to restaurants and, more recently, CSA members in various Washington state communities. Craig Wright took time to discuss the Farm’s 1903 origins, it’s new beginning and now rapid growth due to convenient ordering and delivery options.

Kelsey Ducheneaux runs DX Beef, where she ranches and sells grass fed beef to local communities on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. She is the Natural Resources Director for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, and a passionate advocate for growing strong local food systems. Kelsey shared about DX Beef and its response to spiking demand during the pandemic.

Kate Canney and her wife own and operate The Neighborhood Farm outside Boston, MA. Their Farm has grown organic produce for the past 13 years, selling to restaurants and at farmers markets in Boston. Their status quo, like many, shifted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kate explained how The Neighborhood Farm came to be, and how they acted quickly to adapt to new challenges.

Roland Hoffman and his wife had a vision: go back to the basics and live as self-sustaining of a life as possible. After moving their 3 small children from Corvallis, OR to Kentucky in 1999, the family’s “simple life” grew to include chickens, ducks, milk goats and a cow. Eventually, they added grass fed beef and gained recognition in the community. Roland explained how their ‘sustainable life’ turned into Spring Hills Farm.

Yasukochi Family Farm has been a part of the Oceanside, California, community since 1929, serving their local community fresh produce and berries at farmers markets and through their CSA program. Several weeks ago, they announced direct home delivery for their produce boxes, and it went viral. Britinee Yasukochi explained how their Farm is handling the flood of demand in the San Diego area.

Jerry and Janelle Stokesberry have been growing food together since the 70’s. “We were just kids. We both did a lot of vegetable gardening growing up, so we decided to change it up and raise fruit and meat. In 2013 we decided to go all-in on our dream, farming full time and providing food to other people.”

Georgia and Jordan Monroe own and operate Basecamp Farms in Millican, Texas, where they grow and sell cut flowers locally to retail customers and businesses, as well as offering on-farm events and workshops. Georgia explained how their Farm came to be, and how the business is evolving to survive, and thrive, during the pandemic.

Brandon Fullenkamp started Happy Hogs Farm Market (located in Hillsboro, OH) in 2012, selling whole and half hogs and freezer beef. As the “hobby got out of control,” he added chickens and eggs and began selling to a couple restaurants. Over the past few years, the Farm has dabbled in farmers markets, seeing some success but not consistent enough to justify the cost of travel.

Jared and Valerie Luhman both grew up on Farms in southern Minnesota. In December of 2018, Jared learned about a company selling grass fed beef from Minnesota and Wisconsin Farms to buyers in the Twin Cities. Grass Fed Cattle Company already had loyal customers, brand recognition, a drop-site in Edina, and they sold exclusively in bulk. The couple began serious discussions to purchase Grass Fed Cattle Company in January 2019, and by March the deal was done.

Heather Forthofer did not want chickens. Her husband, Chris, thought it would be a fun project. After begrudgingly visiting a neighborhood Farm in 2013, Heather gave in to 3 hens and a rooster. By the end of that same week, they had 10 birds. By 2016, they were purchasing the first pigs for Bittersweet Family Farm, and in 2018 Heather and Chris moved to a 25-acre property to accommodate their 4 trailer-loads of pigs.

Evans Family Farm began in southern California, with a garden and some chickens. Now, the North Carolina-based family Farm is experimenting with direct home delivery for their pasture-raised poultry, pork, grassfed beef and lamb. Jessica Evans recollected their cross-country move and farming journey.

Does the CSA model still work?

As consumers increasingly demand convenient buying options --- are online for 6h+ daily and have a lot of choices on who and where to buy from --- the time is ripe to rethink and modernize the CSA model. This Farm has a whole new twist on CSA - and it’s working!

Thomas Bennett spends his days on a family-owned pork and poultry Farm in southeastern Michigan as a full-time Farmer, dad and husband. He’s dedicated to his animals’ welfare, sustainable and humane practices, and his family and customers’ access to nutritious, affordable food. Before his second career as a Farmer, Bennett was a Member of the Marine Corps, serving 10 total years in active duty.