Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm Beth Osmund

Operating an Innovative & Adaptable Small Scale Farm A Producer’s Story

 Responsible stewardship of resources  We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems.

 Responsible stewardship of resources  We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems.  We sell food at its true cost  It isn’t deflated by government subsidies or inflated by middlemen.

 Responsible stewardship of resources  We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems.  We sell food at its true cost  It isn’t deflated by government subsidies or inflated by middlemen.  We wish to make a living wage off our products.  We work hard on the farm and should be able to support our family with that work.

 Responsible stewardship  We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems.  We sell food at its true cost  It isn’t deflated by government subsidies or inflated by middlemen.  We wish to make a living wage off our products.  We work hard on the farm and should be able to support our family with that work.  Finally, sustainable means leaving this land to our children in better condition than when we began

Community Supported Agriculture  CSA is a model in which consumers and farmers come together in a mutually beneficial relationship.

 Vegetable CSA  shares  6-8 drop-off locations Lesson Learned:  We were spread too thin  We weren’t communicating effectively

 Local ONLY  Veggie CSA and Farmer’s Market Innovations  CSA delivery at market Lessons Learned  Local only was too small

 Weekly Ottawa & Chicago Markets  Worked with regular volunteers  Farm became sole source of income  Expanded product line VeggiesFlowers ChickenEggs Holiday TurkeysBeef Pork

Innovations  Weekly newsletter  Recipes at the market  Packaging products w/ recipes  Taking our “show” on the road for sales Lessons Learned  We had overextended again!  Meat had a lot of potential

 Hired “Vegetable Manager”  Received SARE grant to expand meat production and marketing  Purchased market cart, trailer, coolers and chest freezers  Developed marketing strategy

 Monthly meat CSA and weekly Vegetable CSA  70 vegetable shares and 78 quarterly meat shares  Farmer’s Market direct retail meat and vegetable sales

Innovations  Monthly Meat CSA  Summer Bounty share Lessons Learned  Communicate expectations clearly with employees  We needed to narrow our focus even more

 Received a Frontera Foundation Grant to help expand capacity.  Installed walk in freezer/cooler  Meat CSA – a monthly assortment of beef, pork, chicken and eggs – delivered year round.

Innovations  Started GreenFarmers network  Outsourced veggie operation  Took on more education & leadership roles  Illinois Organic  Great Lakes CSA  Michael Fields Agricultural Institute  CRAFT  Farm Events for members

Lessons Learned  Carefully vet the people associated with our farm  Protect our brand

 Frontera Grant  Cargo box chick brooders  Meat CSA  Added 5 delivery locations  Approximately 200 members per month  Bi-monthly Farmer’s Market  3 employees (100 – 110 hours/wk)

Innovations  Refined and expanded production & CSA  Media savvy marking  Farm website  Negotiating up front pricing for livestock & grain Lessons Learned  Protect our time

 Adding 2 monthly markets  SARE grant to launch cooperative restaurant sales venture  Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs council

Innovations  Relationship marketing expanding into restaurant accounts  Using social media to build brand Lessons Learned  TBD!

Themes  Adaptability  Carefully select opportunities to pursue  Communication  Relationship building

True wealth is an interconnected web of mutually beneficial relationships.