2012 CSA Shares-Sold Out

We are taking names for a waiting list and for 2012/2012 Fall & Winter CSA.

New for 2012

• Our family and staff are moving the farm beyond "organic and sustainable" into "regenerative" farming. 
• We're raising heritage breed Rhode Island Red laying hens for our egg production.  They don't produce as many eggs but the quality is exceptional and they are disease resistant.  We will also be letting some of the hens hatch their chicks following natures pattern.
• Vesterbrook Farm's CSA and other products will be available to our "members" only.  Having a "private" membership helps us to keep your food costs down and provide better security for your family's food supply.   We do accept referrals to become members. 
• Our CSA members will decide by polling what we will grow this year and how much.  Shares will be larger so more of the harvest may be easily preserved for the off season.  After last season, Okra will be LOWER on the priority list I'm sure.
• Our CSA membership will be smaller this year but the shares larger.  We plan to have monthly classes on Saturdays and occassional weekdays to teach how to preserve the excess harvest in various ways.  Your family will continue to eat healthy after the main season ends.
• We are planning to begin running the CSA year round by utilizing our 4 greenhouses and extending the harvest in the fields using various low input techniques.
• Dr. David Henderson will be teaching classes on nutrition, lifestyle and how to maximixe your CSA "locavoreism".  The price of the class will be deducted from the total of your CSA share.  

What is CSA?

CSA or Community-Supported Agriculture is a mutually beneficial partnership between a farm and community of supporters (members). The members pay a portion of the farm’s yearly operating budget before the growing season and receive a share of the farm’s crops each week. In doing so, they assume the costs, risks, and bounty of growing food, along with the farmer. Members also receive the satisfaction of connecting to the land and participating directly in the food production process as they develop a meaningful relationship with the farmers.

As crops rotate throughout the season, weekly shares vary by size and type of produce, reflecting local growing seasons and conditions. We provide tips and recipes so that members can learn new ways of cooking and serving their families.

How does our CSA work?

With a pre-season payment, you purchase a share of the season’s harvest. With this purchase, you dedicate yourself to being our customer for this year’s growing season, and we dedicate ourselves to being your farmers. For 22 weeks, beginning in late May 2012, you receive a weekly box of 7-14 different freshly picked seasonal vegetables, herbs and fruit. Varieties and quantities will fluctuate with weather and growing conditions.  We use sustainable methods in all we do to help insure a bountiful harvest.  You pick up your box at one of several pick-up sites each week, or you can request delivery to your door, usually for an additional charge.

Farm tours?

We consider ourselves stewards of our family's farm which comprises 23 acres of lush valley nestled in the Mississippi River bluffs near Clarksville, MO.  We encourage our CSA customers to come and learn where their food comes from.  A transparent food system is a more secure food system.  We welcome our CSA members to tour the farm. We encourage folks to bring the family and have a picnic.  There are many beautiful spots to relax and enjoy the outdoors.  Please leave pets at home to avoid disturbing the livestock.  Please call or email us to make arrangements.

Our goal?

We want to provide families and individuals throughout the St Louis metro area and surrounding region with a variety of locally-grown, fresh, nutritious, and chemical-free foods. Our farm is one of nearly 800 that are Certified Naturally Grown which is a grass-roots, farmer based, non-profit alternative certification program tailored for small-scale, direct-market farmers using natural methods. We chose to adhere to the strict standards of this program in order to provide our customers with the healthiest, nutritionally dense foods possible, grown with sustainable methods which improves our ecosystem for future generations.  One significant way we share our farm’s produce is with families and individuals through a "CSA" program.

Are other goods or services available?

Yes. We will have periodic open houses, a harvest festival, and music events during the season. When we find other producers that follow the same standards we hold to, we will make their products available to our members. These items may include honey, maple syrup, jams & jellies, baked goods and specialty meats or cheeses.

Pick-up Locations and Times:

Information will be confirmed during sign up.

Discounts Available:

We respect our senior citizens, veterans, homeschooling families, families with disabilities by offering them a 5% discount.

Discounts are also available in exchange for your regular help on the farm; contact us for more information.

