Get to know us!
We were both falling in love with growing food before we ever met each other. Andie was nose deep in gardening books simply enjoying the trial and error of growing vegetables in the backyard. Meanwhile, between “guerrilla” gardening, urban farming and not-for profit work Ashley explored different ways to engage with growing food and feeding people. Our paths crossed years later in a local urban garden. The more time we spent together, the more we discovered our shared passion and values for the way in which we view agriculture. Somewhere between afternoon hikes and sipping craft beer on our porch, the two of us realized the opportunity to produce food together at the Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm. We lived in Dubuque, IA but we were ready and eager to farm on leased land. Prior to starting our first growing season, we each took on second jobs to save money for our farm's start up. With less than $3,000 we began our first season in 2018.
We set out on an adventure of planning, researching, purchasing, and learning how we operated as a team. Our farming journey began on a shoestring budget and this has shaped how we operate financially and how we strive for efficiency with our production. Now in our eighth year of vegetable farming, we are grateful that our paths have converged and guided us to where we are now. Regardless of the financial and physical challenges, we genuinely adore our small scale vegetable farm. Each day brings its obstacles and opportunities which is truly unique about growing food. This is what inspires us to make the best of each season and pushes us to provide our community with the highest quality of fresh produce. We have a love for growing and cooking food, and farming in a way that contributes to the earth.
All of our work is done with hand tools and we minimize tillage as much as possible. We focus on intensive bed production in order to reduce the amount of land needed to grow. Our produce is sold at local farmers' markets, wholesalers, restaurants, grocery stores, and through our CSA Program (which operates via member's contributions). Our drive for being vegetable growers stems from the desire to provide our family, friends, and community with fresh produce!
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Andie
Andie has been passionately working in the food industry for over 15 years; from customer service and food management to working as a farm hand. Much of her recent experience stems from working in various parts of our local foods system at farms, restaurants, the Dubuque Food Co-op, and the Dubuque Main Street Farmers' market. She is co-founder of The Millwork Night Market, an evening farmers' market in Dubuque, IA. Andie has an associates degree in Business Administration from Northeast Community College (NICC). In 2016, Andie helped organize and launch a student garden at NICC.
Andie's passion for vegetable farming lies in her love for gardening and cooking at home. Canoeing, hiking, walking (especially with Cash & Opie), reading, and relaxing are also Andie's favorite past times. She is a native Dubuquer set out to do inspiring things for the community.
Ashley
Ashley has over 10 years of experience working as a grower and organizer in Iowa, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Wyoming. She has managed greenhouses, community gardens, and not-for-profit farms. She was raised in Menominee, IL, a tiny town between East Dubuque and Galena, with her four sisters. Her parents always emphasized the significance of every life on their small hobby farm. Ashley truly enjoys the small things and moving at a pace slow enough to observe and reflect. This "snail" and her two dogs (Cash & Opie) have been together through it all. She is over-joyed to be farming with Andie and strives to farm in a way that gives her hope for the future.
We are here!
