Howdy Folks!!
As many of you know, last year we partnered with Community Farm Share and Manna to provide CSA shares and vegetables to those in our county who face regular food insecurity and lack access to high quality vegetables.
Well before founding Common Root Farm, I experimented with growing vegetables, as well as culling vegetables from the organic vegetable farm that gave me a foundation in vegetable production, to offer to those in need, freely or on a donation basis. While I successfully failed at vegetable production that year, producing a few hundred pounds of potatoes and 10 pounds of cilantro (all of which were consumed!), I nourished a seed of goodwill in my heart for all of humanity.
I continue to produce vegetables, as you know, and I wish that I could provide these vegetables freely to all those in need. However, vegetable production is now my livelihood, and well, business is not yet profitable enough to accomplish this aim. So, I am incredibly thankful for Jennifer Freeman of Community Farm Share and the team, led by Jenna Umbriac, at Manna Food center. They have given me the opportunity to produce food for some of the hungriest in our area, while also building and running my business. Through this they have given my business the support it needs to stay in operation and thrive!
Last year we delivered 5 Main Season CSA shares and 28 Fall/Winter Season CSA shares to Community Farm Share. This year we can expand capacity to up to 100 shares through the Main and Fall/Winter Seasons.
Manna, through the Farm to Foodbank program, which had many individuals involved to bring into fruition, along with outstanding financial sponsorship, purchased over $13,000 of fresh vegetables from us last year. This quite literally saved my ass. This year we hope to at least match, if not, double or triple our sales to them. They have also funded a grant to purchase two new tunnels which will help us increase production and improve crop quality.
While it brings me great joy to know I am feeding each and every one of you the best vegetables that my team and this soil can muster, I am overflowed with joy, and love, knowing that many of these vegetables are feeding our brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers across this county from all regions of this earth, who have found themselves in less than spectacular situations. Perhaps the love, and nutrition, embodied in the vegetables we produce here at Common Root Farm will bring a spark of lightness, joy, and love to everyone who consumes them.
So, I ask you, to please send good vibes towards these organizations, whether this is in thought, prayer, meditation, time, or money. I’m positive your offering will be graciously received and will contribute to bringing balance and harmony to our society.
If you wish to make a financial contribution to Community Farm Share, follow the link here. It will direct you to a page which earmarks the donation for Common Root Farm. If you wish for your donation to be spread among other local farms, you also have that option.
If you wish to make a financial contribution to Manna Food Center, follow the link here. I dont know if those funds will impact their ability to purchase from local farms, but Im sure they will be used to feed those who are hungry.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email. Thank you for taking the time to support me, and Common Root Farm, and the many organizations and individuals who support us.
Serving Love,
Ryanji
P.S. CSA Enrollment is OPEN! Don’t wait too long to enroll and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns!! Click here for more information!