We also accept donations to help families who cannot afford the full cost of a share.

Returning members sign in here.

Going Organic
10/19/2009
By BRENT ENGEL
Hannibal Courier-Post

http://www.salina.com/photos/MOHAN104_Organic_Farming-jpg
http://www.salina.com/photos/MOHAN102_Organic_Farming-jpg
http://www.salina.com/photos/MOHAN103_Organic_Farming-jpg

Missouri family become organic farmers
10/17/2009, 11:26 a.m. PDT
BRENT ENGEL
The Associated Press

Farm of the future? - Hannibal, MO
Hannibal Courier-Post - Posted Oct 09, 2009 @ 09:25 PM
Source: hannibal.net

Clarksville farmer talks about running a family farm
By Stephanie Cordle
Link to the blog zone article. 
Here is the article:
Mike Brabo and his wife Carol took over Vesterbrook Farm, a farm that has been in Carol's family since 1927, about two years ago. Mike talks about running a family farm. 
Video
scordle@post-dispatch.com

10.01.2009 10:34 pm
Local chefs use Missouri-produced food to create fare for Farm Aid benefit
By Deb Peterson
Link to STLToday article

07.24.2009 4:06 pm
A look at the O’Fallon, Mo. Saturday farmers market
By Joe Bonwich
Link to STLToday artcle

07.14.2009 5:17 pm
More about Clarksville, Missouri
By Joe Bonwich
Link to the STLToday article

Food lovers: a home-grown reason to head to Missouri
Posted: Jul 17, 2009 8:28 AM CDT
Midwest AGnet story

Clarksville, Mo., wants to become a foodie destination
Article from St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Joe Bonwich

Clarksville, Mo., attempts to be food destination
07/18/2009
KMOV article
By JOE BONWICH  / Associated Press

Clarksville, Mo., attempting to be destination for foodies
Article in Southeast Missourian
Monday, July 20, 2009
By JOE BONWICH

Farming the prime bottomlands gave the Jaeger clan a solid base upon which to build a lasting legacy in Pike County.

Vesterbrook farm was originally an orchard producing quality apples, plums, vegetables and eggs.

Although Birkley Wells named the farm the name Vesterbrook has been lost to history.  We have chosen to keep the historical name as a reminder that we are stewards carrying on family traditions and with an eye to build upon them in future generations.

In 1928 Everett Jaeger purchased Vesterbrook farm.   A year later he married Edyth and for the next 50+ years they produced quality eggs, fruit, vegetables and milk.  Having graduated from the University of Missouri’s land grant school Everett used his newfound knowledge to establish a successful egg business supplying high quality eggs to grocery stores locally and in St Louis.

In the 1990s Everett & Edyth’s son Ben used his engineering skills to bring Vesterbrook farm into the 21^st century and provide a springboard for future generations.  While some row crops were produced the main crop during this era has been top quality hay and alfalfa.

During this time Ben Jaeger’s daughter Carol, her husband Mike and their two children studied and ministered overseas in Eastern Europe with people with disabilities.  While living in Europe, Mike and Carol developed a keen interest in developing sources of healthy nutritious food for their family and others.  The government factory farms from the Cold war era produced food that was lacking in quality and nutrition and sadly contained chemicals and heavy metals.   Thankfully we were able to develop relationships with entrepreneurial farmers outside of the city and at the farmer’s market or Piaþa Mare go buy fresh vegetables, fruits and meats produced without harmful chemicals.

The Brabos moved to the farm in 2008 to re-launch the family farm into a premier producer of organically grown vegetables, fruits, eggs and meats.

In 2008 we began with testing of the soil, reestablishing an orchard using locally grown Stark fruit trees and grew a limited variety of vegetables and herbs for farmer’s markets and a restaurant.

The Brabos moved to Vesterbrook Farm in 2008 to relaunch the family farm into a premier producer of healthy vegetables, fruits, eggs and meats using only natural methods. They chose to keep the historically important name as a reminder that they are stewards carrying on the family tradition for future generations.

