Elena Bilheimer, EcoNews Journalist
Green Spiral Farm started as a small 1/4 acre micro farm in Mckinleyville, focused on growing baby greens, radishes, and strawberries. In 2019, a year after the micro farm began, they expanded to a 20 acre farm located in the Arcata Bottoms. Run by couple Graham and Chelsey Gagne, the farm seasonally supplies local grocery stores with organic produce while offering an even more diverse range of crops for their CSA and market booth.
Graham and Chelsey met and fell in love while working together on Wild Rose Farm in 2013. After the birth of their first daughter, their passion for organic farming and working with nature became coupled with a desire to create a sustainable livelihood for their new family. In the beginning of Green Spiral Farm, Graham continued working for the farm at Mad River Community Hospital, giving them the perfect trial run for farming in the Arcata Bottoms and an opportunity to envision what a farm of their own might look like.
Their dream has now become a reality, and with the help of a few crucial farm hands, they have been able to broaden what they are able to provide for the community. Since moving to a bigger parcel of land, they are able to provide the local grocery stores with kales, cauliflower, salad mix, celery, carrots, parsley, fennel, cucumbers and snap peas. The name of their farm has become illustrative of their farm culture, as community and resources spiral in, while their produce and sustainability impact spirals out into the wider world.
“Building community has been the foundation of Green Spiral Farm,” said the Gagnes. “We bring this to life by offering a CSA (community supported agriculture) where people come to the farm and pick up their weekly food box. This gives people the
opportunity to see where and how their food is grown, while also giving them access to beautiful, fresh produce all season.” Rather than just supporting farms by purchasing produce at random intervals (which is great in its own right), CSAs allow customers to become “members” of the farm, establishing a different relationship and helping support the farm through the off-season. Green Spiral Farm’s 25 week CSA goes from June 23 through Dec. 15, with shares for 2023 currently open.
At a time when there is little diversity in the fresh produce that is available at the markets, the Gagnes’ favorite seasonal vegetable is the nutritious purple sprouting broccoli. This plant thrives in Humboldt, as it is perfectly suited to growing in regions that have mild winters. “Purple sprouting broccoli explodes with vibrance in the deep winter, while most other crops from the prior season are done,” said the Gagnes. “The beautiful purple color attracts a lot of joy at our market stand. Our favorite way to enjoy it is to simply stir fry it with a bit of olive oil, salt/pepper and garlic powder. Our carrots are a community favorite that people typically enjoy right out of the bag!”
In addition to supplying their weekly CSA, the Gagnes host a bi-annual festival called Mad River Market. The event happens every April and October and includes live music, 30+ art and craft vendors, food and drink, a kid’s zone, and raffle baskets full of local goodies. For the fall market, there is also a pumpkin patch. The market has gained traction and popularity, and the Gagnes invite community members to become involved and volunteer their skills in order to co-create an artistic and collaborative gathering. “This event has really caught on as the communal energy is palpable here!” said the Gagnes.
For the Gagnes, farming is both a privilege and opportunity to provide people with nourishing, fresh food while creating lasting connections between friends, family, and the land. “We are both inspired by how growing food brings together community, fosters lifelong learning, and promotes health and wellness,” they said.
Look for Green Spiral Farm’s produce in Eureka Natural Foods, the North Coast Coop, Wildberries, or the Arcata Farmers Market. To learn more and sign up for a CSA share, visit greenspiralfarm.com or email them at greenspiralfarm@gmail.com. They are also on instagram @greenspiralfarm or @madriver_market.