Farm Happenings at Big River Farms
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Certified Gold Green Biz

Posted on August 25th, 2021 by Matt Frank

Big River Farms (BRF) has received gold level status in the Sustainable Stillwater MN Green Business Directory! This online, public directory encourages people to align their personal values with their spending by choosing businesses with green, sustainable, resilient products and practices. It lists environmentally and socially conscious businesses located in or serving Washington County, Minnesota.

After applying, businesses receive either bronze, silver, or gold level status, based on their green business report card grade. Big River Farms scored 114% (91/80), to obtain the highest-level award for our sustainability practices. 

Since 2005, we have provided education on sustainable agriculture to hundreds of farmers through our annual Farmer Education Program and Emerging Farmers Conference. We founded one of the first incubator farms in the country and are one of the only ones that serves farmers of all backgrounds and cultures, with a particular focus on mentoring and supporting BIPOC farmers.

We strive to work with our land in a symbiotic relationship, so that we can produce delicious, nourishing foods while ensuring soil, water, air, and wildlife remain healthy and thriving. We have the great privilege to work on land surrounded by woods and lakes, full of life both above and below ground.

We take our role as caretakers of this beautiful and unique piece of land very seriously. We teach and demonstrate organic agricultural practices that build soil health, preserve diverse ecosystems and pollinator habitat, conserve water, and protect air and water quality. We believe that the health of our ecosystem is crucial to the success of our farm.

"To grow healthy vegetables, you have to focus on soil biology. This means ensuring live microorganisms, earthworms, and other small creatures thrive beneath the ground. To grow beautiful produce, we need to take care of the soil and it will take care of our food," says fourth year BRF farmer Wa Kou Hang.

Thank you for supporting our sustainability practices as a valued CSA member!