Our collaboration with Dan and Julie Perkins of Perkins Good Earth Farm (PGEF) was a seed planted long ago that is now just starting to grow. Ben and Dan are no strangers to working together, which goes back about 10 years to when Ben was working for the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Dan worked for the Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District in Indiana. While these two counties are separated by about 70 miles, Ben and Dan connected instantly as both were leading active watershed and conservation programs in their respective counties. This led to many interactions, talking about their county programs and new conservation ideas, as well as chatting more informally about their background, friends, and interests. Because you see, both naturally are soil and water guys who like to apply and practice what they know into the real world.
The ‘Veggies You Need & Love’
Fast forward to present, Dan and his wife, Julie, have cultivated a beautiful and successful organic farm CSA (Community Support Agriculture) providing the ‘Veggies you Need and Love’ in Jasper County, Indiana and Ben and Virginia have started a farm of their own in Barry County, Michigan focused on organic whole grains, beans, and fresh flour as well as varietal honeys. When Dan reached out to Ben late in 2020 about the idea of offering products from Firefly Fields through their winter CSA, Ben couldn’t help but be excited about the opportunity to work with Dan again.
Perkins’ Good Earth Farm, the name inspired in part by Pearl S. Buck’s classic novel, began in 2009 with the purchase of 20 acres of land and ‘dilapidated yet gorgeous’ red barn in DeMotte, Indiana. After 10 years of working full-time off farm (with SWCD) while farming, building a CSA community, and raising small children, Dan and Julie went ALL-IN farming in 2019. Dan has spent years studying soil and water systems, and he’s dedicated many, many hours to improving the soil and water both at their farm and in their local community. Finally, realizing a lifestyle and dream they had for almost 20 years, they have become a fixture in their community, and so grateful to grow and produce nourishing and delicious food, particularly organic veggies, for their community as part of what they enthusiastically refer to as the ‘Veggie Adventure!’ Perkins care a lot about the how of growing food as well as the quality of the food.
Homegrown, Fresh, & Sustainable Veggie Adventure
Not only committed to growing tasty, high-quality veggies, PGEF is also committed to making sure their CSA members know how to use them. What they offer is an all-inclusive food experience that goes beyond just the veggies. A big part of their weekly ‘Veggie Adventure’ includes ongoing education through blog posts, storage tips, exit strategies, recipes, conversations at distribution, and sharing ideas in their private CSA Facebook group. They even have a Winter Eating Guide on their farm blog that you can check out. For inspirational veggie-based recipes, check out their Farm Blog. Here’s a great feature on how to store ‘Greens to Keep Them Fresh and Tasty.’ Simply type in the ingredients you have on hand into the search bar for recipe and storage ideas.
Why would a person consider signing up for CSA instead of shopping at a farm stand or the grocery store? The Perkins’ say, ‘It takes a certain kind of individual to be part of a CSA. Most of their CSA members love cooking, trying new veggies, and being part of their farm community.’ Some other benefits when joining Dan and Julie’s PGEF CSA, members get:
- First dibs on their veggies – this becomes very valuable when they only have limited amounts of certain veggies (like Brussels sprouts this past fall)
- Free access to their private CSA Facebook group
- Ongoing education, including video trainings, storage information for each veggie, recipes, exit strategies, challenges and kitchen tips,
- Free pick your own,
- Access to their wildlife areas and hiking trails.
Joining a CSA
When you join their CSA or others across local communities, you get so much more than fresh and the most delicious food. You know exactly where your food comes from – the idea, care, source, and connection. You support local agriculture and economy contributing to a more resilient food system. When you buy from ecological organic, small family farms you vote for the environment and the farmers that incorporate conservation and sustainability into their management practices, which ensures healthy environments and food systems for generations to come.
Connecting with Perkins’ Good Earth Farm
PGEF is sold out for their Spring 2021 CSA, but you can still sign up for their Summer and Fall CSA here in their online store. If CSA isn’t your thing, or you want to visit from out of town, starting April 19 you can visit their farm stand Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-noon. You’ll find their own organic veggies, products from other local farms (like Firefly Fields grains and beans!), and organic veggie plants and soil amendments for your home garden.
For wholesale accounts, email Dan and Julie at perkinsgoodearthfarm@gmail.com to receive their weekly fresh sheet.
Follow Perkins’ Good Earth Farm on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what’s happening on their farm!
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