We have arrived at the first week of the CSA season, and we are so thankful that you chose to join us this year for a journey in local seasonal eating. CSA is the heartbeat of our farm – so you can imagine that we were buzzing with energy today as we packed all of your shares. We started our CSA program 6 years ago – many of you have been with us from the beginning. There have been many changes as we have added box sizes, added the customization feature, and expanded into more community pickup locations but the core of what Community Supported Agriculture means has remained the same. Community Supported Agriculture means that we are closing the gap and the mystery that shrouds so much of our industrial food system. Farmers and eaters can partner together to commit to organic and sustainable faming practices and supporting diversified small family farms. The CSA model is critical for us because we know our customers have our backs and are invested in the farm and in growing a thriving local economy.
Today we have a crew of 17 working daily at Rootbound Farm – we are also a family farm. That term “family farm” used to mean something else to me. I pictured the American Gothic portrait of the nuclear family unit, armed with pitchforks, worn out and slightly terrified, ready to battle the wild farm and whatever it may throw their way. Not such an inspiring aspiration at this point. Now when I think of a “family farm” I think of all the families that make the CSA possible including the families that pick up their boxes every week and set to work on eating through it, the families that open their porches and businesses to host our CSA pickups, and certainly the families of the team working here at Rootbound Farm. Our team sacrifice quite a lot in the deepest push of summer working long hours and being away from family – it is with deep gratitude to all the families of Rootbound Farm that we enter our 6th CSA season.
MEET THE TEAM
Each week we will introduce you to the people and animals behind the scenes here at Rootbound Farm. I write most of our newsletters and am the voice behind most of the emails so I’ll introduce myself this week. I am Bree Pearsall, co-owner at Rootbound Farm. I got into farming when I met my now husband, Ben Abell, while we were in college at UK. For the last 15 years I’ve learned something new every day on the farm. Every time I speak with my grandmother Doris, she still says to me “I can’t believe you’re a farmer.” Many days I can’t believe it either. In addition to working here on the farm I also work in Louisville at La Casita Center, a community organization supporting Latinx families.
My favorite job on the farm is working with our sheep, they are my peaceful place and although we now have a flock of over 350, I actually know many of them by name and can recognize them from each other. I know who is whose mom, when they were born, etc. I usually oversee all the lambing and handle each newborn as they are getting their start in the world.
Oh and I have two kids! Hazel is 5 and Sage is 3 years old. They keep me busy, humble, worried, tired, and grateful. My favorite vegetable is….lettuce and all things salad-y.
