Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm

1. Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm Beth Osmund

2. Operating an Innovative & Adaptable Small Scale Farm A Producer’s Story

3. Sustainablity • Responsible stewardship of resources • We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems.

4. Sustainablity • Responsible stewardship of resources • We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems. • We sell food at its true cost • It isn’t deflated by government subsidies or inflated by middlemen.

5. Sustainablity • Responsible stewardship of resources • We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems. • We sell food at its true cost • It isn’t deflated by government subsidies or inflated by middlemen. • We wish to make a living wage off our products. • We work hard on the farm and should be able to support our family with that work.

6. Sustainablity • Responsible stewardship • We raise our and animals in ways that nurture and respect nature’s systems. • We sell food at its true cost • It isn’t deflated by government subsidies or inflated by middlemen. • We wish to make a living wage off our products. • We work hard on the farm and should be able to support our family with that work. • Finally, sustainable means leaving this land to our children in better condition than when we began

8. Community Supported Agriculture CSA is a model in which consumers and farmers come together in a mutually beneficial relationship.

9. 2003 - 2004 • Vegetable CSA • 50-60 shares • 6-8 drop-off locations Lesson Learned: • We were spread too thin • We weren’t communicating effectively

10. 2005 • Local ONLY • Veggie CSA and Farmer’s Market Innovations • CSA delivery at market Lessons Learned • Local only was too small

11. 2006 • Weekly Ottawa & Chicago Markets • Worked with regular volunteers • Farm became sole source of income • Expanded product line

12. 2006 Innovations • Weekly email newsletter • Recipes at the market • Packaging products w/ recipes • Taking our “show” on the road for sales Lessons Learned • We had overextended again! • Meat had a lot of potential

13. 2007 • Hired “Vegetable Manager” • Received SARE grant to expand meat production and marketing • Purchased market cart, trailer, coolers and chest freezers • Developed marketing strategy

14. 2007 • Monthly meat CSA and weekly Vegetable CSA • 70 vegetable shares and 78 quarterly meat shares • Farmer’s Market direct retail meat and vegetable sales

15. 2007 Innovations • Monthly Meat CSA • Summer Bounty share LessonsLearned • Communicate expectations clearly with employees • We needed to narrow our focus even more

16. 2008 • Received a Frontera Foundation Grant to help expand capacity. • Installed walk in freezer/cooler • Meat CSA – a monthly assortment of beef, pork, chicken and eggs – delivered year round.

17. 2008 Innovations • Started GreenFarmers network • Outsourced veggie operation • Took on more education & leadership roles • Illinois Organic • Great Lakes CSA • Michael Fields Agricultural Institute • CRAFT • Farm Events for members

18. 2008 Lessons Learned • Carefully vet the people associated with our farm • Protect our brand

19. 2009 • Frontera Grant • Cargo box chick brooders • Meat CSA • Added 5 delivery locations • Approximately 200 members per month • Bi-monthly Farmer’s Market • 3 employees (100 – 110 hours/wk)

20. 2009 Innovations • Refined and expanded production & CSA • Media savvy marking • Farm website • Negotiating up front pricing for livestock & grain LessonsLearned • Protect our time

21. 2010 • Adding 2 monthly markets • SARE grant to launch cooperative restaurant sales venture • Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs council

22. 2010 Innovations • Relationship marketing expanding into restaurant accounts • Using social media to build brand LessonsLearned • TBD!

23. Themes Adaptability Carefully select opportunities to pursue Communication Relationship building

24. True wealth is an interconnected web of mutually beneficial relationships.