Five Years of Growth, Gratitude, and Gorgeous Veggies!
- Rebecca Hume
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Can you believe it? VRDNT is celebrating its 5th anniversary of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program! What started as a pivot during a time of unprecedented uncertainty has blossomed into the heart of our farm, connecting us directly with the incredible people who bring our harvest to their tables each week – that's you!
Looking back to 2019, my vision for this land was rooted in wholesale, supplying restaurants and Farmhouse Delivery with the fruits (and vegetables!) of our labor. But as spring 2020 arrived, so did a wave of change. The pandemic reshaped everything, and the idea of relying solely on restaurant sales felt precarious. The thought of returning to crowded farmers' markets also raised concerns.
The CSA model, I'll admit, felt daunting initially. The intensity I imagined made me hesitant. Yet, faced with the circumstances, I thought, "Why not?" I vividly recall that night at the computer, telling myself it didn't need to be perfect, but I had to find a way to build a website and launch a subscription. To my utter shock, we sold out in a single day!
That first year was a learning curve, to say the least. Many of our initial members were reacting to the pandemic, not necessarily seasoned locavores. My crop plan, still geared towards chefs, meant a delightful array of… well, let's just say not everyone knew what to do with purple collards and kohlrabi! We did our best to bridge that gap with recipes and inspiration, navigating the delicious unknown together. Honestly, in 2020, I wasn't sure if the CSA was a temporary fix or a long-term commitment.
The turning point arrived with the unforgettable "snowapocalypse" of 2021. We lost everything in the fields. As a young business, our cash reserves were minimal. It was our incredible CSA members who truly saved us, purchasing shares early, before there were even vegetables to harvest. That moment solidified a profound shift for me: if our CSA members had our back, then growing for them would be our unwavering focus.
Ever since, our aim has been to nurture and expand our CSA membership to become our primary outlet. And today, I'm thrilled to announce that after five years of dedication, we are essentially sold out! While you can still find us at the Mueller market with some odds and ends, over 90% of the vibrant produce we grow now goes directly to you, our cherished CSA members.
There's a unique joy in growing for our CSA. I feel a personal connection to each of you who choose to nourish yourselves and your families with our vegetables. It's the truest form of farm-to-table, a direct link to your kitchens that I deeply value. While I appreciate our partnerships with chefs, the consistent connection we share with you week after week is incredibly gratifying.
Mastering the art of farming at this scale for a year-round CSA has been a journey. Crop planning, in particular, has been a significant area of growth. Meticulous record-keeping and years of practice have honed my ability to plant the right things at the right time, ensuring a diverse and steady supply throughout the seasons. Balancing variety with consistent availability for the CSA has been a rewarding challenge.
Reaching this monumental milestone – with over 90% of our produce going to our CSA members – fills me with immense pride. And I want to be clear: we wouldn't be here without each and every one of you who subscribe and are part of the VRDNT farm community. With space for fewer than 15 new members, we're even starting to seriously consider the possibility of expanding our land – a goal I always said would come after selling out!
While the growth of VRDNT's CSA has taken immense focus and hard work on our part, this model wouldn't be possible without our amazing pickup locations. Their partnership in hosting our weekly veggie pickups is invaluable. Please, if you have a moment, express your gratitude to the staff at these locations. Let them know how much you appreciate having this convenient access to your fresh veggies – perhaps even by making a small purchase or leaving a tip.
Speaking of community impact, your support has extended even further. Last year, thanks to the abundance we grew together, VRDNT was able to donate over $5,000 worth of fresh, nutritious vegetables to our wonderful nonprofit partner, Sunday Lunchbox! They use these veggies to create free, healthy lunches for kids in our community who need them most. You are directly contributing to this vital work!
Community Supported Agriculture is truly embodied in its name. I could not run this business without you, our customer community; without the community of businesses that so generously host our pickups; and even without the community of insects and the natural world that support our ecological growing practices. I deeply acknowledge and honor all the interconnected relationships that work together to bring you super fresh, tasty veggies every week.
As we celebrate this milestone, we'd love to hear from you! What does being a part of the VRDNT CSA mean to you? Please feel free to reply to this email and share your thoughts – your feedback is invaluable to us. If you've been enjoying your fresh veggies, we'd also be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a rating on Google! Your positive reviews help others discover our farm.
Thank you for being a part of the VRDNT family for the past five years. Here's to many more seasons of growth, connection, and delicious food shared together!
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