Connecting with Local
20 years ago, Mom spoke to a long-term goal of having a cohort of clients we served (much like a medical practice)—folks who were “all in,” who knew we were looking out for them and bringing the best choices forward for their whole health. In 2020, it finally felt like we could tip in that direction by focusing on our CSA program and breathing whole new levels into its offerings and options.
The abrupt breaking of “business as usual” caused by the pandemic helped us see the opening of an opportunity to make a quantum leap towards our long-term goals instead of gradual, slow steps. Being freed from the daily grind of waiting tables and washing dishes at Farmstead Creamery allowed us to pour ourselves into these initiatives and dream big. We adapt to survive, and we can also adapt to thrive.
The mainstream commodity market is designed to outcompete the small, artisan grower and producer, and in the face of COVID-19, many growers are also quitting the farmer market scene because they do not feel safe. CSA programs connect you directly with the grower in a way that builds a relationship of trust and integrity, where the grower selects a delicious and thoughtful array of product to pack for members for each pickup.
Receiving a share is rather like opening a Christmas present—oh goodness, look what we get this week! For our members, this can be a delightful eating adventure augmented by a weekly email newsletter that includes recipes, a list of what’s in the share that week, news from the farm, and more. Having a CSA membership gives you a steady supply of the farm’s top picks while also giving the farm the security of knowing how much food to grow and that this product has a happy home.
Short for Community Supported Agriculture, CSA is a membership model that connects you directly with a local farm—no middle men or expensive trucking in between. Membership in a CSA program means you have a stake in that year’s harvest, and you also have a chance to build a relationship with the people who grow your food. This is a high-impact way to keep the local, small farm scene vibrant while also filling your fridge and pantry with fresh, delicious foods grown and packed just for you.
However, not all CSA programs are created equal. Managed by a professional family team focused on health, our diverse options and adaptations of the CSA model offer refreshingly scalable and flexible shares for your family.
Tucked within the boundaries of the Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin, North Star Homestead Farms is a woman and physician-led initiative with a big vision: A healthy planet and all its inhabitants. We live this vision every day with biodynamic, regenerative practices that honor the interconnectedness of the land, plants, and animals in our care, as well as seeks a balance between Old World (heritage breeds, chemical free, permaculture) and new technology elements (biosecure aquaponics, commercial kitchen, micro dairy plant). Focused on whole-person health, our family team is dedicated to serving our members with the very best of local and Organic foods, education, information, opportunities, and care. You are welcome to learn more about our farm, our team, and the history of this place at https://www.northstarhomestead.com/NSHF/about/
Our CSA program has been running successfully since 2007, but pre-COVID momentum had stagnated, and the ever-increasing demands of running Farmstead Creamery as a store and café were diverting attention. Lockdown hit just as we were gearing up for our summer CSA program launch, which also coincided with food shortages across the country. Suddenly, there was a renewed awareness of knowing where one’s food came from, how it was handled, and by whom. We placed integrity first, set the bar high, and put our faith into a belief that the people who needed the services we offered would appear. One year later, even though food shortages have eased, I hope that folks have come to see the value of the connection with the local foods movement offered by CSA programs.
Springtime is the season for joining a CSA program, securing your share in the harvest.
This will be our 15th season of offering CSA memberships with our farm, and over the years we’ve learned so much about making this process successful for everyone! Our current summer season will run May-October, with pickups available either right here on the farm, in Hayward, or along our two twice-monthly delivery routes, including 1st and 3rd Wednesdays (Marine on St. Croix, Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Minneapolis, Pine Island, Rochester, Red Wing, Turtle Lake, etc.) and 2nd and 4th Thursdays (Hayward, Minong, Spooner, Cumberland, Barron, Menomonie, Eau Claire, Rice Lake, Sorona, etc.). Many of our members have up-north cabins as well as homes on these delivery routes, and it’s no problem for members to give us a heads up about changing their pickup location as needed. We also offer different types of shares, so there is something for everyone! Many members utilize more than one share type, such as having a classic-style Premier and the more flexible Select membership, augmenting what’s in the farm’s pick with our other array of 1000+ items, effectively using the farm in place of the grocery store.
Connecting with local foods is a good feeling all around—for you and your family’s table as well as for the small, artisan producer. Interested in our Summer CSA program? To learn more, visit www.northstarhomestead.com/NSHF/product-category/csashares/ See you down on the farm sometime.
