Our 96th Real Farmer Care recipient is Taylor Mendell of Footprint Farm @footprintfarm in Starksboro, VT.
Taylor writes, “Footprint is a tiny little farm (1.5 acres in production) in a tiny little state (Vermont). Jake and I started in 2013, with a handful of customers and, in retrospect, very little experience. In 2020 we're growing year-round, selling to a 150 family CSA (June - December), one Summertime farmers market, and 10-20 local restaurants. We grow Organic vegetables, and work with other local producers to provide fruit, eggs, meat, bread, flowers, cheese, and more to our CSA members. I was drawn to farming because it feels like a big, huge, multi-year puzzle. I love the business side, the problem solving, and the satisfaction farming provides. Growing things is cool too, but the thing that has become most important to me is the community that has grown up around and supported the farm. COVID rules hit Vermont in late March, and by early April we had changed our business model, sold out of all 150 CSA shares, and developed a new food safety plan, all with the help of local service providers. By mid April we had a COVID relief fund of over $2,000 that helped 15 COVID affected families get CSA shares. All funded by CSA members and neighbors. The last couple of months have been filled with a year's worth of highs and lows, but our community has made the transition possible. We are so, so grateful.” . #footprintfarmvt #footprintfarmcsa #womenwhofarm #youngfarmers #smallfarms #csafarms #vermontfarms #communitycare #realfarmercare
Comments