Farm Fresh 2016

WO R DS TOM G I FFE Y, HAI LE Y N OVAK • LIS T I N GS JA M E S J O H O N N OT T • D E SI G N SER ENA WAG N ER , ER I C CH R IS T ENSO N

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When inga Met alice alice in dairyland (and nine of her predecessors) gather around public tv’s farm table MARK AUMANN

W ords : tom giffey

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hen Alice traveled through the looking glass, she discovered a land populated with talking flowers, living chess pieces, and Jabberwocks.

When Inga traveled through a 21st century looking glass into her own TV program, she discovered an Alice.

And another Alice.

And another! There were 10 Alices in all – 10 women who have held the title of Alice in Dairyland, all gathered to record an episode of Around the Farm Table, the charming Wisconsin Public Television program hosted by dairy farmer, cook, and straw hat aficionado Inga Witscher.

On a warm June afternoon, the newly crowned Alice, Ann O’Leary of Evansville, joined nine of her predecessors at Chippewa Valley farm in an episode celebrating June Dairy Month. The program will be broadcast as part of the fourth season of Around the Farm Table, which will premiere on Wisconsin Public Television in September.

Around the Farm Table – which stars Inga Witscher and is produced by her father, Rick Witscher – highlights farmers and food makers from across Wisconsin and the Midwest, specifically those who use sustainable practices. In addition to hosting the TV show, Inga milks 15 Jersey cows on a 30-acre organic dairy farm, St. Isadore’s Mead, in rural Osseo.

“We just kind of wanted to celebrate them, because what they do is really amazing, not only for the dairy farmers of Wisconsin but for all of Wisconsin agriculture,” Inga said of the Alices.

A YEAR AS ALICE

Each year, a new woman – typically a recent college graduate with experience in agriculture and/or communications – is chosen to serve as Alice in Dairyland.

This isn’t a ceremonial title: When she puts on the sash, the new Alice becomes

A TEA PARTY FOR 10 ALICES. During a taping of the Wisconsin Public Television program Around the Farm Table, host Inga Witscher serves tea to the current Alice in Dairyland, Ann O’Leary (seated at right), and two of the women who previously held the title Karyan Schauf (left, 1977) and Mary Ellen Jordal (center, 1953). a full-time spokeswoman for Wisconsin agriculture and an employee of the state Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. O’Leary – who was chosen in May to be the 69th woman to hold the title – expects to give more than 120 interviews, make 100 classroom visits, and attend scores of events across Wisconsin in the coming year.

“I just learned a lot about the sheer diversity of Wisconsin agriculture,” O’Leary said of her first few weeks on the job. “There’s so much more to Wisconsin agriculture than dairy and cheese.”

ALICE EMERITA The ex-Alices gathered for the Around the Farm Table taping included women who held the title during the 2000s, the ’80s, the ’70s, and even the ’50s. In the latter case, the eldest Alice was Mary Ellen Jordal, who earned the crown in 1953. At the time, she was Mary Ellen Jenks, a 19-year-old Chippewa Falls native studying at UW-Eau Claire. At that time, Alice served as a nationwide spokeswoman for Wisconsin agriculture, so the job took her from coast to coast promoting Dairy State products as part of “Wisconsin Cheese Weeks.” More than 60 years later, Mary Ellen fondly

Wisconsin’s ag economy, she noted, is worth an estimated $88.3 billion. While 58 percent of that is dairy-related, Wisconsin produces countless other agricultural products, from ginseng to cabbage to mink pelts (all of which Wisconsin ranks No. 1 in, by the way).

While she showed dairy cattle at fairs in her youth, O’Leary grew up in town, not on a farm, and she thinks that will be an asset in her role. “I want to leverage my urban background to showcase that agriculture is for everyone. It affects us all in Wisconsin,” said O’Leary, a 2014 graduate

of Carthage College in Kenosha.

POSITIVE STORIES

In a way, Around the Farm Table has a similar goal: Promoting Wisconsin agriculture – particularly smaller, more sustainable producers – in an engaging and fun way. “We really wanted to communicate the positive story of agriculture in Wisconsin,” Inga said of her program’s overriding goal. “From The feedback we’re getting, we’re doing that.”

For this episode, the literal farm table is beautifully arranged in a 1903 barn on

recalls “the pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life, from the dairy farmers to the major television stations all over the United States.”

The experience of serving as Alice in Dairyland helped create her career path. She remained in the food industry and eventually became a vicepresident at Minnesota-based Pillsbury Co., for whom she co-hosted the Pillsbury Bake-Off with Bob Barker. (She also hosted her own TV show in Madison during her post-Alice days, so she’s no stranger to cameras.)

While she now lives in Edina, Minn., Mary Ellen still makes it a point to stop at the legendary Olson’s Ice Cream in Chippewa Falls whenever she’s in the area. She also attends the annual crowning of the new Alice. As the current Alice, Ann O’Leary, explains, “It’s a sisterhood.”

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SPONSORED IN PART BY

MARK AUMANN

the Tom Johnson farm, just down the road from Inga’s place. The barn, which is used for parties and weddings, is a storybook setting for a storybook scene: This being an Alice tale, a tea party is obligatory (although the Mad Hatter and March Hare are nowhere to be found).

Against a backdrop of hay bales, Inga serves homemade goat milk cheesecake, strawberry cupcakes, and rosemary shortbread cookies to her guests. (She and her mother, Cynthia, do the cooking). As the camera crew collects shots from different angles, the Alices chat amicably and wait patiently to sample the goodies in front of them until the appropriate time.

Shaded by pink umbrellas, the Alices rode a hay wagon around the picturesque, sun-drenched farm, and later in the barn they were serenaded by the upbeat sounds of Klezmazel, an Eau Claire Klezmer band. In addition to the segments with the Alices, the Dairy Month-themed episode will feature Bifrost Farm near Boyceville, which produces goat milk cheese, and the Agricultural Research Station in Spooner, which studies dairy sheep.

Rick Witscher said the fourth season of Around the Farm Table is about half complete. In addition to the Dairy

Month episode, viewers can expect to see Wisconsin-made caviar and sparkling wine this season, as well as a craft cocktail party with Chippewa Valley-based chef Nathan Berg using spirits that include state-distilled sorghum whiskey and potato vodka. “We’re meeting so many amaz-

ing people,” Rick Witscher said.

The new season of Around the Farm Table won’t premiere until the fall, but you can stream past episodes of the program free online at wpt.org/watch. To learn more about the show, visit aroundthefarmtable. com.

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WHO IS ALICE? Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Each year, Alice in Dairyland travels more than 40,000 miles throughout the state, promoting Wisconsin agriculture to various audiences. Additionally, she conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches and school presentations.

During a single year, Alice develops and delivers at least 60 TV interviews, 150 radio interviews, 1,000 social media posts, 60 print articles, and 100 tailored speeches. During her year of service, Alice also provides educational programming, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, to 10,000 fourth graders.

To learn more, visit datcp.wi.gov and search for “Alice in Dairyland.”

Source: DATCP

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CHRISTOPHER BARTLETT VIA OXBOW DESIGNS

TIME TO BUILD NEW Menomonie Farmers Market pavilion will have unique TIMBER-FRAME design W or d s : h ailey n ova k

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SUBMITTED IMAGE

or the Menomonie folks who have been patiently awaiting the completion of the new downtown farmers market pavilion, the end is near. In a good way, of course.

Last year the City of Menomonie and The Menomonie Market Co-op were awarded a $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

The grant was contingent on moving the farmers market downtown, and planning began for a brand-new market pavilion.

Now a 140-by-30-foot pavilion is under construction in Wilson Park, near the newly built Menomonie Market Co-op grocery store.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed at the beginning of the summer season, but due to the unique angle taken in the design process, the progress has been slightly slower than expected. The new pavilion is now anticipated to be open for vendors and shoppers alike in late summer or early fall.

“You can’t wave a magic wand and

Conceptual design of the completed pavilion

make something as complex as this simply appear,” said Aaron Wallace, founder of Menomonie-based Oxbow Designs.

Wallace and timber wright/architectural consultant Jay White Cloud of Oxbow Designs are the people behind the intricate structure. With the help of engineer Joe Miller, they have taken an ecofriendly and highly creative approach to what could have easily been just another wooden pole-in-ground structure, which neither the city of Menomonie nor Oxbow Designs wanted. The pavilion is constructed with very few screws, bolts, or metal plates and is inspired by traditional Asian-style architecture that is specifically designed to withstand seismic activity.

The upper, locally sourced and harvested timber portion of the structure itself is incredibly rigid and strong without any corner braces or diagonal pieces, which allows it to flex and move while still remaining sturdy. This frame will sit on traditional three- to four-ton stones that were donated by a local business,

At work on wood for the pavilion Kramer Quarries. The wooden structure will almost look as if it is melting into these stones, Wallace said.

With the help of a couple of donors, Oxbow Designs have designed the pavilion at the cost of $109,000, though the frame itself is worth around $600,000, Wallace said. “If we were going to do it at cost, we wanted it to be gorgeous and of architectural interest,” he explained.

The main designer behind the whole project is White Cloud, who began timber framing with the Amish when he was only 13 years old and eventually began working slowly with Aaron and Oxbow Designs. “Jay is the timber framing expert or national treasure as I like to call him,” Wallace said.

The designers faced some setbacks along the way due to the nature of this unique construction. The engineering itself took around four months and was done through much trial and error in order to come up with a design that would not only be aesthetically pleasing but also meet the regulations necessary for a public structure. It is required that it be able to hold up to 30 feet of snow and have 26-foot spans to accommodate the vendor stalls, which is a challenge in timber

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framing, especially without any corner braces, Wallace said.

“I’m glad we were patient and made sure that it was done the way we wanted it,” Wallace said. “The wait is well worth it.”

While the farmers market will soon look drastically different, it won’t see much change in vendors this season, except for the addition of a meat vendor, said Robyn Thibado, associate director for West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency Program, which operates the market.

Thibado said something market shoppers can look forward to regarding the new pavilion is the freedom to shop in the rain without getting wet, which also means vendors don’t have to face the hassle of setting up tents during poor weather.

“We already have a great market that brings a lot of vitality to downtown Menomonie,” she said, “but having a concrete, non-changing location is a huge plus now, it’s location will help drive up local business sales.”

To learn more about the market, search for Menomonie Farmer’s Market on Facebook.

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harvest schedule Get your food when it was meant to be gotten! Make sure you’re buying your stuff in season! Don’t know when that is? Here’s a handy chart that should last you through the summer.

veggies

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

asparagus green onions radishes rhubarb spinach lettuce bok choy edible pod peas snow peas garden peas zucchini green beans wax beans cucumbers broccoli potatoes mushrooms beets carrots kohlrabi cauliflower sweet corn tomatoes summer squash cabbage peppers eggplant melons dry onions winter squash pumpkins

flowers fresh cut dried

berries

strawberries raspberries blueberries peaches blackberries apples

others

farm fresh eggs dairy products honey meat Originally published in: Farm Fresh Atlas MagazinE

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FARM FRESH LISTINGS COMMUNITY GARDENS Chippewa County Community Gardens • (715) 726-7950, ext. 5 • fyi.uwex. edu Presented by Chippewa Falls Parks, Recreation, and Forestry and University of Wisconsin – Extension Chippewa County. Bloomer, Chippewa Falls, and New Auburn each provide unique gardening experiences for the garden enthusiast. See contact info for details.

Demmler Community Garden • laurajlash@gmail.com • thirdward.org A communal garden is also available to those who wish to garden but will not be renting a plot. All plot holders are greatly encouraged to (and many do) donate some of their produce to the hungry at the Community Table.

Forest Street Community Garden • (715) 495-2451 • eauclairecommunitygarden@gmail.com • eauclairecommunitygardens.com Featuring shared and individual garden plot options. Sixty gardeners garden together and put in volunteer hours in the shared plot. There are 50 rental plots in the individual garden. Shared garden: $20 for individuals or $30 for a family. Individual garden plots: $35 single plots, $60 double plots.

Extra produce is regularly donated to the Community Table.

Jeffers Road Community Garden

• elasaive@gmail.com • eauclaire.uwex.

edu The Eau Claire County extension office offers garden plots for rent plus a small 8’x12’ greenhouse for seedlings in the spring and to extend the growing season with cold crops in the fall. Garden plots measure 20’x45’ and will cost $35 per plot. Greenhouse space available for up to 20 individuals. Visit online for the full details.

Kids Gardens: North Riverfronts Neighborhood Park & McDonough Park • (715) 839-4712 • eauclairecommunitygardens.com The County Extension office sponsors a free kids’ garden for all school-aged children during the summer months. Community Youth Gardens are located at McDonough Park and North River Front Park. This program has many partners such as the SNAP Educators (formerly known as Wisconsin Nutrition Educators), Master Gardener Volunteers, local greenhouses, and local youth organizations.

Lakeshore Park Community Garden • (715) 833-0550 • hsmiar@yahoo.com • eauclairecommunitygardens.com Located near the pavilion, 14-16 15’x15’ plots are available and cost $25 (reduced rates available for low-income individuals and families). Water hookup and hoses available. Lakeshore Park Garden is operated by the Historic Randall Park Neighborhood Association. Plot renters are encouraged to donate some of their produce to the Community Table.

Menomonie Community Garden 2500 9th Street East, Menomonie • (715) 2321328 • MenomonieCommunityGardens. com Each plot measures 20 x 25 feet. Half plots are $15, one plot is $25, two is $50, three is $75, four is $100. Raised beds also available.

Phoenix Park Community Gardens • (715) 495-2451 • andwerth@gmail.com Get involved with the Phoenix Park community garden on Forest St. by networking with Andrew Werthmann.

South Side Community Garden On Hester Street south of South Middle School, Eau Claire • southsidegardenec@gmail.com • eauclairecommunitygardens.com This garden features at least 24 plots. Plots are 10’x20’ for $25 or 20’x20’ $35. Water on-site with hoses to share. Garden will be enclosed with a nine foot deer fence.

Want to Start Your Own Eau Claire Community Garden? • (715) 839-5032 • eauclairewi.gov/parks Neighborhood associations or groups interested in starting a community garden in Eau Claire can contact Eau Claire Parks and Recreation.

COMMUNTY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE Alchemy Family Farm runs June through October • 12453 County Highway DD, Colfax • (715) 271-2094 • facebook. com Lots of veggies, some fruits and herbs.

Blackberry Community Farm County Road S, Box 136, Wheeler • (715) 658-1042 • blackberry@mosaictelecom. net • mosaictelecom.com/~blackberry/ Delivering more than 40 kinds of seasonal, chemical free vegetables, fruits (strawberries, currants, raspberries, melons & apples) and herbs in deluxe and half shares. Members are welcome to visit or volunteer on the farm.

Blue Ox Organics N11253 State Hwy 25, Wheeler • (715) 352-0717 • blueoxorganics.com Where the driftless meets the north woods, you’ll find this family farm.

Lamb, mutton, and wool available from their flock of sheep. CSA membership features produce.

Blue Ox Organics • (715) 352-0717 • BlueOxFarm@gmail.com • Facebook. com/blueoxorganics Striving to offer the healthiest food available, working to build soils for the future and create an ecologically sound whole-systems farm.

Breezy Knoll Farm N14014 Fairview Rd., Fairchild • (715) 206-0517 • judy@breezyknollfarmllc.com • breezyknollfarmllc.com Receive a bountiful harvest of fresh, seasonal, locally grown produce and herbs every week. With every CSA membership you also receive a weekly newsletter filled with stories, recipes and information about your vegetables. Eat healthy all growing season long.

Chippewa Valley Produce • (715) 797-2719 • info@cvproduce.com • cvproduce.com Providing safe local farm-fresh produce at an affordable price by building a regional processing and distributing hub for local farmers.

Hogsquash Hollow E8295 County Road BB, Colfax • (715) 440-4059 • HogsquashHollow@gmail.com • hogsquashhollow.blogspot.com A small family farm located along the Red Cedar River in Colfax. Receive a box of fresh, never sprayed, never GMO produce straight from the farm.

Jackson Hollow runs year round • S1291 Hayes Valley Rd., Mondovi • (715) 946-3329 • info@jacksonhollow.net 100% chemical free produce, as well as free range eggs and poultry raised by organic methods. CSA members purchase shares of the seasons produce, delivered to a local drop off point. Egg and Poultry shares are additional. We treat our land and animals with respect.

Katydid Ranch S7520 Cty Rd. JJ, Fall Creek • (715) 877-9978 • Katydid.Organics@gmail.org • katydidranch.com Katydid Ranch is a 40 acre organic/permaculture farm located 8 miles SE of Eau Claire. Organic production practices and record keeping are followed so that in the future Katydid Ranch may apply for organic certification. CSA members can enjoy 5-12 vegetable/herb items in their weekly boxes from June through October.

MoonRise Farm W2161 County Rd. KK, Nelson • (715) 578-6803 • MoonRiseFarm@hotmail.com • Facebook.com/ MoonRiseFarmCSA Providing weekly deliveries of a diverse group of produce sustainably grown for a reasonable price.

MoonRise Farm offers a variety of vegetables, herbs, and fresh-cut flowers that are naturally and sustainably grown for CSA members.

Scenic Pastures Farm E17900 Scenic Dr., Fall Creek • (715) 456-3037 • info@ scenicpasturesfarm.com • scenicpasturesfarm.weebly.com Scenic Pastures Farm is a family farm that offers a 100% heirloom fruit and vegetable CSA and pastured chickens.

Special Treat Farm N674 Cty Rd. H, Mondovi • (507) 272-0526 • farmovation.wordpress.com The CSA runs for 20 weeks, May-October. All shares include farm fresh eggs, and usually includes heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn. CSA members are welcome at the farm for work hours for discounts or visiting anytime.

Square Roots Farm E9985 W. Mallard Rd., Fall Creek • (715) 577-4376 • squarerootsfarm.com Join the farm-totable movement today with a CSA share from Square Roots Farm. Chemical-free vegetables are delivered from their farm directly to your door every week.

Sunbow Farm runs May through November • S7805 Norrish Rd., Eau Claire • (715) 379-7284 • sunbowfarm.com Serving the Chippewa Valley with fresh, local, green-grown produce, chicken, lamb, and certified organic herbs since 2003.

Sunbow believes in connecting people to the land so all of their shares require an agreement to help at the farm. Members help with planting, weeding, maintenance, and picking.

Sylvan Hills runs June through October • E2161 530th Ave., Menomonie • TheFarm@sylvanhillsfarm.com • SylvanHillsFarm.com Half a share costs $400 and a full share costs $650. A share includes a weekly pick-up of fresh, locally grown, certified organic produce that will amply feed a family. Items included are: tomatoes, beans, carrots, radishes, and more.

Thornfield 330th Ave., Menomonie • 612-961-7182 • thornfieldgarden@outlook. com • thornfieldgarden.com Twenty five acres of garden, field and woods where fruit, vegetables, honey and hops are produced as sustainably as possible. A source of very fresh, organically grown produce that tastes better than almost anything you can find at a store.

Together Farms W93 Norden Rd., Mondovi • (715) 210-4740 • togetherfarms@ gmail.com • togetherfarms.com Striving to raise the healthiest, happiest animals with lots of minerals and pasture, 100% grass-fed/finished beef and lamb, pasture pork, chicken turckey and duck. GMOfree and no MSG, nitrates and other unpronouncable ingredients.

FARMERS MARKETS Chippewa Falls Main Street Farmers Market June 6 through October 17 - Thursdays 12-5:30pm • 53 E Central St, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-7858 • ChippewaFallsMainSt.org Join us every Thursday afternoon for fresh grown vegetables, fruits, and flowers, as well as locally made baked goods, brick oven pizzas, salsas, jams, jellies, soaps, wood carvings, crafts, and much more.

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Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market Saturdays in May: 7:30 a.m.

- 1:00 p.m. June 1st - October 31st Wednesdays, 7:30am - 1:00pm Thursdays, 12:00pm - 5:00pm Saturdays, 7:30am - 1:00pm • Phoenix Park, Downtown Eau Claire, Eau Claire • (715) 563-2644 • ECDowntownFarmersMarket.com Seasonal, locally grown vegetables and fruits, plus baked goods, dairy products, meat, honey, maple syrup, flowers, art, coffee, and more.

Eau Claire Farmers Market 8am2pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, June-October (location varies) • Gordy’s Market, 3310 E. Hamilton Ave, Eau Claire; Gordy’s Market 2717 Birch St., Eau Claire; Gordy’s MarketChippewa Commons, 303 Prairie View Rd., Chippewa Falls • (715) 497-5207 • facebook.com Tuesdays and Saturdays at Gordy’s on Hamilton; Wednesdays at Gordy’s on Birch Street, and Sundays at Gordy’s-Chippewa Commons. Locally grown produce in season. Plenty of close parking and we will be happy to carry your purchases to the car if required.

Festival Foods Farmers Market Sundays, mid June through October - 8am2pm • Festival Foods parking lot, 3007 Mall Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 838-1000 • A variety of fresh produce from local farmers.

Menomonie Farmers Market MayOctober: every Wednesday 12pm to 5pm and Saturdays 8am to 1pm • 814 Main St. East, Menomonie • (715) 781-1416 • rthibado@wcap.org • westcap.org/services/ farmersmarket/ A typical market day will feature 15-20 venders displaying locally produced vegetables, fruits, honey, maple syrup, bison, pork, baked goods, plants, lotions and soaps, coffee, and craft items.

GARDEN CENTERS Aquarian Gardens N2548 440th St., Menomonie • (715) 664-8808 • info@ aquarian-gardens.com • aquarian-gardens.com Experienced gardeners work with you through the entire process of creating a beautiful garden, from the initial consultation to the maintenance visits after the garden is complete. They also have a shop where you can buy various plants (either by chance or appointment).

Blaine’s Farm and Fleet 2583 S Prairie View Rd., Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-1806 • farmandfleet.com A hardy selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, and hanging baskets, all grown locally with nursery quality so you know they will survive and prosper in your lawn and garden. While you’re there, you can pick up garden maintenance supplies, lawn decor, and more.

Bobolink Nursery LLC N6548 429th St., Menomonie • (715) 231-3901 • bobolinknursery.com Bobolink’s barn-style garden center and three large growing ranges are packed with perennials, vegetables, annuals, shrubs, and trees. Owners Dan and Amy Dopkins have been in the plant growing business for essentially their entire lives and are very happy to pass their vast stores of knowledge on to you. They also offer services such as landscaping design and installation.

Chippewa Hardware & Garden Center 17168 County Hwy J, Chippewa Falls • (715) 726-2515 • From wheelbarrows to lawn decor, they offer most every tool you’ll need to tend your garden.

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Chippewa Valley Growers 7825 Prill Road, Eau Claire • (715) 839-8448 • chippewavalleygrowers.com Carries a wide variety of stock, specializing in bedding plants, flowers, and vegetables. Work with gardeners to create custom baskets and containers and check out growing ideas and tips in their spring newsletter.

Christensen Florist & Greenhouses 1210 Mansfield St, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-7418 • christensenflorist. com Eleven greenhouses full of beautiful hanging baskets & patio pots. Full assortment of annuals, vegetables, perennials, & herbs. Weekly specials. All plants grown on site. Great quality plants at fair prices.

Circle M Nursery 3942 103rd St., Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-4247 • circlemnursery.com Circle M has served as a complete garden center for the Chippewa Valley for over 35 years, providing trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, black dirt, mulches, and flexible landscaping services.

Dave Bresina’s Nursery 9885 Hwy Q, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-3080 • facebook.com Bresina’s nursery is stocked full of the rocks, dirts, plants, and trees you need to turn your landscape into something worth looking at.

Down To Earth Garden Center 6025 Arndt Ln., Eau Claire • 715-833-1234 • home@dwntoearth.com • dwntoearth. com The Down to Earth Garden Center is a relaxing and spacious environment in which potential planters can find greeneries of every kind. Take advantage of their landscaping and lawncare services.

Evergreen Landscaping & Design Bauer Auction Service Chippewa Valley Located in Durand (call for assistance or to arrange an appointment) • (715) 672-8831 • cvetree@gmail.com • cvevergreen.com A complete landscape service company locally owned and operated for over 25 years offering quality and reliable landscape and design service and guarantee customer satisfaction.

Fryszki’s Country Gardens N1956 State Road 85, Eau Claire • (715) 835-8743 • fayer@cvol.net • fryszkis.com Fryszki’s Country Gardens offers a wide variety of unique and colorful annuals, perennials, grasses, herbs and vegetables.

Gehrke Floral & Greenhouses 515 E. Main St., Mondovi • (715) 926-4931 • gehrkefloral@yahoo.com • gehrkefloral. com Choosing only the freshest, highest quality flowers, this shop has the professional and caring staff for your floral needs. Gehrke Floral has the flowers, plants, and gifts to help you express yourself perfectly.

Gordy’s Market Garden Center 2717 Birch St., Eau Claire • (715) 738-7885 • gordyscountymarket.net Provides trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, garden decor, mulches, fertilizers, landscaping accessories. In addition, Gordy’s offers rentals of larger gardening and landscaping tools for those projects you can’t tackle yourself.

Green Oasis Garden Center 1403 122nd St., Lake Hallie • (715) 832-0800 ext.

100 • GreenOasisGardens.com This garden center offers lawn art and accessories, plus various trees, ornamental grasses, perennials, mulch, dirt, compost, and patio block. They also offer a variety of classes throughout the gardening season to help you make your garden extra special.

Green Thumb Landscaping and Excavating 6700 Hwy 12 E., Eau Claire • (715) 832-4553 • greenthumblandscapingwi.com Green Thumb Landscaping and Excavating provides garden care and maintenance. They offer a unique blend of perennials, shrubs, native trees, annuals, bark, mulch, and rock. They also sell lime, dirt, fertilizer, pesticides and more.

Greener Grass Systems 3261 S Joles Pkwy, Lake Hallie • (715) 723-0800 • greenergrasssystems.com In addition to their extensive landscaping services, Greener Grass Systems provides a selection of large trees, ornamental grasses, perennials, colored mulch, black dirt, and compost for your lawn and garden needs.

Grinde’s Garden Center 2903 Preston Rd., Eau Claire • (715) 833-2292 • grindesgardencenter.com Family owned for 28 years, Grinde’s greenhouses offer a full line of self-produced vegetables, plants, flowers, seeds. They specialize in hanging baskets and bedding plants.

Grow Box USA • (715) 514-3399 • info@growboxusa.com • growboxusa. com Founded in 2009, Grow Box USA provides grow cabinets at a fair price for the best growing experience possible.

Halfen Garden Center and Hosta Heaven 19130 72nd Ave, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-3414 • terrencehalfen@yahoo. com • halfengardencenter.com Halfen Garden Center is a family run business that offers a wide array of hostas, vines, annuals, vegetables, fruits, trees, and shrubs. They offer garden layouts to help you know the best place to plant around your home.

Klinger Farm Market 12756 132nd St, Chippewa Falls • (715) 288-6348 • klingerfarmmarket@yahoo.com • klingerfarmmarket.biz In addition to 18 greenhouses full of flowers, vegetable plants, herbs, shrubs, trees, hanging baskets, water plants, and house plants, Klinger offers a swath of freshly grown produce, home and garden ornaments, bird baths, jams, honeys, and organic gardening products.

They are open year round.

nursery should be arranged in advance.

Petit Jardin 13811 7th St., Osseo • (715) 597-2525 • On the bank of Lake Martha, Petit Jardin has a large selection of native perennials, specialty annuals, herbs, trees, and shrubs, with an emphasis on organic and sustainable gardening.

Plant Marketing LLC 819 W. Shorewood Dr., Eau Claire • (800) 752-6879 • plantorders.com A grower and marketing agent of live plants, specializing in the distribution of foliage, bedding, perennials, cacti, blooming, and holiday/seasonal plants.

The Potting Shed 1717 Devney Dr., Altoona • (715) 831-4000 • brett@thepottingshed1.com • thepottingshed1.com The Potting Shed carries a plethora of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees; as well as anything you could possibly need to plant a garden including fertilizers, gloves, and the largest organics section around.

Reit’s Garden Center 310 Urquhart Rd., Stanley • (715) 861-6595 • reitsgardencenter.com Open year round featuring annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, house plants, statuaries, bulk mulch, and a full line of Bonid products.

River Country Co-Op 1080 W. River St., Chippewa Falls • (888) 314-1088 • A lawn and garden co-op offering lawn and garden fertilizer, soil testing, seeds, lime, and much more.

Sears Hometown Store 2521 A Hills Ct., Menomonie • (715) 232-8086 • searshometownstores.com Sears sells the supplies every home gardener needs to keep their plants in top shape.

Lowes Creek Tree Farm S9475 Lowes Creek Rd., Eleva • (888) 878-4166 • christmas@lowescreektreefarm.com • lowescreektreefarm.com Lowes Creek Tree Farm’s retail nursery market includes a full line of potted shade trees (over 50 varieties), flowering trees, fruit trees, shubs, and perennials, plus landscape consulatation, design services, and delivery and planting services.

May’s Floral Garden 3424 Jeffers Rd., Eau Claire • (715) 836-8220 • maysfloralgarden.com Primarily a florist, May’s designs and sells products for both indoor and outdoor living. They have 11 greenhouses that are in production where they grow annuals, perennials, and indoor green plants. They also carry various gardening supplies.

Menards 3619 South Hastings Way, Eau Claire • (715) 832-3344 // 5210 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 830-0011 • menards.com Menards offers a full-blown garden center and every tool you could ever think of to tend your garden, making it a convenient one-stop shop for your gardening needs.

Out to Laurie’s Greenhouse & Crafts South of Eau Claire via Hwy 53 or Hwy 93 (visit online for directions) • lauriep@powertexgroup.com • outtolauries.com Specializing in top-quality annual flowers, planters, hanging baskets, combination pots, and special madeto-order items per request. Enjoy the friendly and helpful atmosphere of this three-generation, family owned greenhouse. Only open Saturdays in the Spring. See contact info for details.

Paint Creek Nursery & Tree Farm 3215 North 140th Ave., Cadott • (715) 723-2072 • info@paintcreeknursery. com • paintcreeknursery.com Paint Creek Nursey’s goal is to grow shrubs and trees that benefit people and the environment. They have a variety of native tree species, including conifers, hardwoods, and shrubs, that can be purchased either as seedlings or transplants. Note that Paint Creek Nursery is not a retail operation; visits to the VolumeOne.org 37 June 29, 2016

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FARM FRESH LISTINGS Season’s Harvest Greenhouse E5345 County Rd D, Menomonie • (715) 231-4769 • seasonsharvest@dishup.us • seasons-harvest.com Season’s Harvest has an impressive 6 greenhouses full of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vegetables, and herbs. Also, the potting shed station located outside the greenhouses allows you to mix, match, and plant your flowers right after or while you’re browsing.

Shopko 955 W. Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire • (715) 832-9777, (715) 726-1251 • shopko.com Between their outdoor garden center and the tools and supplies they sell in-store, Shopko offers everything you need to get your garden started right.

Wal-Mart 3915 Gateway Dr., Eau Claire // 2786 Commercial Blvd., Chippewa

Falls // 180 Cedar Falls Rd., Menomonie • walmart.com Wal-Mart has the plants, flowers, and supplies you need at the price you can afford. Locations in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Menomonie.

PICK YOUR OWN Appledore Woods W3865 County Rd. HH, Eau Claire • (715) 834-5697 • AppledoreWoods.com Appledore Woods has opportunities to pick your own strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Prepicked blackberries available at Eau Claire’s farmers market at Phoenix Park.

Augusta Blueberries E27020 E. Branch Rd., Fairchild • 612-850-9852 • augustablueberries.com Several acres and varieties of

cultivate Highbush blueberries in a parklike setting. Picking season runs mid-July through August and early September. Visit online for picking dates and times.

Autumn Harvest Winery & Orchard Open May-October • 19947 Cty Hwy J, Chippewa Falls • (715) 720-1663 • winer@autumnharvestwinery.com • autumnharvestwinery.com Visitors to our orchard and tasting room can enjoy complimentary wine tasting during regular business hours, sample gourmet foods or peruse the gift shop. The patio provides seating to enjoy wine by the glass or bottle, while enjoying one of our many Wisconsin cheeses. During the fall season, 17 varieties of apples are available ready picked or pick- your-own, including Honeycrisp. Pick-your-own pumpkins, wagon rides and a FREE corn maze will surely delight kids of all ages.

Blueberry Hills Farm N7900 Cty Rd J, Menomonie • (651) 303-3372 • info@ blueberryhillsfarmwi.com • blueberryhillsfarmwi.com Pick your own blueberries.

Sustainably grown without herbicides or pesticides. See website for details and times.

Blueberry Ridge Orchard E2795 Hagness Rd., Eleva • (715) 287-3366 • contact@blueberryridge-orchard.com • blueberryridge-orchard.com • Find Blueberry Ridge Orchard on Facebook Featuring 20 acres of cultivated highbush blueberries for U-pick and pre-pick. Visit online for picking updates.

Bushel and a Peck Market 18444 County Hwy OO, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-0133 • apples@bushelandapeckmarket.com • BushelAndaPeckMarket. com Open in early August for pick-yourown apples, raspberries, and plums. Gift shop and bakery on site featuring honey, jams, jellies and syrups.

Cain’s Orchard W13885 Cain Rd., Hixton • (715) 963-2052 • cain@discover-net.net • CainsOrchard.com Growing around 20 varieties of apples, plus blueberries. Also featuring a picnic area, play area, and hiking trails. Cain’s Orchard’s apple season usually begins the end of August through mid to late Oct. Their fruit is grown utilizing sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management.

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Charlotte’s Berry Patch 210 Kane Rd., Eau Claire • (715) 832-7186 • Open for raspberry and blueberry picking. Pickers can also enjoy the scenic flower garden.

Call before you drive out.

Connell’s Family Orchard 19372 County Hwy OO, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-5889 • conorchard@aol.com • facebook.com/connellsfamilyorchard Forty acres of fruit and veggies. Pick tart cherries, blueberries in July, and apples starting in August. Pies, ice cream, carameled apples, jams, honey, and salsas are also available.

Foster Farms Strawberries W. Robin Rd., Foster • (715) 835-7407 • facebook. com Foster Farm’s is a family owned and operated strawberry farm established in 1979 just south of Foster, WI. Govin’s Meats & Berries N6134 670th St., Menomonie • (715) 231-2377 • jgovin@ govinsmeatandberries.com • govinsmeatsandberries.com You-pick and pre-picked strawberries. Naturally raised beef, free-range chicken, lamb, and pumpkins also for sale.

Grampa Glenn’s Organic Strawberries W11280 Cty Rd. B, Humbird (1/4 mile east of Humbird on Cty Rd. B just off 12/27) • (715) 964-8663 • gstuve@centurytel.net • hgrampaglennsorganicberries. com Pick certified organic strawberries on the Stuve farmstead. Sampling while picking is a must. Call in advance if you want someone to pick on your behalf.

Little Berry Farm W1832 Maple Rd., Eau Claire • (715) 559-0447 • berrygirls@ littleberryfarmec.com • littleberryfarmec. com Offering naturally grown strawberries and raspberries that are healthy and delicious. Little Berry Farm do not use any chemicals or sprays. Visit their website or find them on Facebook for more details and information regarding picking dates and times.

Mac’s Berries 10439 130th Ave., Bloomer • (715) 568-1672 • They have both u-pick and pre-picked strawberries available. We also have pea pods for picking.

If you want pre-picked strawberries, call and we’ll reserve them for you to pick up at the farm.

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