It is the co-op’s vision to support and strengthen community connections with our local producers – so here are their stories! In this Meet Your Producer series, we will highlight our neighborhood farmers, ranchers, and producers so you can see and hear what they’re all about. Support local!
Maggie’s Farm
Barbara and David Clark
2050 1550 Road, Lawrence KS
barbara.maggiesfarm@gmail.com
About the Farm
Maggie’s Farm is a small diversified family farm. We are USDA Certified Organic for our entire 40 acres. We raise sheep for their fiber. I was first introduced to the textile arts; spinning and weaving during my time in the American Southwest. The textile history of the Navajo and Pueblo cultures were of great interest to me. David became interested in the value of on-farm made compost to our soil’s fertility and the value of having sheep met both our interests and needs.
Being able to grow and consume healthy food has long been important to David and I. It was a natural evolution to grow foods we enjoyed eating. As we matured in our growing skills we learned many factors influence the selection of crops you choose to grow. In 1992 we bought our first 20 acres in Grant Township in NE Douglas County. More recently we have added another adjacent 20 acres.
The Merc Co+op has been our longest and most consistent patron. We sell our organic produce, organic whole wheat flour, flowers, transplants, photo cards, and in the winter our knit hats from our sheep’s wool.
Barbara’s photo cards are available at the co-op!
About the Farmers
Neither David nor I came from families with farming experience. When we moved to Lawrence in 1983 we bought a house in North Lawrence. A wonderful neighbor told us about the quality of the soils in our area and through sharing mentorship introduced us to our first experience with “market gardening”. We were greatly inspired by this sense of community and growing food for our local community became a primary focus. This was nearly 35 years ago.
After I completed graduate school in anthropology,I worked for five years as a contract archaeologist. During this period I was fortunate to work for the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Department of Highways completing field surveys, and archaeological excavations gathering data for cultural and environmental impact studies. Something unfortunately not addressed sufficiently today. My work was in both the Southwest and High Plains this included; New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota.
David started Redfield’s Stained Glass in 1976 and continues that business today at his studio here at our farm (see the pictures above!). He is adept at working two jobs at once. Somehow farming and stained glass remain a passion for him.
About the Future
In 2019 we took 20 of our acres out of row production and began the reconstruction of a native prairie ecosystem. That year we became a Monarch Waystation designated by Monarch Watch. We were motivated to begin this long process as we began to learn of the loss of this essential habitat for our local pollinators, Monarch Butterflies, birds, and small mammals. We are encouraged to continue on this path as we see more and more diversity in the pollinators and wildlife that depends on this endangered ecosystem.
I must confess that more and more of our farm is being planted to food for the pollinators. We do still grow our organic heirloom garlic, basil, and cherry and heirloom tomatoes. A favorite summer meal consists of our pesto on an heirloom tomato slice. We’d be glad to share our pesto recipe if you’d like. We tend to grow the things we enjoy harvesting and eating. Weather, insects, and climate change seem to keep us ever learning what we can grow.
What has farming taught you?
Patience is not only a virtue, it’s a necessity in farming. And you must be ready to jump into action when the weather dictates.
Favorite local food resources?
Any of Eliot Coleman’s books.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds catalog. Johnnyseeds.com
Seed Savers Exchange catalog.
Prairie Moon Nursery catalog for native seeds.