Meet the Producers

We grow a variety of crops, most are organic, in the rolling hills southwest of Audubon, Iowa.  The corn, oats, other small grains, hay and pasture we raise are fed to the livestock on our farm.

Our animals are raised the environmentally friendly way in straw, cornstalks, or woodchip bedded farm buildings and hoop barns.  We feed a vegetarian diet of organic corn, soybean meal, vitamins and minerals, and a little organic oats or other small grains.  No antibiotics, drugs, hormones or animal by-products are used in the feed.

We offer our products “a la carte” and will be coming to the distribution site, usually the second Tuesday of the month, to deliver chickens, pork, honey and candles. Please order directly to vcmadsen@iowatelecom.net

At Berry Patch Farm we are producing fruits using Integrated Pest Management and sustainable methods.  We monitor and scout for problems, use minimal sprays and biological balance. We will offer fruit a la carte.  

Our Goal at the Cory Family Farm is to be as transparent as possible with our farming practices. We want you to be able and come out and visit the farm to see exactly what goes into raising the meat you and your family eats.

The Farm has been in the family for over 100 years. We are dedicated to keeping the family very involved on the farm. Each time you come out you will be greeted by a family member.

Our lambs and goats have access to pasture year around.  There is shelter available during inclement weather.  Our animals are fed chemical-free grass and hay and supplemented with non-GMO corn. There is no soy in their diet.  We do not use any antibiotics or growth hormones.  We believe in building up the immune system of our animals naturally through soil fertility and probiotics.  Our lambs, goats and beef are processed at the Mingo Locker which is a state inspected facility.  We now have grass-finished beef available.  The beef was raised exclusively on all-natural, chemical-free grass/legume pasture, received no antibiotics or growth hormones.

Domesticated from jungle birds, we believe chickens are instinctively forgers. They desire to scratch for bugs and search for grains and berries. Our land allows them to feed almost entirely off existing vegetation. We do not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

We started with New Hampshire Reds and Barred Rock hens and have added a few new hens from another organic farm. Our Chickens are pastured using a rotational grazing method. Their diet is lightly supplemented with organic layer feed that we purchase from BlueStem Enterprises LLC in Webster City, IA. Their “Premium Layer” contains organic flax seed and is formulated
with a wide variety of organic grains to help sustain a longer, healthier
life.

1/1/2013: What a difference a year makes. Last year our hens were spending their winter nights in a hay lined building and running around the yard every day. We didn't move snow once! This year, well, has been quite different. We were certainly prepared to let the hen have the run of the woods again (as soon as we can shovel out the peep door), and I hope they get more days of scratching in soon, but we also prepared a large high tunnel to give us the best approximation of free ranging in the full sun. We still feed high quality organic feed as well as all of the greens we can grow/maintain. In addition they get warm mash every morning and the occasional garden treat from last fall (cushaw squash seems to be a favorite). While we can't bottle the rich flavor of summer eggs, we can give our hens the best possible environment to create a great tasting egg.

Organic Chickens for Summer / Fall 2013

Flavor of the Sun farms invites you to reserve your organic broilers raised in the French red label style for the 2013 season. We raise heritage meat birds in a paddock shift system through our woods and pasture. Birds are moved under and between trees where they can search out insects, berries, and pre-planted forage (turnip and radish greens). They are free to roam while being protected from predators and the elements via electric net fencing and portable housing. They receive natural sunlight, high quality organic feed, and special attention from the time they arrive on the farm until they are delivered to the state inspected abattoir. Unlike many broilers, our birds develop strong bones, a full set of feathers, and can even fly.

As we only grow our birds in small batches, we limit reservation in each flock to only 80 birds. Processed birds range from 2.5 – 5 lbs and are delivered fresh. We estimate pre-ordered birds will cost $3.75 per pound. We are taking reservations for pick up dates of June 25th and September 17th right now and may consider additional dates as these are filled. To reserve your birds, simply contact us directly at flavorofthesunfarm@gmail.com noting the number of birds you’d like to reserve for each date. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or special requests. We are very excited to hear from you.

We'll offer egg shares and a la carte.

Early Morning Harvest is a small-family farm raising vegetables in an aquaponics greenhouse, as well as ; pastured poultry for egg production; and flours made from certified organic cereal grains (wheat, rye, buckwheat, and corn meal) raised on our farm. We take pride in the fact that no synthetic chemicals are used on our farm. Our highest priority is caring for our land and animals so that the food we grow and offer to our community is fresh and healthy.

We will offer our products through the a la carte system at Farm to Folk.

The Homestead operates a six-acre farm and grows Certified Naturally Grown® produce for its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The CSA is staffed by residents of The Homestead's campus residential program and overseen by trained farm professionals. Through this program, The Homestead provides delicious fruits and vegetables to our community and wonderful learning and vocational opportunities for individuals served by our programs. CSA members receives a weekly basket of fresh produce throughout the growing season, usually 18 to 20 weeks. We grow more than 30 varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs on our farm outside Pleasant Hill, Iowa. We strive to grow not only Midwestern garden staples, but heirloom and unique varieties as well. Single and double shares are available as well as some a la carte items.

Mary's Farm & Garden has developed from a life-long love of farming and a healthy ifestyle.  What began as a means to feed a family of four daughters in a healthy manner has expanded to sharing the "quality of life" with others through providing all natural fresh eggs, poultry, produce and quality canned goods.  Mary's Farm is located in Junction Township-Green County just 30 minutes from Ames--second home to this ISU Alum.

