The Blog

Alright.Take a breath.This is for you. I can’t tell you how often I speak to farmers and they doubt themselves, criticize themselves, play small and tell me how hard some facet of their business is (usually it’s building their CSA). This pep talk is for you. You are not behind. You’re not failing. You are […]

Why Do You Farm? Most of us got into farming because we love growing food. The satisfaction (the smell even) of a freshly prepared seedbed, the excitement of the first harvest, and the satisfaction of feeding our communities. Knowing that bed of celery was absolutely perfect (doing a little happy dance in the field)…it never […]

Why do you farm? The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer What does it mean, to YOU, to be a farmer? I read Erika’s recent blog ,new farmer at Oak Spring Farm, and got teary-eyed. Not because it was sentimental.Because it was true. Her words carry the kind of truth […]

Here’s What I’d Focus On First. After 15+ years as a Certified Organic CSA farmer and market gardener, I can tell you this: Most farmers think they have a sales problem. What they actually have is a relationship problem. You can grow the most beautiful carrots in the county. You can harvest flawless lettuce, bake […]

Whether you’re maintaining a list or building one from scratch you know it’s important (if you’ve been listening to me AT ALL!) What list? Your email marketing list. Oh yea, that one. Think about it: do you work your farm stand or farmers market answering the same questions over and over?  “How do I cook […]

If your CSA starts in May or June, this is your moment. Not next week. Don’t wait until “ things slow down.” Not after you transplant lettuce. Right now is when families are deciding how they’ll eat this summer. They are thinking about health, groceries, convenience, budgets, supporting local farms, and wanting a better life […]

Have you ever found yourself weeding carrots instead of writing your marketing email? Or maybe you know—you know—you need just a few more CSA members to fill your season… but instead of calling past members, you suddenly remember the tunnel tomatoes need fertilizer.  And you just don’t understand why you’re not making time for marketing… […]

In 2006, I packed up my life in Southern CA and moved to the rolling countryside of Baltimore County.  We bought Oak Spring Farm.  Sight unseen. A little farm with a faded old sign but no business.  I didn’t arrive with a business plan.There were no investors.No plan to build a CSA farm or become […]

Why Constraints, Clear Boundaries, and Thoughtful Design Are the Key to a Sustainable CSA One of the strongest beliefs I hold after 15+ years of running a successful CSA is this: 👉 Boundaries are not restrictive — they are liberating. A well-designed CSA sets clear boundaries around: When farmers struggle, it’s rarely because they don’t […]

(From a 15+ year Certified Organic CSA farmer who has lived it.) Most people start farming for freedom. Then somewhere along the way…it starts to feel like pressure. Not because you don’t love growing food. But because modern farming is complex. Regulations. Online sales. Customer expectations. Labor costs. Inflation. Indeed, a food system not designed […]