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 a fruit subscription and a la carte.  

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.

We'll offer egg shares and a la carte.

Owned and operated by Andrew and Melissa Dunham, Grinnell Heritage Farm produces USDA certified organic vegetables and flowers. Andrew is a fifth generation Iowa farmer on the 80 acre family farm located northeast of Grinnell. The farm has been in the family for over 150 years.

Andrew became interested in pursuing a career in local agriculture as an agricultural extension officer serivn in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, East Africa. His experience working with subsistence farmers and growing vegetables on a one-acre plot nudged him in the direction of undertaking an internship on an organic vegetable farm in Northeast Iowa upon his return to the United States. Andy manages field and packing shed operations. Melissa adeptly handles accounting, marketing, and human resource needs, in addition to many of our farmers' markets. Aunt Janet has been an avid gardener for her whole life. Janet is our specialty weeder with both hand and hoe. She also plays a key role in occupying the youngest Dunham of the family.

In addition to being a family affair, the farm is aided by seasonal employees and lots of helf from extended family, friends and shareholders. They truly put the Community in CSA.

This season we will begin offering our CSA shares to members of Farm to Folk as a pre-boxed package on Thursdays. Please sign up through our website:

http://www.grinnellheritagefarm.com

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.

It has been my way of life for 56 years--caring for the land and animals and them providing back for myself and four daughters. There is nothing better than sitting down to supper and knowing everything on the table is something you raised yourself, no chemicals, pesticides -- just lots of hard work and fresh air. It is how my mother raised me, to be self sufficient and to eat healthy. It is something that I have taught my daughters and want to share with more people as well.

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.

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".

TableTop Farm is a new enterprise of two young farm families working together with complimentary skills and a shared vision: to grow high quality, sustainably grown produce. This is our first season as TableTop Farm, growing vegetables in the finest soil on the planet, just southeast of Nevada. We offer vegetable CSA shares, and also sell a la carte.

The mission of TableTop Farm is to provide high quality certified-organic produce to local and regional markets while earning fair wages and embodying the principles of community involvement, innovation, and ecological resilience.

Our variety selections, as well as growing and harvesting techniques are geared toward providing delicious, high quality vegetables. Being involved in our community and contributing to rural revitalization are integral to our values. We welcome the support of CSA members for consistent and fair wages, encouragement in tough times, and as partners in building a more resilient food system. For our part, we will seek to always be financially transparent, and work to increase access to healthy food in the broader community. Environmental resilience is another vital aspect of our farm, and will encompass not only organic certification*, but the establishment of diverse, local-ecotype native prairie. This will provide habitat to wildlife, and will increase pollinator numbers and beneficial insect habitat to reduce pest pressure.

* We are currently in transition to organic, with certification to begin in 2014.

Sally and Luke Gran
Sally grew up in Nevada, IA and studied Anthropology and Sociology at Truman State University. She has spent three growing seasons learning about vegetable farming. Sally will specialize in communications, cultivar selection, customer relations, and production quality. Luke grew up in Newton, IA and studied Forestry at Iowa State. Since 2008, he has been mentored by local prairie farmer Carl Kurtz. Luke will support the farm with accounting and prairie management.

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.