Laying Hens and Ducks--I use feed products without growth hormones--all vegetable diet.  I am working towards organic feed-non GMO products.  Hens and ducks run free daily over the six acre farm returning to the barn at night for safety.  Hens enjoy NPR classical music while laying in their wooden straw nests.

Meat Broilers-- Broilers spend the first three weeks indoors for thier safety and then are moved outside to pasture in chicken tractors.  Broilers are butchered at seven weeks making the meat very tender and delivered fresh to customers same day--not frozen.  Broilers are butchered at a state inspected facility and are "air chilled"  which aids in contamination issue concerns and adds no weight to customers as in water chilling.
These are the dates I will deliver fresh broilers to Farm to Folk:  Tuesday April 30, Tuesday June 26, Tuesday July 17, Tuesday September 18, and Tuesday October 30.  Weights will be in the 4-6 lb range priced at $3.00/lb.

I have farmed the same land for 30 years. Fertilizer is from my livestock, rabbit and poultry. Livestock are fed medication free feed as close to organic as possible. I use no pesticides or herbicides. Weed control is by hand tilling and natural ground cover of the garden crops. I will provide eggs from my free ranging hens, vegetables, poultry and rabbit as a la carte.

Welcome to Bluestem Soaps & Sundries.  We have an eclectic mix of handcrafted items for you to enjoy.  Our body products are as natural as we can make them.  We use safe and natural preservatives, pure essential oils, natural colorants, and plant oils. We want you to recognize the ingredients on the label!  We have fun and love to experiment, so look for new creations on a regular basis.

Laundry Detergent

We make a simple, effective laundry detergent.  We sell it in gallon jugs, which we would love to reuse.  If you return the jug, we’ll give you 25 cents off your next order.  If you order our original recipe, your clothes will just smell clean though we do make both lavender and lemongrass versions as well (using essential oils of course). 

Ingredients: water, borax, washing soda, bar soap.

Lip Balm

Our base recipe for lip balm utilizes the wonderful buffering qualities of beeswax.  From there we have created different blends of essential oils and butters to suit everyone’s fancy.  Look for both vegan and zinc oxide balms in the near future. 

Current flavors:
Spearmint
Spearmint Lavender
Patchouli Lavender
Lemongrass Tea Tree

Ingredients: beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, vitamin E oil, rosemary extract oil, lanolin, essential oil(s).

Soap Bags

We make our soap bags from 100% cotton monk’s cloth and drawstring rope to make our bar soap more shower-friendly.  Monk’s cloth is a woven fabric, which allows it to dry out quickly between uses.  The bags are off-white and very soft.   They make a nice replacement for your washrag and are great for those who don’t like their soap hanging out on the shower shelf.  They are also great for getting the full use out of bar soap when it gets down to the wee little pieces.  Try a soap bag out for yourself or as a nice addition to a soap gift.

Picket Fence Creamery is working to make our grass-based dairy farm a sustainable  operation through organic practices.  Our fields have not had chemicals applied for 16 years.
We offer skim, 2%, and whole milk in half gallon and gallon sizes, butter, cream, chocolate milk,  ice cream, and grass fed ground beef. We offer our products both as a dairy share and "a la carte".

Alfajores (alfa-hor-es) are a South American confection comprised of creamy dulce de leche sandwiched between two shortbread-like cookies, then dusted with powdered sugar or dipped in chocolate.

Take11 Sweets emerged from a love of baking, alfajores, and cherished memories of eating them as a child during afternoon teatime while visiting family in Chile. We strive to provide high quality hand-crafted treats made with a conscious effort to source ingredients locally whenever possible.

Not only are we proud to introduce new indulgences to food lovers, we’d also like to remind everyone to take time out each day to enjoy something as simple and delightful as a cookie and tea, preferably with friends or loved ones.

I have a small bake shop in Cambridge, Iowa. I'm interested in fermentation in many forms and am drawn to sourdoughs. I strive to bake substantial breads with simple, organic ingredients. These breads contains no preservatives yet have excellent keeping qualities if stored properly. Always store the bread cut-side down on a cutting board, preferably one that is wooden. It's best to avoid plastic. Bread is a staple food in our diets, and I hope that you find my bread to be satisfactory!

Wild Plum Kitchen will offer the following breads:

• Sourdough (organic flour, water, organic rye flour, culture, salt)
• Whole grain sourdough (organic flour, Paul's 7 grain cereal-wheat, oats, rye, barley, buckwheat, flax, water, culture, salt, yeast
• Challah (organic flour, local eggs, water, oil, sugar, salt, sesame and/or poppy seed, yeast)
• Light rye with caraway (organic rye flour, organic flour, ater, culture, caraway, yeast, salt)
• Semolina (organick flour, organic durum flour,water, semolina, culture, sesame seeds, salt)
• Croutons (organic flour, local eggs, water, oil, sugar, garlic, salt, spices, yeast)

Nick’s Wild Fish offers you wild Alaskan Sockeye salmon from the glacier-fed waters of the Cook Inlet. We have formed a close partnership with a small family fishing operation in the region. Wallace Farms is offering organic grass fed beef, "Fresh Air" pork, certified organic chickens, Pastureland butter and pasture raised turkeys.

Nick delivers to Ames monthly, usually on the fourth Tuesday. Watch the order page and newsletter for delivery dates.