Local Vendor: Spring Time Farm

by Meggan Simpson, Downtown Produce

July, 2017

spring time farm nick spring and sarah robinson

Farmers Nick Spring and Sarah Robinson enjoy a quiet moment on their farm in Everson with farm dog Henry.

photo by TwoFish Photography

Here at the Co-op we realize that farming is hard work, seven days a week, and a pretty challenging way to make a living. It is also an integral part of our community and local food system, which is why the Co-op has created programs like the Farm Fund that offer resources to help small farms like Spring Time Farm make their dreams of bringing fresh, nutrient-dense food to their community a reality.

Sarah Robinson and Nick Spring took the next step, with the assistance of a Co-op Farm Fund Next Step grant, and purchased property for their expanding produce and flower farm.

Nick Spring and Sarah Robinson at Spring Time Farm recently received a Next Step Grant—a relatively new Farm Fund program designed to help small farms take the next step and scale up to provide the wholesale market—and we are so happy to help them expand to their very own property. After farming their first four years leasing land, sharing tools, and receiving mentorship from Dusty Williams at Broad Leaf Farm, they are now in the process of moving to their recently purchased 37-acre property where they plan to farm 5 to 7 acres at a time while rotating their crops to ensure soil fertility and health.

Sarah washing lettuce. Look for signs identifying their organic produce and flowers in our stores this summer and support these up-and-coming local farmers.

photo byTwoFish Photography

So where did it all begin for Spring Time Farm? Nick Spring is originally from Portland, Oregon, and was attending Western Washington University in 2012 while running a garden system in town called Bellingham Urban Growers Syndicate (BUGS). You may have seen him bicycling around between classes with rototillers, rakes, and shovels in his trailer, or perhaps you owned one of the 11 plots of land he grew veggies on throughout town. He didn’t grow up farming or gardening but it is in Nick’s genes.

The name Spring Time Farm was the name of the farm Nick’s grandfather ran until he was 90!

Not only was BUGS a transition to reconnecting Nick to his farming heritage and his realization that he wanted to make a career growing food for the community, but BUGS is also how Nick met his amazing and talented partner Sarah Robinson. Sarah grew up in Maryland, went to college in Boston, and spent many years bicycle touring the continent before coming to Bellingham. It was here with the already passionate vegetable-growing Nick that she discovered her love for farming. With the constant and diverse challenges of farming—keeping her mind and body engaged while allowing her to be outside connecting with nature— she was hooked!

Nick with an armfull of giant alliums. The farmers of Spring Time Farm found a natural division of labor with Nick Spring taking the lead on the vegetable side of things and Sarah Robinson using her decidedly green thumb as the lead farmer-florist. Of course, they both frequently work together across all areas of the farm.

photo by Sarah Robinson

Nick and Sarah have been farming together for four years now and the quality and abundance of fruits, veggies, and flowers they bring to the community makes me feel like they have been doing this for so much longer. He is “in charge” of the veggies and she is “in charge” of the flowers, and they have a wonderful employee named Josiah who has been there from the beginning and whose knowledge, hard work, and fresh perspective have been an integral part of their success.

Sarah, Nick, Josiah, and the rest of the crew at Spring Time Farm are always trying new things, looking for new ways to nurture their land and preserve their bodies so they can continue to farm for a very, very long time. And we hope they do!

Nick and Sarah are such a joy to be around, you can see and feel the genuine passion for what they do, and for life in general, shine through in even the smallest interactions with them. You may see them delivering sun-kissed boxes of produce or flowers to either
Co-op store or selling at the Bellingham Farmers Market on Saturdays. Either way, we hope you get a warm and happy feeling when you put something from their local farm into your reusable shopping bag.

nick and sarah jumping for joy during the garlic harvest

Nick and Sarah's enthusiasm for organic farming is contagious. Here they are jumping for joy during the garlic harvest.

photo by Meaghan Flesch

We all benefit from the vibrant local organic farming community in Whatcom County. Maybe you have never grown a vegetable, or just didn’t have time to plant a garden this year, or perhaps all your greens have bolted—don’t fear! Spring Time, Broad Leaf, Terra Verde, Cascadia Mushrooms, Rabbit Fields, Viva Farms, Cedarville, Moondance, Spring Frog, and so many others deliver their
farm-fresh produce to the Co-op to make sure you have delicious and healthful local food to eat.

