Volunteer submission

One of our volunteers, Tamara, shares her experience at the farm:

"Hi! I'm Tamara, and I work on Wednesday mornings at Sun Valley CSA as a volunteer for almost 2 months. I wanted to share with all the members what an enriching experience it has been, not only using my own hands and body to create nutritious food for my family and yours, but also recapturing the lost art of small farming...not to mention wonderful conversation with 2 really interesting dudes!

Each time I visit, I learn something new about farming...

(1) food losses are expected as a part of the process, and they are addressed by over-planting, re-planting, deterring pests, weeding, etc.

(2) obtaining variety for members during the season takes careful planning and knowledge of plant varieties. For example, we have 3 varieties of corn; each one matures at different times. This way we will receive corn shares for a longer period of time than if there was one variety.

(3) every farm has it's own flavor of challenges and blessings. Our farm is challenged with extensive weeds, insects and some deer problems. But the benefits of our field is that it has plenty of moisture because of the location near the river. There is no "perfect" farm, however. Farming is an art of working around (or with) whatever nature hands you.

(4) being a CSA member requires a lifestyle shift, and it is worth it because we are contributing to a higher cause. We have all gotten spoiled by the variety available in grocery stores. We get used to eating our "favorite" foods because they are always available. But people have not always eaten in this luxurious way. They used to "eat off the land," shifting recipes and kitchen activities according to what nature provided them. This is what you will have to do while you are receiving shares of veggies this summer/fall. It might mean helping each other by sharing recipes or food preservation methods. But it is well worth the effort. We are helping to drive society away from the wasteful transport of produce across the world, and short-cut big-agricultural practices like pesticide use and irradiation. Not to mention, we are getting our produce directly off the local land, when it is freshest and full of nutrients.

(5) dirt, bugs, and deformities should be welcome surprises in our weekly baskets—it’s a sign of “organic!” We are used to “perfect” and clean produce, but this is an un-natural expectation developed by big business and unethical farming practices.

(6) farming is HARD WORK for our farmers, for little reward. They are there almost every day, for long days, whether it is raining, sunshine, or scorching heat. And if you do the calculations, you will realize that your share price contributes to our farmers breaking even at best. No profit; probably loss, in fact. This is a labor of love, not money.

Bottom line, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to volunteer on our CSA farm, engage with our farmers, and help to produce this year's crop. I find it peaceful, interesting, and a nice break from "the grind" to get my hands in the dirt and enjoy some stimulating conversation along the way. It's also nice to see for myself that our CSA is "real," and learn what to realistically expect as the season unfolds. I hope you, too, will join us in the effort—even if only once—to obtain some of the wonderful benefits that I’ve found. Plus, it would just be cool to meet you!

Here’s to a bountiful harvest for us all!
-Tamara"

Thanks to Tamara for sending this in!