Farmers in the Media!
A huge thanks to Stephanie Hemphill who recently profiled our farm among others for her insightful and well-researched Creating New Food Systems article for Agate Magazine. It's a great read!
Welcome!
Fairhaven Farm is a small-scale, family farm located just north of Duluth, Minnesota. We grow vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers using bio-intensive, regenerative and organic practices. We offer our farm produce through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, Week-by-Week Shares and select wholesale markets. We also produce greenhouse-grown starter plants and source quality seeds and supplies for home gardeners. We are champions of the local food movement and support aspiring and emerging farmers through our advocacy work.
Through our livelihood, We aim to gather, nourish and inspire our community and strive to create a beautiful farm that is inviting and welcoming — a haven for all beings!
Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a shared commitment between farmers and consumers. In essence, consumers pledge their support at the beginning of the season by becoming a member of a farm, and in exchange, they receive a "share" of the farm's produce. Through this act of reciprocity, a relationship of shared commitment and trust is cultivated.
At Fairhaven Farm, community is at the heart of what we do. Fostering community and offering our members a direct connection to their food source is our job and our passion. Read on to learn how you can become a member of our farm and share in the bounty!
Our Summer CSA Farm Share includes: 16 weeks of farm-fresh produce grown with love! Each week's box contains a balanced amount and variety of seasonal offerings from our farm. Not too much. Not too little, but just right.
Why Join a CSA?
The CSA model contributes to a resilient local food system. When local farms thrive, communities thrive.
Consumers have direct access to sustainable food that is fresh, delicious and locally grown.
With pledged support at the beginning of the season farmers can plan for a whole season of abundance.
CSA farms practice sustainable agriculture and are transparent about their growing methods.
Farmers support their communities, communities support their farmers. It's a win-win!
» Photo by Peyton Steensma
Membership Benefits
Enjoy weekly deliveries of fresh, high-quality, local produce. Many items are unique to our farm.
A farm to call your own! Ample opportunities to visit the farm, attend events and see where your food comes from.
Connection to your farmers! We limit our CSA to 50 households so we can focus on the quality, beauty and flavor of our offerings and the quality of interactions with our customers.
Stay informed and learn something new! Weekly newsletters with updates from the farm, recipes, and food storage tips.
Peace of mind knowing that your food is grown by farmers you know and trust.
Experience eating seasonally, the way nature intended.
Shared Comittment, Shared Reward & Shared Risk
When crops are abundant, farmers and farm members mutually benefit. While farmers aim to provide a consistent weekly share with the right balance of quantity and variety, given the uncertain nature of farming (weather, pests, etc.), contents and quantities of CSA shares vary from week-to-week and from season-to-season. This concept, known as shared risk, is what makes the CSA relationship unique.
By pledging full-season support, CSA members share the risk inherent in farming.
At Fairhaven Farm, we mitigate risk by building healthy soil, increasing biodiversity and practicing careful holistic management.
Season Finale
For us, the end of the CSA season is always bittersweet. We get to breathe a big sigh of relief to be done with the strenuous work that our CSA season entails, but we also look back at our season with a sense of fondness and pride and we think about how we'll miss the direct connection to our community on a regular basis. Thanks to all our members who supported our farm this season!
Wind & Water
John and I had a wonderful few days in the Boundary Waters last week. It was a great way to get some much needed rest and relaxation and get rejuvenated for our last couple weeks of the CSA season. We couldn't have asked for a better trip (despite a couple really brisk mornings and one challenging day of paddling into the wind). We even came back with a really great fish story. Ask John and he'll tell you all about it!
Carrot Top Chimichurri
Chimichurri is a classic Argentinian sauce that can be used to spice up just about any meal... drizzle it over grilled meats, smear it on toast, top your tacos with it or serve it as an accompaniment to steamed vegetables. Here's a twist on this classic recipe using carrot tops in addition to parsley, oregano and cilantro.
Greenhouse-Grown Starter Plants
We grow over 150 varieties of vegetable, herb and flower plants for home gardeners and small-scale farmers in our uniquely-designed greenhouse. All of our seeds are started on site so we can certify that they are nurtured with care and grown with the best methods up until the moment they leave our farm.
Our goal is to produce the best, healthiest, most vigorous, garden-ready plants possible. That's why we pick northern-hardy varieties, grow according to organic standards, use the best organic potting mix available and source organic and non-GMO seeds. We keep the purity of our plants intact by never applying any harmful chemicals. Our plants are beneficial for people, beneficial for pollinators, and beneficial for the planet!
