A wet morning went unnoticed, according to our moods, as we biked the rolling, curvy roads of the Wisconsin River Valley with smiles on our faces. We were surrounded by massive hills covered in green and few cars. This area is known for progressive artisans (of all art/food/beverage types) hiding in the valleys. Quietly, modestly sharing their talents with the surrounding community.
As we biked down the gravel driveway we passed a yellow milk house then were greeted by a beautiful farmer on her front deck standing in yellow pants held up by similar colored suspenders. It had been raining all morning. We were soggy from our socks to our hair under our helmets. She was dry and stylish according to farmer standards!
As everyone walked up to meet Rebecca, squishing with every step, we became aware of how wet and cold we were. She offered towels, her clothes dryer, and a warm kitchen to eat some food. We wrapped ourselves in towels, tossed our socks and jerseys in the dryer, started a pot of coffee, then sprawled ourselves out in her kitchen. After our meal of quiche, heirloom tomatoes, green beans, couscous, and watermelon we decided on our next route. We analyzed the elevation and chose the one that had one serious incline then kept us on the ridge for a while.
Shortly after arriving, the sun broke through the clouds. We were excited to continue drying off on the front deck and help clean onions. We cleaned about 6 crates of onions, provided some entertainment for Rebecca and her friend Krista then made our way to Mineral Point.
Yellow Barn Farm was established in 2010 and is owned and operated by Rebecca Claypool. She is originally from the east coast yet finds the hills and valleys of the Spring Green area friendly and comfortable. Rebecca's graduate degree was in Agro Ecology at the University of Madison and continues to work part-time with the program on an independent research project. Rebecca's past experiences include farms from Maine to Minnesota during the past 11 years.
I became familiar with Rebecca at the Mt. Horeb Farmers Market during the summer of 2010. She also was a vendor at the Spring Green Market. These were her first markets as Yellow Barn Farm and her tables were always full of beautiful crisp vegetables. We typically conversed about farm goodies; what was growing well, what wasn't, the weather, and other farm gossip. I was working full time at Middlebury Hills but still liked to go to the market, supporting other farmers and buy produce we didn't grow.At the start of 2011, Rebecca decided to share her produce with a 25 member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) over the course of 20 weeks. She still attends the Spring Green Market but due to limited time she dropped the Mt. Horeb Market. Rebecca also sells produce to Arcadia Books in Spring Green, Isaac Spicer who runs Milkweed Club, and other Spring Green businesses.
Rebecca packs boxes for her CSA members on Tuesdays and Fridays. I must say, Rebecca's CSA members are the luckiest members in the area (if they joined the CSA to get loads of delicious, nutritious veggies)! I had a feeling this would be true when I first started helping at her farm this year. Looking around at the fields I exclaimed, "This is a lot of food! Where is it all going to go?". Every Tuesday, as I help Rebecca pack boxes I am reminded of my first thoughts. We get to the last two or three items and I have to pause. Step back. Then look up at her in confusion, dismay, and awe. Often the boxes are already full to the brim after 3/4 of the veggies have gone in. Last week I actually had to step back and let Rebecca close the boxes because i felt guilty at the pressure I had to put on the veggies to close the boxes.
Rebecca is fortunate enough to have a great connection with UW Madison and the Agro Ecology program. About once a month a group of UW students and friends come out and help out for an afternoon on the farm then enjoy in a potluck at the end of the day. Some of these outings are organized and called a "Farm Mob". My first farm mob experience was this summer at Yellow Barn. About 8 people came out and we all worked together to pull up landscape fabric from a large area (about 100 ft by 200ft). The task was daunting. The fabric had grass and other weeds growing up through it cementing it to the ground throughout the large area. It was not easy and would have been miserable to do as one, two, or even three people. With a group of 8 plus 3 normal farm workers the task was completed in no time without a decrease of motivation. The strength of a group (to rip up the hard-to-remove fabric and to overcome the daunting feelings) was obvious.
It is always fun to work with people in the fields who typically wouldn't get dirt under their nails. The farm fields are their escape from the city. An escape from the fast pace, loud lives they lead where veggies are often only found in a super market wrapped in plastic on a styrofoam tray. Their appreciation for the quiet solitude the farm offers is unrelenting. This commonality is unsaid and brings us closer as we pick tomatoes or weed a bed of carrots together.
