September 9th, 2019
What’s in your share?
Napa Cabbage
Storage Onions
Cherry Tomatoes/Slicers
Arugula
Radishes
Green Beans
French Fingerling Potatoes
This coming weekend, we are planning to host a tour of our farm for all of you, our CSA members. Those of you who have been to the farm or who live on this side of town, know that one of the We Energies Power Plants is located in Oak Creek. Just beyond the beautiful rows of organically grown vegetables and the sounds of Sandhill Cranes, are two smokestacks, billowing steam and the byproducts of burning coal. This eyesore on the edge of our horizon disrupts not only our little oasis, but more importantly, the homes, lives, and well-being of countless others who are in one way or another connected to the extensive and critical nature of the Midwest - it’s land, water, and air.
While many would prefer to hide from the constant - inconvenient and unsightly - reminders of where and how energy comes to us, we believe it is vital that we center ourselves in one of the greatest callings of our time, climate change, and firmly stand to make a difference. Our neighbor, We Energies serves as a constant reminder that burning coal and using fossil fuels for energy is outdated, impractical, and existentially expensive and deadly to all life on earth.
The fact that we ended up on this property is no coincidence. It has always been our goal to live the change that we want to see. Our friends and family live in Milwaukee, and we have always wanted to grow their food and be close to them. Through food, housing, and other day-to-day sequences and necessities, we want to include those we love in a more shared and responsible existence. Relying less on our own individual faculties and stockpiled resources, and instead seeking opportunities for sharing, together we have the opportunity to demonstrate alternative lifestyles and begin breaking from the myth that what is, is all that can be.
We are not about to abandon a city that we know and love so dearly. And any escape from the power plant would have been superficial, at best. Aside from the Amazon engulfed in flames, what better symbolism for this struggle than our Hobbit-esque community and organic farm flourishing aside the fiery shadows of a concrete Goliath.
As citizens, as farmers, and as fellow inhabitants of this earth, it is our responsibility to demand and set course for change both in our city and in our world at large. Growing highly nutritious food and supplying it locally is an undeniable part of this change, but it is not the only action we need to take.