They grow it, you own it
Farms sell shares, provide fresh produceVALLEY CITY, N.D. - When Scott Hansen worked as a sales specialist for a major wireless company, high blood pressure was his constant companion.
That changed when he was laid off and began spending more time in his garden at the rural Valley City farmstead he shares with his wife, Sandy.
By: Dave Olson, INFORUM
- Brian and Angie McGinness
Valley City, N.D. - When Scott Hansen worked as a sales specialist for a major wireless company, high blood pressure was his constant companion.
That changed when he was laid off and began spending more time in his garden at the rural Valley City farmstead he shares with his wife, Sandy.
“After a few weeks of digging in the dirt, I had myself checked and everything’s normal,” said Hansen, who is turning his love of gardening into a job.
It began last year when the Hansens took part in their local farmers market.
This year, they are taking a different approach: community-supported agriculture.
With CSA, growers typically charge subscribers a flat rate for a share of the harvest. Payback takes the form of food, which usually gets delivered once a week during the growing season.
“We’re looking at doing two deliveries a week,” said Hansen, adding that his farm, Llama Trax Gardens, plans to start out slow, with perhaps 12 to 24 subscribers, including some in the Fargo area.
The Hansens have been getting tips from Brian and Angie McGinness, a Mandan couple who are starting their second season of CSA.
Their Riverbound Farm takes a slightly different approach to paying investors.
Instead of making deliveries of produce such as carrots, onions and greens, the couple invite subscribers out to the farm to load up.
“People can just come and take whatever they want. We don’t tell them how much to take, or what they should take,” said Brian McGinness.
He said “every vegetable you can really conceive of” is available at the farm: from greens and cabbage to tomatoes, peppers and watermelon.
“We have pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries,” he added.
The McGinness farm kicks off production season with an open house May 7. The season runs from June 11 to Dec. 6 (greenhouses allow for the late growing season).
Scott Hansen said his farm is offering a full share for $525 and a half share for $325.
“A full share would feed a family of five, that’s about $29 a week,” Hansen said.
The Hansens can be reached at (701) 845-1191.
The McGinnesses can be reached by calling (701) 202-9834, or (701) 226-3428.
Online
- www.riverboundfarm.com
- www.llamatraxgardens.com
- Find a CSA near you at www.localharvest.org
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
Tags: farmers forum, agriculture, farm
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