Primrose Community Farm

Our farm was founded in april of 2005 and has been very successful in producing an abundance of wonderful vegetables throughout the entire year. We are located in Middleton, Wisconsin at 3828 pioneer road. We grow a very diverse selection of over 60 different vegetables on 5 acres of some of the finest soil we could ask for. We have a csa program of over 100 families for the 2007 growing season and hope to increase this next year.

We sell vegetables from april through january through our csa as well as at several area farmers markets including the westside community market at the hill farms state office building on segoe road in madison. our produce can also be found in the produce section of several local natural food stores including regent st. market co-operative and magic mill. We strive to be sustainable in our farming practices by using many ecological principles in managing our land. We commit to never using any synthetic chemicals or fertilizers on our land. We don't really find a need for these products as we have found that our diverse system of producing many different types of crops as well as maintaining the health of the soil is the key aspect to farming successfully. We feel that the use of toxic pesticides in the production of most vegetables in this country is a huge problem for the future health of our population. The exposure to many of these compounds can cause physiological symptoms that can affect not only ourselves but also the next generation and even our ability to reproduce. We think that it is so important that people realize what kind of substances are used in the production of their food so that they can make wise decisions on where they purchase their food from.

Buying directly from a farmer is the best way that you can be assured of the produce that you are eating is free of dangerous pesticide residues. But there is much more reason than this to buy directly from local farmers. The issue of labor in our agricultural economy is a very important thing to think about. Growing vegetables is a very labor intensive operation. On large farms many people that are actually out working in the fields are paid very little for their precious work that they do to feed our country. I find that it is very important to realize who is doing the hard work out in the fields and to know that they are happy doing what they do and are compensated appropriately. I work full time at the farm throughout the year, which in the summer can ammount to over 90 hours in a week while we have three employees in 2007 (Cassie, Isaiah and myself) that also work 40 hours a week during the season and several other friends that work intermittently when needed during the season. We also have 15 volunteers that help out during the growing season which are very helpful in getting tasks done with many hands out in the field. We work in all sorts of weather no matter what mother nature throws out at us as we often don't have any other choice to get the veggies harvested in time for market or csa packout.

The most important factor for me is that we really enjoy being out at the farm. It isn't work to me, i look forward to being out there and the time just flies by so that i really don't even notice when i spend a 14 hour day in the field. its a place that i truly love to be and that is why i'm out there doing it. i really enjoy working with my employees and volunteers who are happy to be apart of producing tasty and nutritious produce. come experience the produce that your local climate has to offer no matter what month of the year we always have something different to try.

week 5 csa box