Click on a link below for answers
to common questions about Artisan Organics.
Question: Who is the Artisan Organics
Farmer?
Answer: My name is Florence Jessup.
| Florence Jessup began Artisan Organics in 2007.
Florence came to farming after many years of administration and management in both the corporate world and not for profits. During those years, she grew much of her family’s food on a small suburban lot in Sonoma County CA.
After successful treatment for breast cancer…. and after her youngest child graduated and moved out of the house!....., Florence decided it was time to pursue her dream. So in 2005, she left the security of her long term job and took the plunge. She enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture Certificate Program at Santa Rosa Junior College.
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In addition to her course work, Florence worked on the 365 acre college farm. With her friend and classmate, Lydia, she also had a small CSA with pick up sites at the main campus and a local internet service provider.
Florence chose the Portland area to begin Artisan Organics because of the availability and affordability of farm land…. and to be closer to her grandchildren.
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Question: Where is the Artisan Organics
farm? May I visit?
Answer: Artisan Organics is leasing six acres of a 26 acre parcel on the eastern edge of Hillsboro, OR., just a block off of Tualatin Valley Highway. Over the years, the portion we are renting has been leased to various farmers, many of whom have gone on to be successful CSA farmers who own their own land.
The soil is primarily Aloha Silt loam. This is a class II soil which means that it is considered prime farm land.
However, this area is within the Hillsboro urban growth boundary and is experiencing heavy development pressure. We are grateful to the owners of the land, Witch Hazel Farms, LLC for choosing to keep this land in agricultural production. Without this type of commitment, the capital costs necessary to purchase land would keep small, beginning farmer like us from realizing our passion for farming.
You are welcome to visit the farm. You can be sure that you will learn something new each time you visit. And, there is an absolute guarantee that you will be put to work!
For safety reasons, some areas of the farm are off limits to children, particularly areas where tractors or other heavy equipment are in operation. Please remember that farms can be hazardous places; children must be closely supervised at all times.
Please contact us in advance to schedule a date and time. Don’t forget to ask for directions when you call as this area does not mapquest correctly.
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Question: It’s almost summer. Why
is my share so small?
Answer: Your share reflects
the crops available during the season. During
the spring and early summer, nature is busy producing
roots, stems and leaves. Look around you; the
grass is growing like mad and trees and shrubs
are leafing out. Likewise, the vegetables you
will find in your share are the quick- growing
root crops and tender young greens.
Don’t worry; as the season progresses, the
volume of produce in your share will increase
markedly.
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Question: It’s summer. My share
is huge! What do I do with all this food?
Answer: Enjoy! Now is a great
time to re-commit to your New Year’s pledge
to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Did you
know that the USDA recommends at least five to
seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day?
How close are you to reaching that goal?
Your weekly newsletter includes links to great
recipes to help you find new and interesting ways
to cook your vegetables. And, if all else fails,
freeze them! During the winter when there is no
CSA delivery, you’ll look forward to those
green beans you froze during the peak of the season.
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Question: What shall I do if I am unable
to pick up my CSA share?
Answer:If you are unable to pick up your shares ask a friend or neighbor to pick them up for you. Please contact your farmers and let us know who will be picking up your shares so that we can greet them properly and give them a brief run down of what they are to do. Our contact information can be found on the Contacts page.
If you have trouble making arrangements, please contact us. We may be able to suggest a CSA Shareholder that lives near you. You may then contact them directly to make pick up arrangements. This is a great way to meet your fellow Artisan Organics community members so don’t be shy about asking.
Please be aware that our agreement with the delivery site host does not allow us to leave anything at the site after closing. Your shares must be picked up by closing time at 6:00pm. Sorry, but we can make no exceptions to this rule.
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Question: I didn’t pick up my share!
May I have a refund?
Answer: In short, No. The work
to grow your vegetables begins the moment we receive
your deposit at the beginning of the season. We
spend many hours over a long period of time planning,
planting, weeding, watering and harvesting in
order to have your vegetables fresh and ready
at the pick up site. Consequently, you will not
receive a refund if you do not pick up your share.
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Question: Can Artisan Organics recycle
my kitchen scraps?
Answer: Absolutely. We’d be delighted to! We’ll even provide instructions and a bucket with a lid to put them in. Just ask when you pick up your shares.
Each week bring your full bucket to your pick up site and exchange it for a clean, empty bucket. We’ll add your kitchen waste to our compost pile or feed them to the livestock. This allows us to return the nutrients to the earth, completing an essential circle in the farming cycle.
Please remember not to put fats, oils or meats in your bucket as they draw unwanted critters to our compost pile. However, coffee grounds, tea leaves etc. are welcome. Also, please do not add leaves, stems etc. from house plants to your kitchen scraps. Some of them are poisonous!
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Recall
that whatever lofty things you might accomplish
today, you will do them only because you first
ate something that grew out of dirt.”
Barbara Kingsolver
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