Giving A Little Bit Back

Our truck bed is loaded up with leafy goodness.

It’s hard to believe it’s only been two months since the beginning of the Spring CSA. So much has happened since we set out on this journey. It really feels like we’ve been at this for years! Part of that is due to the long hours during the spring season, I’m sure, and another part is because the events of 2020 have made it feel like the longest year on record. Recent news makes us a bit nervous about where this year is headed… 

After reading about Gov. Walz’s decision to lift the stay-at-home order and the Wisconsin Supreme Court striking down Gov. Evers’ “Safer At Home” order, I want to reaffirm our stance on COVID-19. We believe in science. We are taking this just as seriously now as we have been since March.

We will not be relaxing our sanitation and social distancing standards. We will continue wearing masks and gloves when handling and washing produce, sanitizing all bins after every use, and limiting our interactions with friends, family, and the general public.

While we have entered market season, we are still doing everything in our power to be as safe as possible. We wear masks at all times. Customers are encouraged to pay digitally through Venmo and we’re adding an online pre-order option. We’ve added a hand washing station to our stand and make sure to change gloves each time we handle credit cards or cash. 

Emmalyn and I believe that public health comes before the economy. That said, we also acknowledge the economic impact COVID-19 has had to almost all of us. As food producers, we’re in a unique position to help feed folks in need. As a rule, we do not bring any produce back to the farm after markets. After our first farmers market, we donated all of our unsold produce to furloughed employees of Moon Palace Books. Last week, we coordinated with a Minneapolis artist collective to provide out-of-work musicians and artists with our fresh veggies. Who do you know that could use a little help?

I don’t want to be a total doom & gloomer, it’s not really my style. These are scary times, to be sure, but it really helps me to know that we’re providing a few rays of sunshine through these dark skies./ Whatever you’re doing to make the world a better place, thank you.