By Linda Halley, GOE Farm Manager

Our annual Open House was held last Saturday. It was well attended, about 150 kids and adults had lots of fun. We actually closed the packing shed doors 30 minutes after our official closing time because people were still out enjoying the u-pick and self guided tour, forgetting to head up to our Mini-Farmers Market before 4:00. And did I mention the weather?? Picture perfect!

Fun and enjoyment are only part of the motivation to open up the farm. We also are devoted to education and the Open House provides a perfect opportunity. Just getting kids out to see where and how food grows is an education in and of itself. Watching kids discover the kernels inside the corn husks or lifting the leaves and finding red tomatoes is an experience that will make a long-lasting impression.

But what about adults? Is spending an afternoon at Gardens of Eagan educational for them? That certainly is our goal! We want to be a catalyst for the transformation of the local food system. We strive to create informed eaters who understand the consequences of their purchases. educated farmers who understand the consequences of their farming practices.

In 2008, when I arrived from California to manage the farm, the Wedge was just starting development of its educational non-profit, The Organic Field School. It was envisioned as a partner to Gardens of Eagan, taking on the educational responsibilities and developing the educational opportunities that only, or especially, a farm could provide. Now, several years hence, The Organic Field School is doing some remarkable things. Still with no paid staff and a tiny budget, OFS is supporting the incubator program at Gardens of Eagan. Presently one new farm business is being incubated at GOE, Fazenda Boa Terra, a CSA and market farm with meat chickens. Another small plot is being managed as a precursor to a second farm business. The Wedge supports these activities by allowing me, the farm manager, to use some of my time to coordinate with and mentor the incubator farmers.

Additionally, the Wedge allowed me some time to write for grant money to support consumer education and farmer training. I have not yet heard if we received money to help support staff time for the Eat Local Farm Tour, but, we did receive a two year grant from Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE) to help defray costs associated with training farmers to grow summer broccoli and to help them with marketing support. The three farmers involved received training materials, production methods, help with purchasing seeds, seedlings and packaging, and a guaranteed market contract. It has allowed them to increase their total broccoli production with less risk, with the goal being to improve the availability of locally grown, certified organic summer broccoli in our region.

Finally, by partnering with fellow educational organizations the Organic Field School has had a positive impact on farmer training this summer. Two field days that expanded on topics presented at the Organic Farming Conference's Organic University, were very well received. The first topic, "Beginning Market Farming" tapped into the experiences of the incubator businesses that have grown up at Gardens of Eagan. The second topic, "Production with High, Low and Mid-Sized Tunnels" showcased Gardens of Eagan's successes and lessons over the past 3 years using new farming technology.

After a very interactive afternoon I'm confident that our guests at the Open House left understanding a lot more about what we do here and why. Like democracy, we strongly believe that an environmentally sound, economically just agriculture relies on and thrives only with educated citizens.

More GoE open house pictures