Shareholder Letter & Sign-Up

Have you noticed the days are lengthening? Soon the sunshine will warm our skin.

In 2021, members visited the farm over 1,000 times- that’s the start of many deliciously healthy meals. We remain committed to the share model, where we are feeding people, not selling food. That means the shareholders are our top priority. Our popular Free Choice Share will continue to be the primary offering, with a handful of other options. The 2022 share sign-ups are live!

To give context on the season, we wanted to tell you a few things. The cost of doing business is steadily rising, which includes the price of seeds, equipment and supplies. We’ve slightly raised the cost of the Free Choice Share as a result. You’ll find the same great diversity of produce, plus an expanded flower area with new varieties.

Great Developments for 2022

• GH is returning in April! As an invaluable addition to the farm last year and his years as a SLU student, he is bringing much enthusiasm (and homemade cutting boards) with him when he returns for the season. He’s already contributing by creating a map of farm fields, sharing input for the seed order and more.

• The washstand distribution area is expanding. This means more display space for produce, convenient hand washing and more room for multiple shareholders at once.

• We heard in the survey that people were missing the community events. Garden Mornings and potlucks are back for 2022! Join us on the farm for some shared field activities and enjoy the group potluck afterwards.

• Our partnership with 8 O’clock Ranch is in its 8th fruitful season. We’ll continue to offer the Fall Egg Share as well as the self-serve (no share required) meat freezer.

• New Facebook Group for members. If you’d like to share recipes, tips and photos with your fellow shareholders, you have the option to join ‘littleGrasse Members’ on Facebook. There’s a spot on the sign-up page to let us know you’d like an invitation.

• Introducing the Flower You Pick! Do you know people who are gaga for flowers and would love to unwind in the gardens harvesting a bouquet? In 2022, there is a standalone 10-week (early July into September) Flower Share. This share makes an excellent gift for others. Our Free Choice Share still includes flowers so there’s no need to sign up for both shares.

• We love barter shares. This can look many different ways. Most commonly someone interested in bartering would join us in the fields once a week for a morning in exchange for a Free Choice Share. If you know someone that might be a good fit, let them know to reach out.

• Adjustments to Bulk Items. In the past we had the Homestead Share, which included bulk amounts to preserve throughout the season PLUS items to store for the winter. In 2022, we are splitting Homestead into two separate shares: Stocking Up and Root Cellar. We are accepting sign-ups for the Stocking up Share. These are items that you’d get in bulk for preservation using the method of your choosing: freezing, drying, fermenting, canning, etc. We have a wait list for the Root Cellar Share, which are items distributed in bulk to extend winter local eating such as carrots, onions, potatoes and winter squash. See share descriptions page for more details.  

If the farm has made a positive impact in your life, please let your friends and neighbors know. We have space for new members, especially for the Free Choice and Flower You Pick Shares. The best way for new households to learn about our unique farm community is by word of mouth from shareholders.

That’s all for now. Reach out anytime with questions. In the meantime, find the full share descriptions here. Or secure your season’s bounty at the sign-up page here.

In community,

-Bob & Flip
315-854-5395 or 315-854-5399
littlegrasse@gmail.com