Allan Gandelman and Bob Cat of Main Street Farms have been involved with the Groundswell Center since Main Street Farms was started in 2011. They participated in some of our earliest programs and have now become some of our most relied upon farmer-mentors. As we look back at the work we have accomplished so far, we thought we would check in with Allan and Bob Cat for their perspective on Groundswell and how our partnership has affected them in their work. 

What part did Groundswell play in the growth/success of your farm business?

During their first season, as the farm was getting off the ground, Allan participated in Groundswell’s Sustainable Farming Certificate program and has continued to be involved by hosting CRAFT workshops, taking the Farm Business Planning Course, High Tunnel course, and participating on committees. 

From the start Allan and Bob Cat were committed to farming sustainably and using greenhouses for year-round production of healthy, sustainable food, while also finding a way to run a profitable farm. For Allan, the best part of being involved with Groundswell has been the opportunity to network with other farmers and to take the time to learn from the mistakes other farmers have made. He says it has been a challenge to find detailed information on small scale farming and that talking with other farmers and visiting other farms has helped to provide direction on business, marketing, and infrastructure decisions.

What is Main Street Farm is looking forward to in the future / growth plans?

When Allan started Main Street Farms in 2011 it was a small operation, with a 12 member CSA, an aquaponics system, and several greenhouses on the site of an old flower nursery. Now, looking forward to 2016, Allan and farm manager Bob Cat expect to have 30 acres in production and 15 high tunnels and greenhouses to provide quality, sustainably grown food for 300 CSA members, markets, and wholesale.

For 2016 they are hiring a production manager to help with the expansion! The application is still available - click here for more information.

Any retrospective thoughts/wisdom you wish to share?

"As food consumers it’s important for all of us to be more conscious when making decisions about the food we choose to eat. Groundswell does a great job training farmers, but consumers are the ones who drive the economy. For everyone out there who is already a good food citizen it’s important to also take on the role of a food educator to help others understand the importance of local, sustainably grown food."  -Bob Cat

New incubator farmer connections

Groundswell has been working on making information about the incubator farm more accessible to the community, and with the help of service providers, outreach, and new marketing methods we have been able to reach new potential incubator farmers. 

As we've built connections our current farmers have helped to build interest in the community as well. Thanks to Paw Pha, a Burmese farmer who worked ¼ acre at the incubator this year, we were able to accept four new Burmese farmers to the incubator for 2016. We are very excited to have these families at the farm and are looking forward to building more connections with new farmers in the community!

Updated infrastructure

Over the summer the infrastructure at the incubator farm was improved to include an updated ‘Zone 1’ - the area worked in most often. Previously getting to this area required a drive across a grassy and sometimes muddy path, but with the improvements the farm has a new driveway, expanded shed, new wash station, and soon will have a walk in cooler (to be built in early 2016) where farmers can store produce. The updated Zone 1 is easy to access from the fields, making it much more convenient and usable for the farmers, and for the farm to host visitors! 

Organic management course 

Starting in early 2015 the five farmers at the incubator farm participated in a new organic management course where they they learned about some of the practices involved in growing quality organic crops. With the help of Andy Fellenz of Fellenz Family Farm they covered key topics including crop planning, soil fertility, and pests and disease.

In 2016 Paw Pha will be helping to adapt the management course for the Burmese farmers joining the farm. He will be co-teaching and translating, as well as serving as a mentor to help the farmers starting out at the incubator in the spring.