Working at the Farm
When you get your groceries from the store have you ever thought about how far it has traveled to get to you? Of course we know that tropical fruits like bananas and pineapple travel from warmer climates rather than the dry mountainous desert of the Rocky Mountains.
However, other produce like apples, cherries, peaches, apricots, berries, and quite a variety of vegetables can be grown in our local farms. When you purchase locally grown produce, it is picked ripe, doesn’t have as much trucking or packaging, and can be found at local farmers markets and some participating grocers.
Our business consultant, Christine, has started an apprenticeship with Vintage Lily Farms, a five acre family farm in Eagle Mountain. While working there, her eyes have been open to the way food can be grown and reach consumers who live much much closer.
Fun factoid for you…
“Data collected in 2015 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that 7,398 farms in the United States sold products directly to consumers through a community supported agriculture (CSA) arrangement. CSA's accounted for $226 million (or 7 percent) of the $3 billion in direct-to-consumer sales by farms.”
Vintage Lily Farms, owned by the lovely Jen Corrington, is one of those farms. She grows food for her family, trades with neighbors, and also plans enough produce, dairy and eggs to support the needs of her neighbors and local community.
It has been incredible to see the work it takes to run her operations.
Here’s a tiny list of many various tasks and projects that happen on the farm:
Twice a day feeding and watering the animals, such as: chickens, ducks, cows, goats, pigs, sheep, and even a few rabbits.
Daily milking the cows, and sometimes the goats.
Planning out future animal pregnancies and caring for babies.
Continual weeding of garden beds and a HUGE over haul after the winter.
Planting seed starts to prepare for the next season’s CSA needs.
The not so glamorous task of cleaning up animal waste out of the stalls, but hey at least it helps the compost heap. Stirring the compost heap and adding more and more nutrients to the soil.
Building and maintaining structures and watering systems
Planning events like the Farm Fresh to table, where locals can enjoy a homemade meal on the land it was grown
Farm Camp for kids and youth to learn about farming skills, and get to plant their own seeds.
Hosting the weekly Farmer’s Market each weekend starting in the spring to the end of fall.
As part of the apprenticeship we are LITERALLY growing our own crop to HARVEST this year. We get to use a 120 ft. row and are planning on growing an ABUNDANCE of sugar snap peas, and plan on selling them at the Vintage Lily Farm onsite store and local farmers market.
To learn more about local farming follow Vintage Lily Farms:
To volunteer to help at the farm fill out this form
If you want to GROW your BUSINESS and/or WEALTH, book an appointment here.
“Book a Consultation”
#localfarms #eatlocalfood #consumersupportedagrigulture #vintagelilyfarms #harvest #harvestutahproperties
