Growing Sustainably: How We’re Balancing Community, Crops, and the Future of Trefoil Gardens
At Trefoil Gardens, sustainability isn’t just about the way we farm—it’s also about how we care for ourselves and our community. As part of our sustainability plan, we’re committed to paying ourselves and any future farm workers a living wage. So far, we’ve just about managed to accomplish this. But to be honest, living simply is a big part of how we’ve made it work. Measuring our hours against our salaries? Well, that’s not exactly realistic or sustainable.
This challenge is something we’ve been discussing with our NAV Mentor team. Their advice has been to shift our focus to products and crops that not only help us find more work/life balance but also open up opportunities to eventually bring new members into our team.
For us, that means growing more herbs and flowers. I like to joke with folks: “We grow food to get into the markets, so we can sell flowers, so we can make herbal products, so we can afford to grow food.” While it sounds a bit circular, that idea fits perfectly with how we think about our land, our community, and the connections we build through this work.
We’ll always grow food—always—but at our scale, row crops alone will never be enough to sustain the farm. Mushrooms and perennial small fruits have been great additions, but it’s our flowers and herbal products that help make everything else possible.
What does this mean for Trefoil Gardens?
Our roles won’t be changing: Melanie will continue managing the business side of things, along with the nursery, floral program, and herbal medicines. I’ll still be in the field, planting, tending, and harvesting. The biggest change will be in focus: more land and attention will go toward growing the plants that make the biggest impact on our ability to sustain this farm.
For our neighbors and customers, this means you’ll see more fresh herbs and flowers at market and an even bigger emphasis on teas, tinctures, extracts, and botanical mists. And don’t worry—we’re still planting plenty of carrots to carry us through spring and into early summer. We hope these will make our walk-up market shoppers happy!
We’re also finishing up the details for our 2025 Spring CSA Memberships. This year, we’re planning for 20+ memberships, with 10 spots allocated for farmshare and workshare members. The rest will open to the public sometime in mid-to-late February. These memberships will run 6–7 weeks, with full shares priced between $210 and $280. We’ll also offer half shares and add-ons like eggs, mushrooms, flowers, and botanical products. And for the first time, we’re considering a late-summer-to-fall CSA membership, offered at a discount to spring members who bundle.
The CSA program is more than just a way to bring fresh, local food to your table—it’s also an essential cash infusion for us farmers, helping us invest in the upcoming growing season at a time when costs are high and resources are stretched thin. Learn more about the history of the CSA model here.
A Commitment to Our Neighbors
For six years now, we’ve proudly doubled SNAP benefits for our community through the Georgia Fresh for Less program, in partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia. Rob remains deeply involved, serving on the Wholesome Wave Georgia Stakeholder Advisory Board and helping to plan the 2025 Network Gathering. This event will bring together partners and stakeholders to strategize and find new ways to support food access.
We’ve invited local stakeholders in Woodstock as our guests. Our hope is to encourage the city to reestablish the market token program, which so many of our neighbors have depended on. Regardless of others’ decisions, one thing is certain: we’re here for you. No one should struggle to nourish themselves or their families. Beyond our commitments to shareholders, our neighbors' needs will always come first.
Looking Ahead
Next week, we’ll share updates on new partnerships and connections that are helping us steward our land more thoughtfully. These connections are shaping our 2025 plans and beyond—and we’re excited to bring you along for the journey.