What’s Fresh on the Farm

Every growing season teaches something new, and this year marks an exciting new direction for Alfred Smith’s Farm.

When we began selling produce in 2021 and 2022, we grew a wide assortment of vegetables for the local farmers market. In the years that followed, we shifted toward supplying a smaller selection of crops through direct sales and local retail outlets. Along the way, one question has continued to shape our thinking:

How can a small farm produce exceptional food while remaining practical, profitable, and affordable for someone who wants to farm on a part-time basis?

This season reflects that shift in focus. Rather than trying to grow dozens of different vegetables, we’re exploring how a small farm can become more efficient by specializing in a few crops that are especially well suited to northern Minnesota, store well after harvest, and provide the greatest return for the time and equipment invested.

Much of this work is taking place on land my grandfather cleared nearly a century ago. Restoring those 10½ acres to productive farmland has been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever undertaken and is helping lay the foundation for the farm’s future.

Garlic is the first crop in that journey. It thrives in our climate, stores beautifully for many months, and allows us to provide fresh, locally grown food well beyond the traditional harvest season. While this year’s vegetable selection is intentionally smaller, the long-term vision is bigger than ever: to develop practical, efficient growing methods that demonstrate how others can successfully enter small-scale farming with modest equipment, limited capital investment, and a focus on producing outstanding food.

Available This Season

• Garlic Scapes — Available now while supplies last.

• Hardneck Garlic Bulbs — Available beginning in September and continuing through the fall and winter.

• Greenhouse Tomatoes & Cucumbers — Limited quantities as available.

Thank you for supporting Alfred Smith’s Farm as we continue to grow, learn, and restore this family land. We hope you’ll enjoy this year’s harvest and follow along as the next chapter of the farm continues to unfold.