What makes Ploughshare Farm different from the other CSA’s out there?

There are now dozens of CSA’s that are operating in the state of MN.  Each farm has its unique identity that makes them special.  Some important things to consider about Ploughshare Farm are the following:

Years of experience: I (Gary) have been operating our CSA since 2002 and have been farming since 1998.  These many years of farming have given me the experience to know how to grow quality vegetables.  We have also much of the infrastructure (including proper irrigation, washing facilities, and cultivation equipment) to operate our size of operation properly. This being said, our operation is still young enough to not be “set in our ways.”    We are continuously asking ourselves how can we do things better and in doing so we are looking to always progress our operation in a positive direction. 

Size of Operation:  Size is always relative.  There are some smaller CSA’s that have 10-40 members and then there are other much larger CSA’s that have well over 1000 members.   We are a 300 member CSA.  This size of operation has allowed us to earn a good living for our family while at the same time being attentive to the relationships that we have with our CSA customers, our workers and the care of the land.   

Family Farm: We are a family farm.  We are not a non-profit or a corporation.   Ploughshare Farm is owned and operated by our family and provides a livelihood that sustains my wife, myself and our four boys.  As a family of six ourselves (four young boys under the age of 14) we keep in mind what families want to eat. 

Certified Organic: We are USDA Certified Organic. This means that we follow the national organic standards and document our farming practices to ensure that we are abiding by these standards.  We are inspected on a yearly basis to ensure that our documented practices match the reality of what we are doing on the farm