Group of friends start farm, CSA in Ridgefield

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After working and volunteering together on a small pastured meat farm in Ridgefield, four friends realized they each had a growing desire to dig deeper into agriculture.

Once the paths of Matt Van Wey and his wife Jennifer Van Wey crossed with the paths of Alan Sechman and Rachel Quackenbush, “the seed of starting our own vegetable garden was planted,” as Matt Van Wey put it.

“The decision to enter agriculture was driven by a variety of reasons, including a yearning to be connected with the land like so many generations of farmers have felt before us,” Matt said. “Another reason was to foster a sense of community around healthy, locally-grown food.”

Matt, Jennifer, Sechman and Quackenbush pooled their resources and were able to rent a home on land and share all of the costs of getting a farm up and running. In mid February of this year, they started planting seeds in the greenhouse and are now entering into their first season as Quackenbush Farm and CSA.

“Now the four of us are living together and have created a system of sharing responsibilities for the farm business,” Matt said. “Each of us is contributing a unique set of skills and little by little the farm is growing up.”

While they plan to have a future farm stand along the road providing self-serve veggies and eggs, the four farm partners are currently focusing their energy on their CSA (community-supported agriculture). Their produce CSA will run for 20 weeks during the growing season, from June through October. Full shares cost $595 and include 15 to 20 pounds of produce per box. Half shares, which are limited availability, cost $350 and include 7 to 10 pounds of produce per box. Each week, CSA members will receive a box of freshly-harvested produce grown on the Quackenbush Farm. The contents of each box will vary depending on what’s ready in the garden. Weekly add-ons, such as pastured chicken eggs and fresh-baked rustic bread, can be purchased with a CSA share.

Depending on member preference, shares can be delivered to a convenient, central location for pick up. Matt said they will have pick-up locations in Portland, Vancouver, Battle Ground and Longview/Kelso. Members can also pick up their shares at the farm in Ridgefield.

“We are growing over 50 varieties of vegetables, including many heirlooms, as well as apples in the fall,” Matt said. “We recommend full shares for four or more average veggies eaters, and half shares for two to three average veggies eaters. If you like pickling, preserving or juicing, we highly recommend the full share.”

While Quackenbush Farm has a diverse crop list to guarantee a bountiful harvest for the season, Matt said they have focused heavily on heirloom and European varieties. These tend to miss the grocery store shelves because on a much larger scale farm operation they aren’t as productive or as disease resistant as some hybrid varieties, according to Matt. However, heirloom and European varieties tend to be much more flavorful and nutritious. Matt pointed out that Quackenbush Farm has more than 10 varieties of tomatoes alone of all shapes, sizes and flavor profiles.

In addition to veggies, Quackenbush Farm is also home to a flock of pastured laying hens, a “hodgepodge” of ducks and some milking goats. All of the farm animals are rotated around the pastures in order to increase soil fertility and lessen the negative impacts.



Matt Van Wey, 31, studied ecology in college and has worked at several unique jobs, including as a sea kayak guide in the San Juan Islands, a snowboard instructor at Snoqualmie Pass and a science teacher in Thailand. For the past few years, he has been working in conservation and habitat restoration.

“It was my love of ecology and my respect for natural systems that led me down the path of farming, and like many I started with a backyard garden,” Matt said. “Soon I started working and volunteering on farms whenever I had the opportunity.”

Jennifer Van Wey, 30, said she has spent most of her life focused on sharing food with people. First as a cook and baker, and now as a farmer growing the food people will eat. She said she hopes to share not only the food from the farm’s fields, but also tips and recipes for cooking and preserving all the season’s bounty.

“Quickly after volunteering and interning on farms in Colorado, my home state, and Washington, I became a firm believer that nothing is more satisfying than a meal prepared from the food you’ve personally harvested, and I plan to share that experience with as many people as possible,” Jennifer said.

Sechman, 27, graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in environmental studies. After receiving his degree, he decided to spend a season on a farm on the coast of Northern California with the hope of gaining a deeper understanding of food and its journey from seed to table. Four years later, after farming two seasons in California, a year spent farming throughout South America and finally landing in Clark County on a pastured meat and egg farm, Sechman found himself desiring a greater sense of connectivity with the land.

“To me, creating and maintaining a bond between the farmer and his or her land is a crucial element of successful farming,” Sechman said. “Learning the strengths and weaknesses, the beneficial organisms and the pests, the natural ebb and flow of life and seasons is not only fascinating and enjoyable, but essential to a healthy and lasting farm.”

Quackenbush, 28, grew up in Ohio and said she became interested in gardening several years ago when her family began to teach her how to garden and how to can her own food. From there, she said a passion has grown in her to feed other people.

“I believe it’s important to know how your food is being cared for and who is taking care of your food,” Quackenbush said. “I am eager to feed people organic, well cared for, nutrient-rich food.”

To find out how to sign up for the 2014 CSA season at Quackenbush Farm, visit their website at www.quackenbushfarm.com, call (650) 690-0919 or email quackenbushfarm@gmail.com. Quackenbush Farm is located at 2112 NE 189th St., Ridgefield.