Pleasant Grove Homestead: Nourishing the Community with Fresh, Local Produce
Pleasant Grove Homestead
Pleasant Grove Homestead, a family-run agricultural business, has carved out a unique niche in the rural areas around Oskaloosa, Sigourney, and Montezuma. Their commitment to providing fresh, locally sourced produce, meat, and eggs is matched by their dedication to educating the community about healthy eating through their informative blog.
The journey of Pleasant Grove Homestead began six years ago on a modest 6.5-acre plot. What started as selling excess produce to neighbors soon burgeoned into a flourishing business, with a roadside stand and eventual participation in the Oskaloosa Farmers Market. The demand for their chemical-free, fresh produce clearly indicated the community’s preference for healthy, locally sourced food options.
The Homestead’s innovative approach is exemplified by their unique weekly bundle program, PGH Elite. Different from traditional Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), PGH Elite allows customers to choose from various products each week, including meat, eggs, and bread, in addition to produce. This flexibility, coupled with an improved online ordering system, enhances the customer experience and makes it more convenient for them to access fresh produce.
Their bundles, available in two sizes, cater to different family needs and are designed to replace the necessity of grocery shopping for the entire growing season. Furthermore, the Homestead has installed a high tunnel to extend the growing season, ensuring a continuous fresh produce supply.
Despite their success, Pleasant Grove Homestead faces challenges, particularly in post-harvest processes such as washing and packing produce, which limits their capacity to meet market demand. However, they’ve shown resilience and ingenuity, employing low-cost solutions like a carrot washer made from a dryer drum. The potential prize money from a recent competition would further enhance these capabilities, especially in procuring more efficient produce washing equipment.
Beyond their direct market contribution, Pleasant Grove Homestead plays a vital role in community education. They host farm tours for day camps and daycare facilities, providing children with hands-on agricultural experiences and knowledge about food origins. This outreach fosters a deeper connection between the community and their food source, promoting an appreciation for sustainable agriculture.
Pleasant Grove Homestead stands out as a beacon of sustainable, community-focused agriculture. Through their innovative approaches and commitment to education, they are not just selling produce but nurturing a healthier, more connected community. Their story is a testament to the power of small-scale farming in addressing food accessibility and sustainability challenges in rural communities.
You can vote for Pleasant Grove at the following link HERE.
