Site: St. Paul JCC
Farm: Easy Bean Farm
Contact: Penny Schumacher
Season: June-September |
|
Easy Bean Farm
Mike Jacobs and Malena Arner Handeen
1. Where is your farm located and how long have you been farming there?
Our farm is located in Western Minnesota near the little town of Milan and we have farmed here since 1996.
2. When did you start farming? What motivates you to farm organically?
We farm organically because we believe that doing so is safer for our family and because we believe that organic farming methods are an excellent way of leaving the air, soil and water in at least as good, if not better, a condition for countless future generations.
3. How many months a year do you farm?
Even in snowy Minnesota farming is, in truth, a year round occupation. While we are only in the fields between April and November, there is still bookwork, planning, marketing, and learning which run through the "off" months.
4. How many crops do you grow, and what is the easiest crop to grow in your area?
We grow around 85 different crops. No one crop (other than weeds) is really the easiest. Each year poses new challenges.
5. Of the crops that you grow, which ones are you especially proud of?
I really enjoy the colored peppers, snow peas, heirloom tomatoes, and broccoli.
6. What is one benefit and one challenge of organic farming and selling products locally?
The obvious benefit is that our own family has access to the freshest, most delicious, and most diverse set of dinner options nearly every night. The greatest challenge is in my opinion, an emotional one. Weare taught, in this culture, that, if you work hard, things will turn out well. In farming this is not always true. Harsh weather can wreak havoc on all of your hard work in mere hours. It is difficult to see something that you have put yourself into so fully turn out  poorly.
7. How do you view your relationship to CSA customers?
Over the last 11 years we have developed a variety of different types of relationships with our customers. Some have become close friends. I am grateful to all of them for helping to support our dream and for taking such a great risk with us year after year.
8. What is one thing you would like Hazon CSA members to know about your farm?
The importance of raising healthy crops in our fields is closely followed by our desire to raise hearty laughter and a sense of wonder as we work each day.
|
Penny invited Farmer Mike to speak at the St. Paul JCC about his Jewish values, farming, and building relationships with local farmers last year. Blogger, Elana Centor, made a podcast of the conversation. Listen to it here. |
