A Dream Come True

In Prairie Creek, local citizens are realizing their dreams of growing their own produce and their ideals of education and community. Valley Creek Community Farm is a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) endeavor that materialized out of the partnership between several local residents.

CSA members, Todd Lein and Anne Klawiter, rent land on their farm to Rose Ann and Gene Steenhoek and Olivia Frey. Frustrated by their initial attempts to begin a charter school in the area, Rose Ann and Olivia germinated the idea of a farm school. At the same time Todd, Anne, Gene and Rose Ann were discussing and experimenting with ideas about living in community. The introduction of the concept of a CSA was a great opportunity to fuse ideas of community with land stewardship and education. The farm has grown, from a sliver to a 1.25 acre organic garden that feeds the 50 members of the CSA. The members are supplied with vegetables, which are an important piece of the enterprise.

Sense of Community

“There is a sense of community between those who are members. They also get to know their producers in a very personal way. People can have confidence in their food when they understand where it came from,” said Rose Ann . Most of the farm work is now done by Rose Ann and Olivia. “We try to grow every vegetable that can be grown in Minnesota,” said Frey. And the list is impressive.

Farming Methods Produce is grown without pesticides (insects are removed, when necessary, by hand) and without commercial fertilizers. Although the vegetables are not always perfect their texture, shape and colors are superior to store-bought produce and, adds Rose Ann, “they are always fresh.”

Olivia, Rose Ann and Anne were also the founders of the Village School, a charter school in Northfield for children ages 5 and up. Children from the school spend time on the farm and many of the children’s families are also members. Another educational component of Valley Creek Community Farm is the presence of interns. Since Olivia teaches at St. Olaf College in Northfield, her ties to the college often attract students to work as summer interns and help out on the farm.

Continued Growth

Continued Growth Valley Creek Community Farm is continuing to grow. Olivia hopes that the educational goals of the farm can be furthered, perhaps through the realization of her idea of a Center for Education and Sustainable Living, a facility and project that would attract people to attend workshops and retreats at the farm. In the meantime the founders and the members of this CSA will see their refrigerators filled with fresh produce grown locally in a healthy and environmentally sound manner.