Gardens and farmers markets aren’t the only ways to get consistent, exceptional, locally grown food in the summertime. Hey Boise spoke with Genny Gerke, the Food Hub Manager at Global Gardens, about how signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program could benefit both you and your community.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
How do you describe Global Gardens?
“What we do is support folks with refugee backgrounds who operate a small farming business. I describe it as a farm collective — all the farmers that we work with have their own individual business, but we have shared resources. Global Gardens reduces barriers for farmers by providing such as access to land, hands-on training, education, technical support, and connections as well as access to the local food market. We have shared resources to help all of the farmers be successful.”
How can Boiseans support these local farmers?
“One of the best ways to support the farmers and to allow the gardens to continue to provide vegetables across the valley is to join a CSA. You’ll get to enjoy locally grown veggies all summer and know your payment is money that goes directly into the farmers’ pockets and back into the program. Global Gardens is a nonprofit, we're grant funded and money we get from the CSA goes to the farmers and we keep a small percentage to help support shared resources.”
What’s the impact of this program, beyond the CSA?
“When former refugee farmers are empowered to continue farming here in Idaho, it not only benefits them and their families, but it strengthens our local food system. Dozens of stores and restaurants and hundreds of community members have access to sustainably grown, no-spray fruits and veggies because of Global Gardens farmers.”
