SILT’s Small Farm Summer continued in June with the Garlic Festival at Grade A Gardens in Earlham. More than 230 guests arrived before a downpour in the last hour moved a smaller party into the new barn.

Bob Winchell, the executor of his wife TC’s estate, donated the easement on this 25 acres that made it affordable enough for Jordan and Whitney Clasen to purchase. In a single year, they’ve been able to build a house and barn, erect a number of hoop houses and get garlic and more into the ground.

“This is just an amazing, hardworking couple,” said Executive Director Suzan Erem. “We need to give more people like this a chance at farming.”

Many SILT staff and a board member (with family members) turned out to support these farmers.

Small Farm Summer is a new initiative by SILT to increase SILT farm retail sales to their neighbors. It’s supported in part by a USDA Agricultural Marketing Services grant.