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25 augustus 2006

Response from Boxelder Acres

YPSIDIXIT received this kind and droll note from Boxelder Acres, the farm where she picked up two loads of toothsome vegetables:

"Recently, it was called to our attention, that there had been some discussion about our quaint little agriculture operation in a place called the Blogosphere. Pointed to a destination called Ypsidixit by Lisa Bashert [who has been getting vegetables from us for, I don’t know, like forever] we were happy to discover many kind and gracious comments along with one post by an uninformed self described CSA purist who said, in an unnecessary low blow, that we were “just a by-the-box farm stand”.

"They seemed especially bothered that by not forcing our customers to fork over $500 or more, before the season starts, so that everyone could have the opportunity to share in some perceived risk, we were eliminating “the most important defining feature of a CSA”.

"We have been mulling over these comments during our daily 18 holes at Barton Hills and formulating our response. A golf course is a great place to just relax and get away from the hubbub of farm activity and for those of you who don’t belong, let me tell you, they treat you like a Saudi Prince. All these well scrubbed young people are always hovering around asking “can I get those clubs for you sir?”, “can I freshen your drink sir?”, “can I polish those shoes sir?” After a while you almost start to believe that you are someone special. What a life.

"Luckily we have “interns” back at the farm to do most of the work. It is unbelievable how many people there are, with multiple, advanced degrees from the U of M, who think that the best way to ultimately avoid having to go to work for the man, is to learn how to grow vegetables. Tell them that you will explain the ins and outs of farming and they seem happy to labor 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, rain or shine, for a $50 monthly stipend and a place to pitch a tent. We give them a long list in the morning, check on them once or twice during the day and then again at sundown. You do have to train them some in the spring but after that they are pretty much on their own.

"The way we see it, there are only three ways for a farmer to retail their vegetables. Farmer’s markets, roadside stand, or a CSA. In the first two, the farmers grow their crops, offer them for sale, and customers may chose what and if to purchase. Somehow they are able to stay in business, year after year, without a whole bunch of people sharing in their risk. Then there are the CSA farmers, who need all of their customers to give them a $500 interest free loan before planting because their operation is so risky. What’s up with that? What’s up is that an experienced, knowledgeable, properly equipped farmer on good ground, with a diversified mix of crops, an adequate irrigation system, field tiling and a good market, is going to be moderately successful year in and year out. Will the business be wildly profitable? Will there be ups and downs, drought and flooding? Will the work be long and hard? Will there even be times you might want to quit? Let’s guess.

"CSAs are often started by someone with a walk behind rototiller and a large garden who thinks that if they just make it a little bigger they can start a CSA and quit their day job. They call us all the time asking for advice on getting started. You should hear the conversations. What really excites them is the idea that they don’t even have to actually be successful because they get paid up front by all their risk sharing customers. Let’s see, $500 times 100 customers is? We are going to be RICH!!! If you decide to join such a CSA we can guarantee that you will able to enjoy some risk sharing.

"We have a 100 family CSA. Most of our customers return year after year. They also show up week after week to get their vegetables, paying with checks that don’t bounce and tell us over and over how great everything tastes. To us the most important defining feature of our CSA is that we are providing healthy, locally grown food to local families who appreciate all of our hard work. It’s all pretty simple, and hey, it works for us."

Posted by ypsidixit at 25 augustus 2006 10:58

Comments

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