Community supported farm gains in popularity on Owatonna

OWATONNA — When staff at the Gainey Conference Center heard about a chance to partner with a local organic farm for fresh produce and flowers, they jumped at the opportunity. Executive chef Jason Hudock changes the center’s menus and entrees daily. When he heard he could get fresh produce locally from Clinton Falls Farm, a certified organic Community Supported Agriculture farm, he thought it was the perfect chance to bring organic foods to the center. “The opportunity to use local, organically grown produce is a fantastic opportunity for us, and our chef has been wanting to build that level of partnership for many, many years,” said Marlene Levine, director of the Gainey Conference Center. “It’s certainly a treat for our guests who more and more appreciate the health benefits of organically grown foods.” The Gainey Center will also be featuring the fresh flowers Clinton Falls Farm offers as part of its shares. Levine said the partnership is beneficial for everyone. “From a stewardship standpoint, it’s certainly an opportunity for us to be more environmentally sensitive,” Levine said. “It’s saving on the environment by not having to buy produce that is being driven across the highways and not being shipped and packaged. So it kind of saves on those kinds of things.” Clinton Falls Farm is owned and operated by Lowell Gordon and John Ostgarden. Customers receive roughly 18 weeks of fresh produce and cut flowers. This year, crops will include varieties of herbs and spices, corn, fruit, tomatoes, carrots, peppers and lettuce. “We think it’s a really good thing for Steele County and the state of Minnesota to be able to benefit from locally grown food,” Ostgarden said. A CSA sells crop shares of the current year’s harvest to clients who share in the risks and benefits of farming in exchange for a locally grown variety of fresh product. So, if the crop fails due to inclement weather, the client assumes that risk as much as the farm.

Clients join at the beginning of the planting season and then reap the products throughout the season. Customers can help harvest their produce or can arrange for pick up, either at the farm or at farmers markets. New this year is a partnership between Clinton Falls Farm and O-Wata-Farm! with Katie Felland. Felland is adding sweet corn, strawberries and raspberries to the share but she is also raising chickens and sells shares of organic, pasture-raised eggs. Organic eggs have been said to provide more protein and vitamins with less fat than commercially grown chickens. Also new this year is a “You Pick” garden, where customers can pick products directly from the cropland. Ostgarden said shareholders are always welcome at both Clinton Falls Farm and O-Wata-Farm! to either help with the harvest of crops or even help collect the eggs. “It’s fun because they can pick and choose what they want,” Gordon said. In a time when food costs are rising and incomes are lost, some might feel that organic foods may not be affordable, but beside the experience of practically growing your own food, Ostgarden and Lowell said the price is almost cheaper than fresh food at the grocery stores. “The price of our shares are practically a bargain compared to the grocery store,” Ostgarden said. “Plus, people are become more savvy and concerned with so many health scares linked to pesticides and herbicides.” Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

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