We know the hard work, dedication to sustainable farming, and connection to nature of these farmers is a large part of what makes the Co-op where you love to shop and Whatcom County such an amazing place to live, eat, and play. Thank you, Hamsters, for supporting your community and all the people who make it go round.

Learn more about the Co-op’s Farm Fund. The fund is supported by donations. You can join your friends and neighbors who support the Farm Fund by donating at any Co-op register or on our website.

Take a closer look at Spring Time Farm.

South of the Border

by Dave Sands, Produce Team

Dave Sands with greenhouse manager Primo at Divine Flavor in Hermosillo.

When the fields up here in the north slow down during our cold season, it’s nice to know our neighbors to the south have our backs.

Last March, I had the opportunity to visit several certified organic and fair trade certified farms in the state of Sonora in Mexico. I was impressed and inspired with the overall quality of these operations and the way they treat their workers. I saw firsthand the positive result of fair trade premiums in the communities near the farms—child care facilities, a tortilla factory and mini mart that sells to farm workers at cost, a full-service dental and medical facility, and even a few soccer fields—all paid for by fair trade premiums.

Well, what is fair trade anyway? According to the Fairtrade USA website: “Fair Trade Certified products were made with respect to people and planet. Rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards work to promote safe, healthy working conditions; protect the environment; enable transparency; and empower communities to build strong, thriving businesses. When you choose products with the Fair Trade label, your day-to-day purchases can improve an entire community’s day-to-day lives.”

During the winter months many of our vegetables, like cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes, come from Mexico and we choose to look for Fair Trade certified product when possible. Typically these run a few more cents per pound in cost to us. These few cents per pound really add up when we are talking truckloads going to stores all over the U.S. that choose fair trade.

Organic Brussels sprouts at Covilli Brand Organics in Empalme.

Many of the farming areas we visited in Mexico are home to large seasonal migrant populations, despite a lack of existing infrastructure. We saw some of the ways in which fair trade premiums contribute to the quality of life for these workers and communities.

We sell the certified organic vegetables that these farmers pick, and have always been impressed with the quality.

At the Divine Flavor grape orchards, dorms are being remodeled to provide more space per person per room. Near the town of Guaymas, the workers at Covilli Organics were close to finalizing plans to build a play area for their children. Wholesum Harvest near Hermosillo showed us the area where they are dividing tracts of land to offer housing to returning workers, so they may own their own piece of land within walking distance to work, the soccer field, and the at-cost tortilla factory and mini mart.

We sell the certified organic vegetables that these farmers pick, and have always been impressed with the quality. It was an honor to enrich my perspective and see the whole supply chain in person.

As impressive as the commitment to the social and economic side of things is, the commitment to growing clean, certified organic products was also great to see. These farms were spotless and used very modern growing methods that take care of the land and the water source.

The more acreage that gets converted to organic farming in Mexico, the better. That’s why we support our farm partners in Mexico and wish them all the success in the world.

Dave’s tour group suited up as per requirements to enter the On the Vine tomato and English cucumber growing rooms at Wholesum Harvest.

Apply for a 2019 SEED Grant

It’s time to apply for a 2019 SEED / Community Shopping Day. If you know of a worthy organization, let them know about this funding opportunity! Read more to learn how to support the current SEED recipients and how to apply online for the 2019 program.

Invest In Your Co-op

In March, Co-op member-owners overwhelmingly approved changes making it possible for member-owners to invest in the Co-op. Learn how and why to invest in your co-op and community!

Dinner in a Flash (with ready-to-cook Co-op meat selections!)

Folks have been requesting serving suggestions for our new line of ready-to-cook meat entrees, and Nick has answered the call! Try these three simple recipes for a yummy dinner in a flash.