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From the garden to your door is goal of 6 Acre Wood CSA farm
By Misty DeLashmutt

The idea of locally-grown food is not new; however it is a growing movement that in the last 20 years has spawned a new type of niche market.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a simple idea that creates rewards for both the farmer and the consumer by allowing consumers to buy local seasonal food that is delivered directly from the farm to the table.

Amber Springer and husband, Shanon, of rural Axtell, self described “foodies”, have combined their knowledge of horticulture and food, creating a home-based business doing what they love, 6 Acre Wood CSA farm.

Although both work full time, Amber as representative for Agency on Aging and Shanon as a food manager for the Kearney Housing Authority, the couple, their three children, Caleb, Maggie and Isaiah, and Amber's father Wendell Hansen, share responsibilities on the farm south of Axtell.

The CSA concept is simple.  Typically, a farmer offers a certain number of  “shares” to the public.  A “share” buys a box of seasonal vegetables and/or fruit that is delivered weekly from the farm directly to the shareholder’s home.

According to Local Harvest, a website devoted to locally grown organic food, tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it.

Amber Springer has discovered that even in central Nebraska, there is a market for 6 Acre Wood’s bounty.

“The idea for 6 Acre Wood has always been in the conversation,” said Springer.  “My husband and I talked about the concept for a long time when we were managing a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Colorado.  After we moved back to Nebraska to the family farmstead, my father, Wendell Hansen, started planting the cherry, peach, apple and almond trees and we began seriously pursuing idea.”

As with all good things, it took time, nine years, for 6 Acre Wood to go from a concept to a reality.  This is the pilot year for the CSA and the Springers are encouraged by the public's interest.

“We really thought we’d be doing good if we had one person sign up,” said Springer.  “We set a limit at five families, however we have more than that now.  We have plans to expand the gardens if everything goes well this year.”

The gardens at 6 Acre Wood encompass approximately 2 acres, not including the fruit trees, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry beds.  The variety of produce grown on the farm includes four varieties of green beans, beets, parsnips, okra, eggplant, 13 varieties of peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, squash, cantaloupe, edamame (a type of soy bean), pumpkins and much more.

The Springer's use organic farming practices, meaning no pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or herbicides. Crop rotation and composting help ensure the health of the plants and the soil.

The members of the 6 Acre Wood CSA are guaranteed 6-10 different produce items delivered once a week for 15 weeks, beginning June 1 and running to September 15.

The Springers harvest on Wednesday and deliver to members on Thursday morning.  Members can also come to the farm on Sundays on Mondays to pick up produce.

One of the important concepts of a CSA is the notion of shared risk.  If a hailstorm wipes out the all the peppers, the farmer and the consumers share the disappointment and hope the fall crops fair better.  If there is a bumper crop of tomatoes, everyone shares in the bounty.  That shared risk, says Local Harvest, is what creates a sense of community among the members and between members and the farmers.

The advantages for the farmer include receiving payment early in the season, which helps the cash flow and gives the farmer a chance to get to know the people who eat the food they grow.  The advantages for the consumer are getting a weekly supply of fresh, organic vegetables and develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food.

Who To Contact...

Amber Springer
6 Acre Wood Farm
622 25 Road
Axtell, NE 68924
308-238-3898
Website: http://www.localharvest.org/6-acre-woods-M34558

Misty DeLashmutt is the editor of the Minden Courier, where this article first appeared. It is republished here with permission.

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