Ryall, M.E. (2008 May 28). Rocky Ridge Farm has a garden to share. Washburn County Register, p. 18.

Rocky Ridge Farm has a garden to share
by Mary Ellen Ryall

Stacy Schultz, of Rocky Ridge Farm, came to Lakeland Manor. She spoke to the Wildlife and Garden Club on May 20. Stacy shared her family’s experience of living on a small 5-acre farm with her 3 children, husband, and an assortment of animals including goats and sheep and a large Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organic garden.

The residents enjoyed reminiscing about their former agricultural days. I asked, “When it is time to plant corn? Mavis Volts answered, “You can plant corn when oak leaves are as big as squirrel ears.” The Schultz’s have plots enough to accommodate 10 families. They raise the food and families come to the farm to pick up freshly picked produce weekly. The farm has room for six more families. Elvis Henderson mentioned he wished he had a family to give a share to. He said, “This would make a wonderful gift.” We all agreed it would be a gift of life.

If you are interested in healthy nutrition, a CSA may be a perfect match for you. Stacy explained that each family receives a wide range of fruits and vegetables during the 16-week season. A full share will feed an average family of 4. Interested CSA members can also purchase a half share or share a full share with another family. The Spooner Market & Grill in Spooner is also a big fan and buys directly from Rocky Ridge Farm.

The idea of a CSA is to reconnect people to the land and where food comes from. Grocery prices are expected to rise. This is understandable when the average distance from farm to plate is 1,500 miles and gas prices are going through the roof. Rocky Ridge Farm is only 12 miles from Shell Lake. Small farms are disappearing in the American landscape. When one thinks about the nutritional value of home grown organic food, it makes sense to support our local farmers especially during an economic downturn. Families are finding it more difficult to put good nutrition on the table when they don’t get as much for food dollars as before.

The upswing of this scenario is that we do have a local farm that would welcome your participation. Vegetables are not the only things that the Schultz’s sell. They offer fresh organic meat and eggs. The Schultz’s will have a farm stand at the newly relocated Farmers Market in Spooner at the Country Store across the street from Economart on South River Street. The Farmers Market is open on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 NOON. Call Bill Bindrim (715) 466-2924 to learn more about the Famers Market. What to learn more about Rocky Ridge Farm? Call (715) 635-9517.