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Food:
Growing
organic produce is a way of life for the Tuckeys
By Mary Ann Doyle, Associate Editor Star Journal
April 4, 2013
 As
any
gardener knows, planting a plot takes a lot of
forethought. But how much planning goes into a garden
that encompasses five acres?
My friends Brendan and Jenny Tuckey know. They run
EverGood Farm and despite the snow and cold we have been
experiencing lately, they are preparing for the days
when planting can begin.
In fact, right now the couple, along with their little
boy Emmett, is busy planting seeds in containers that
will germinate into a variety of vegetable plants and
give this industrious pair a jump start on their
community supported agriculture (CSA) farm located just
north of Rhinelander.
I first met this family last summer. It was a hot and
sticky day when I made my way to their farm to find out
what a CSA was. Little did I know how committed Brendan
and Jenny are to providing nourishing and wholesome
vegetables to their CSA members who they consider
family.
And I found out, a CSA is a way for people to obtain
fresh, organically grown produce without actually having
to do any of the labor. Brendan and Jenny do that and
it’s a perfect arrangement for people who lack the land,
time or stamina to grow a garden. The couple sells
memberships to their CSA, and in return, those members
receive vegetables throughout the summer months.
This year, they expanded the options people can choose
from. For instance, a person opting for the full share
would receive a box (3/4 of a bushel) of vegetables for
16 weeks starting June 17 through Sept. 30. There are
half shares offered too, in addition to summer shares
for those who are snow birds or just visiting the area
throughout the summer months. EverGood Farm CSA members
also have the option of going directly to the farm to
pick vegetables. “We really want to share our farm with
our CSA families,” said Jenny. “It’s important to us to
show people, especially kids, how their food is grown.
We want them to have a connection with us, the farm and
what we grow.”
This is the third year for the Tuckey’s EverGood Farm
CSA. They bought 10 acres of hard scrabble land in 2010,
cleared it of brush and trees, plowed it and then
erected endless lengths of fencing around the garden. It
wasn’t long before the couple could look out their
kitchen window and see long rows of vegetables growing
strong and healthy. Every year since then, they have
been expanding their vegetable offerings and this year
is no different.
In fact, right now hundreds of little seedlings are
sprouting under lights. So far, they have planted 2,592
peat containers with everything from broccoli to cabbage
to Brussels sprouts. Once night time temperatures remain
above 40, they will move these tiny plants to their
greenhouse and then when full garden weather sets in,
they will be planting close to 50 different varieties of
veggies.
And in addition to growing food for their CSA members,
Brendan and Jenny will also be taking their produce to
two area farmer markets this summer in Eagle River and
Minocqua. This is another way they like connecting with
their customers.
There’s no doubt the Tuckeys are getting antsy to get
into their garden. The work ahead is a challenge they
are looking forward to though, because to them, their
CSA is a way of life.
“We really do enjoy this,” said Brendan. “We want people
to have a connection with their food and we really enjoy
the people who are part of our CSA family.”
To find out more about the Tuckey’s CSA, call them at
(715) 272-1041 or email them at office@evergoodfarm.com.
Visit their website here.
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Copyright
©
2011 www.evergoodfarm.com
Rhinelander,
WI
54501, USA
All
Rights
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