Today’s featured CSA farm is Dancing Gnome Farm, run by Lauren Barry in collaboration with her partner Michael Anderson (who also runs Wabasha’s Broken Paddle Guiding). Together they employ an amazing crew of food-appreciating, outdoor-loving folks.
Armed with a degree in ecology and several years doing ecology research around the world, Lauren was drawn back to the Midwest to learn the practical skills of growing food. She spent several invaluable years working on other farms before starting Dancing Gnome Farm in 2014 in Stockholm, Wisconsin. She met Michael later that summer, and they moved the farming operation to Wabasha in 2019. They have been growing delicious, certified organic veggies ever since!
Dancing Gnome offers CSA shares with pickup locations in Hopkins and Wabasha. 2023 CSA members can choose between weekly boxes (full shares), bi-weekly boxes (half shares), or a Market Credit share. In the Market Credit share, members add credit upfront at the beginning of the season, then shop at the market whenever is convenient for them.
“We love the way that farming helps us live and eat seasonally and grounds us in this place-- the land, the weather, and the entire ecosystem around us,” shared Lauren. “Being able to share that connection with our community of members and market customers is what makes our work worthwhile!”
You can find Dancing Gnome at the Hopkins Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, and at the Wabasha Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoons! They also offer online pre-orders in the spring and fall. Stay up-to-date by subscribing to their newsletter!
Minnesota Grown is participating in National CSA Week from February 20-26. It's the most popular week of the year to sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture membership! During this week, we will feature in-depth profiles of local CSA farmers here and on our social media accounts, along with information about different types of CSAs available to Minnesotans.
National CSA Week is hosted by the CSA Innovation Network, a national network for local CSA farms. Read More.