On Gratitude and Giving

“Research shows that gratitude is part of the psychological foundation that prompts us to “give back” in many ways. It encourages us to return favors to our friends, neighbors and family members. And gratitude inspires us to help others in society as a whole.” Sited from a 2017 report in Psychology Today.

As Nathan mentioned in our last newsletter, the 2019 holiday season is fast approaching us, and Thanksgiving is already this Thursday. So, as the business director of the farm, I'd like to take a moment to ponder over both the Thanks and the Giving with you, our dear CSA members.

I have to say that one thing that I’m profoundly thankful for, especially after turning 60 at the end of October, is to be privileged enough to work in a business that, above all other expectations, fosters gratitude and giving! As stated on our “History of the Farm” web page, Jack Hedin, the owner of Featherstone Farm, was inspired at a young age by his great-grandfather’s ”generosity of spirit…” Jack definitely would shy away from any such praises, but he truly practices that virtue in his living. Sure, it may be easy to write “Gratefully” at the closing of his blog entries, or just as easy to cheerfully tell employees, “thanks a million” when they're merely doing what they are hired to do. While these kind expressions do matter, I sincerely appreciate and highly respect people who genuinely validate their words by their actions (while I'm writing this draft, Jack is personally delivering “Thanksgiving” gift boxes of the farm's organic produce to local farm neighbors, business owners, landlords, and friends).

I'm also very thankful for you, our cherished CSA members. Due in part to your support, the farm continues to operate, and by doing so, we've been able to provide thousands of pounds of fresh market organic produce to the Regional Food Bank, Food Shelves, and other local community organizations year after year. Our donation and gleaning program (gleaning is a practice where leftover produce in the field is gathered after the end of the official harvest) is mostly facilitated by a single devoted CSA member and volunteer, Liz Belina. Throughout the season, box by box, van load by van load, Liz organizes volunteer gleaning crews to gather produce after harvest. Before that fresh produce gets overripe, bins and boxes of veggies are saved from the compost pile and instead are distributed to those in need.

Liz Belina gleaning one of our cabbage fields

Her gleaning bounty adding up!

Liz headed out to distribute donations of the farm's organic produce

To put our donation and gleaning program in perspective, in 2018 the farm donated over 21,000 pounds of produce to the Channel One Regional Food Bank and local Food Shelf. Already this year, 14,295 pounds of vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens were distributed because of your support. For those who don’t know, the Channel One Regional Food Bank and Food Shelf are a Rochester, MN non-profit organization that serves the mission to strengthen food access and build healthy communities. It serves seniors, individuals with physical or mental-health disabilities, working families and individuals, people in times of crisis due to job loss, medical problems or personal disaster, and food shelves, programs, and agencies in 14 counties in Southeastern Minnesota. This is one more thing we're very thankful for, our partnership with Channel One and the important giving it does in our community.

So before the turkey is carved or the pie is sliced, we want to extend a gracious thank you, to all our dedicated members. We couldn't do any of this without you.

In closing, I'd like to share a poem written by Jack's great grandfather, which reflects the spirit of giving and gratitude this holiday season and throughout the year:

I will Bring Mine

I will bring mine;

You will bring yours;

The two will make a pair.

That is the way we always did…

We both will bring our share.

I bring my love;

You bring yours;

The two will make a pair.

Then you will bring mine;

I will bring yours;

We both will have our share.