Thank you for taking the time to learn about our CSA and the McDowell Family Farm/ J's Veggie Patch.

The McDowell homestead was started in 1853, and has been a proud part of the community ever since. Paul McDowell is currently running the farm, with his kids (the seventh generation) and gets a great deal of help from his parents Tom and Juanita.

Originally the farm was a traditional homestaed raising the usual field crops and livestock. During the 1980's, when many farms went through difficult times, we started to diversify from mainly livestock and crops to also include vegetables. Paul's mom Juanita was raised on a vegetable farm, so in a sense it was new and nostalgic all wrapped into one. We started slowly, with mom selling our produce at the Dane County Farmers Market and other local farmer's markets as well as a farm stand with an honor system. Within a couple of years we were selling to large wholesale accounts. One thing we noticed was that as the large retailers grew, the loyalty to the growers dwindled. As the "Wal-Mart Way" continued, our long time buyers were stretched thinner and thinner until they had no choice but to buy from the absolute cheapest sources. This was a race to the bottom, and we no longer saw a future in it. We have scaled back considerably, but want to be a source that the end user can rely and depend on.

In 2003, we started the transition to organic production. Little did we know, but our thinking and farming methods would be turned on it's head. Gone were the days of killing this and killing that (insecticide, fungicide, herbicide, miticide, fumigation, GMO's, 2etc.) and the complete war against mother nature. Organic and sustainable farming is all about caring and nurturing the soil and the circle of life. We don't want to produce bins and bushels of food with no nutritive value. Our jobs as farmers is to create food that nourishes the body, mind and soul. This is very challenging, and I have to admit that we have a long way to go, but we are laying the foundation for a healthy and vibrant future. We would love to have you join us in this all important mission.