For most, warm sun and peeking grass signify the start of the growing season but at the farm, it begins in February–right in the farmhouse window. Kathy seeds dozens of tomato and lettuce plantings by hand and fosters their growth for two weeks before their ready for the greenhouse.
Soil is nurturing, both for the earth and the gardener. It purifies, rejuvenates and supports new life. More than dirt, more than sand, silt and clay, soil has a job to do, and so do we. A job we wait for all year long.
If it wasn't for our farm future members, we couldn’t experience that therapy. Ask any farmer and they’ll tell you, the end of winter and the beginning of spring is a fickle time, a sense of unpredictability we’re familiar with. It’s like having to start a new business from scratch every year, and not being able to know if it pays off until months into the season.
Farm futures was a round-kitchen table idea in 2011 as a way to keep us motivated to keep nurturing our gardens through those months. We wanted to offer a CSA but knew that that system wasn’t without its flaws. Because of how motivating being in the greenhouse can be, we had a lot of products to offer our members and didn’t want to limit them. We wanted to focus on the community part of community-supported agriculture, so we figured out a way to offer more versatility with Sherman Farm debit cards.
Farm futures can be purchased in $100 increments from March 1st through May 31st and loaded onto a debit card. This debit card can be used on anything in the market and never expires, so members can get the products they want and skip the stress of having to pick up on certain days or having too much or not enough provisions. Members can reload at any time and receive an extra $15 for every $100 they purchase in March, and an extra $10 when they purchase in April and May.
It’s been 10 years since that kitchen table idea. We now have 800 members who support us and our dedication to quality, versatile produce year after year. We’re thankful for our community, who love supporting growth and cultivation as much as we do, and giving us the inspiration to keep the growing going year after year.