A FRESH APPROACH

Fifth-Generation Farmer Ben Kragnes Starts Organic CSA

Take a drive in rural Felton, MN, and you’ll stumble across a few acres of farmland that’s just a bit different than the rest. Surrounded by lush wheat fields, this 9-acre plot stands out with its 47 different crops nestled among each other. You’ll spot cutting lettuce, radishes, purple potatoes, peas, dill, squash, broccoli, 3-foot-long beans more veggies than you could sample in an afternoon.

Pull your car over to look and the young couple working in field will greet you with hearty smiles and hand you a few zesty mizuna leaves to try. Take a few bites and you’ll be off on a quick tour of this small, diverse, organic farmland.

You see, these young farmers, Ben Kragnes, 26, and Tyne Stormo, 24, aren’t afraid to be different. When they began Kragnes Family Farms CSA (community supported agriculture) two years ago, they knew they wanted to connect with their consumers, grow their produce organically and spend most of their time with their hands in the dirt tending to their crops. They didn’t let their young age or the conventional farms around them deter their efforts.

And it’s working.

With nearly 50 CSA members this year (folks who pre-purchased 22 weeks of delivered produce), Kragnes Family Farms is running at full-speed. Ben oversees the crops, cultivates the ground with his dad’s antique tractor, weeds by hand, harvests and plans. Tyne handles all communication and marketing, starts seedlings, transplants and digs in by Ben’s side as needed. A handful of interns also help with the operation.

“It’s tough being an island of organic in the sea of Monsanto,” Ben says, referencing the world’s second largest producer of genetically engineered seed used by conventional farmers. “But I want this place to be an example of how well things can work.”

The fact that Ben’s organic field is surrounded completely by his father’s conventional farm land is helping that effort. Rather than worrying about losing his crops to chemical sprays used by nearby farmers, Ben and his father, David, work closely together. In a unique partnership of conventional and organic, the two coordinate David’s spraying so it won’t touch the organic crops. They also trade skills, labor and ideas.

“The collaboration has been really fun,” David says. “I admire the excitement they have and the incredible amount of work they’re willing to put in.”

Never intending to become a farmer like the four generations of Kragneses before him, Ben headed off college to become a pharmacist. But he couldn’t shake his genes and returned four years later. He was working for his father when he met Tyne and they began taking about organic farming a nearby 3-acre plot of land. They later expanded the farm to include another 9.5 acres.

“It’s just what we wanted to do,” he says.

With the advice of other organic farmers including Ben’s aunt Verna who runs an organic CSA in Wisconsin―they learned to carefully feed and protect their crops. For example, they plant the legume hairy vetch to enrich the ground with nitrogen. They use netting and sprinkle diatomaceous earth on plants to protect them from insects.

“I think everyone has something to contribute,” Ben says. “Other farmers have a never-ending pile of knowledge to share. I can even take home some gardening knowledge and use it on a farm scale.”

Each Thursday morning, Ben and Tyne harvest the crops and pack them into the CSA boxes for delivery to a few pick-up sites. They sell produce to local restaurants, including the HoDo, Mezzaluna, Monte’s Downtown and Usher’s House. Additional produce goes to Tochi Products, Swanson Health Products, Sydney’s Health Mart and a couple of local farmer’s markets.

It’s Tyne’s favorite part of the job.

“I just really enjoy giving fresh produce to people,” she says.

The dreams for Kragnes Family Farms are bright. As their farm grows, Ben and Tyne hope to expand CSA delivery to Detroit Lakes, Minn., and even add an honor box stand near Kragnes, Minn. They also hope to organically certify all of the land next summer.

“I just like growing things, creating something from nothing,” Ben says. “This entire farm came from a 9x12x12 box of seed.”

“And now there are huge rows of beautiful veggies,” Tyne adds. “It’s very rewarding.”

Though the 2012 season is full, shares and half-shares are available for summer 2013. A fullshare, at $600, includes 22 weekly deliveries of enough produce to feed four adults. The half-share, at $350, feeds two adults (and a couple kids). For more information about Kragnes Family Farms CSA or to purchase a share, visit www. kragnesfamilyfarms.com or contact Tyne at tyne@kragnesfamilyfarms. com. [AWM]

WRITER: BETH.BRADLEY CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY