Spring Wind Farm

Many hands have built this farm together over the years! Spring Wind Farm is operated by Betsy Allister, Kate Andrew, Anna Befort, Andrew Ehrmann, Cameron Jones, Page Nelson, Mary Traxler and Chris Waters; and by our wonderful working share members. BETSY AND ANDREW LAUNCHED SPRING WIND FARM IN 2010, and WE BUILT THIS FARM FROM SCRATCH…TRANSFORMING A nondescript 20 acres OF chemically-DEPLETED CORN AND SOYBEANs INTO A vibrant HOME! A HOME NOW BUZZING WITH A DIVERSE ARRAY OF PLANT, microbial, and ANIMAL creatures…including FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Since we began caring for this land, we planted hundreds of trees; Andrew designed and built a farmhouse, shed, barn, and several more outbuildings; we planted acres of prairie species; added year after year of compost, minerals, kelp, and mycorrhizal fungi to the soil; and the land has welcomed thousands of people over the years, to share in its bounty and contribute to its health. we are thrilled to be part of the farm’s evolution into a stronger endeavor led by a fabulous team of farmers! Betsy grew up here in Northfield, and Andrew in the mountains of Colorado; we met at Macalester College in St. Paul, in a class where we read Wendell Berry. We spent some time working on other farms before beginning our own venture in the spring of 2010. Andrew's background is in environmental studies and carpentry; Betsy's in writing and education. In farming, we have found a shared home for our diverse interests and values, and good hard work that we are delighted to share with our kids, co-workers, and working share members. We are all so happy to be caring for this beautiful land, collaborating with our sustainable farming neighbors to grow the local foodshed, and sharing the land and its bounty with our CSA community. Read some of Betsy's Diary of a New Farmercolumns for Edible Twin Cities…way back in our first years of farming! Planning, Budgeting, Reviewing...and Reading Spring Wind Farm   I   4433 320th St W, Northfield, MN 55057   I   farmers@springwind.org