That first year the Brabos tested the soil, reestablished an orchard using locally grown Stark fruit trees, and grew a limited variety of vegetables and herbs for farmer’s markets and a restaurant. They also obtained the Certified Naturally Grown-CNG certification--a pledge to grow crops with non-GMO or treated seeds without synthetic fertilizers, harmful chemicals or pesticides and animals without antibiotics, growth hormones or GMO feed. CNG is non-profit grass roots organization.

Farming the prime bottomlands gave the Jaeger clan a solid base upon which to build a lasting legacy in Pike County.

Vesterbrook farm was originally an orchard producing quality apples, plums, vegetables and eggs.

Although Birkley Wells named the farm the name Vesterbrook has been lost to history. We have chosen to keep the historical name as a reminder that we are stewards carrying on family traditions and with an eye to build upon them in future generations.

In 1928 Everett Jaeger purchased Vesterbrook farm. A year later he married Edyth and for the next 50+ years they produced quality eggs, fruit, vegetables and milk. Having graduated from the University of Missouri’s land grant school Everett used his newfound knowledge to establish a successful egg business supplying high quality eggs to grocery stores locally and in St Louis.

In the 1990s Everett & Edyth’s son Ben used his engineering skills to bring Vesterbrook farm into the 21^st century and provide a springboard for future generations. While some row crops were produced the main crop during this era has been top quality hay and alfalfa.

During this time Ben Jaeger’s daughter Carol, her husband Mike and their two children studied and ministered overseas in Eastern Europe with people with disabilities. While living in Europe Mike and Carol developed a keen interest in developing sources of healthy nutritious food for their family and others. The government factory farms from the Cold war era produced food that was lacking in quality and nutrition and sadly contained chemicals and heavy metals. Thankfully we were able to develop relationships with entrepreneurial farmers outside of the city and at the farmer’s market or Piaþa Mare go buy fresh vegetables, fruits and meats produced without harmful chemicals.

The Brabos moved to the farm in 2008 to re-launch the family farm into a premier producer of organically grown vegetables, fruits, eggs and meats.

In 2008 we began with testing of the soil, reestablishing an orchard using locally grown Stark fruit trees and grew a limited variety of vegetables and herbs for farmer’s markets and a restaurant.

Feeling that I had stored a considerable information relative to the habits of plants, I started to experimenting along various lines, and the knowledge and information thus gained , I feel that I am in a position to say to you that I know how to grow and handle small fruits to get the requisite results for my customers. In brief, this is why Vesterbrook farm was started.

Again, I find that fruit and fruit culture can never be made a success by working it as a side line with farming or other business. The business is a business by and within itself; it demands your attention more closely than any crop in existence today. The culture and harvest of fruit conflict with the culture and harvest of the cereal crops of this country, and where justice in done to one, the other is sacrificed.

Having decided to devote me entire time to the specialty of small fruit, I have this to say: I can furnish you with any fruit in its, choice fruit, large, firm, juicy fruit, clean neatly packed fruit, sweet fresh fruit, fruit that is grown in your midst from pedigreed plants and trees free from canker, rust, rot and disease. I say that I can furnish you with this kind of fruit cheaper, – remember I say cheaper and more for your money that you pay others for a scant measure of inferior fruit. Now please make a few comparisons and be convinced of what you gain.

Some folks are asking how I am able to give such a large measure for the prices I get. Well a great many people never accomplish anything in this world because they spend their time wondering and figuring how some body else does it. To these it should be said: “There is honey in manure, but it takes a bee to get it out.”

Again, here are the reasons that I am in a position to satisfy the most exacting:

• I do not like farming or cereal raising.
• I am not interested in stock raising.
• I do like small fruit and poultry raising.
• I know my business.
• I attend to my business.
• I own my business.
• I run my business.

I devote my entire time to the methods I use in producing the BEST. I am constantly experimenting with and propagating fruits and other things. This year I am especially interested in an experiment with berries, also with a Chick food which, if a success, will be on the market next year. Respectfully asking you to try Vesterbrook goods.

I remain yours very truly,

Birkley F. Wells

Taken from an original Vesterbrook Farm promotional pamphlet.
© 2009