Sowing Seeds of Change
Lauren Palmer is driven by two things: her love for the land and her love of people. Her childhood was filled with memories of growing sprouts in a jar on the kitchen counter, watching her father tend to his orchids and eating fresh produce like avocados at lunch. After earning her degree in social work, Lauren wanted to reconnect with her roots while serving others in her community.
In 2009, she founded Bloomsbury Farm and began selling organic produce at local farmers markets. Today, Lauren tends to 400 acres of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs and runs Bloomsbury Farm with a strong community focus. A staple of the operation is its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, where members receive a variety of fresh produce grown on the farm through either an annual or seasonal subscription.
“My education in social work laid the groundwork for me to understand the needs of the community,” said Lauren. “They come to me to see things like if I can grow a special bean their grandmother used to grow or if they can pick flowers and find a place of respite. I’m so glad I have that background to serve agriculture today.”
Connecting Community with Crops
Bloomsbury Farm is open to the public every Friday from March through November. These weekly Farm Fridays allow locals to shop from Bloomsbury Farm’s selection of organic produce and other local food and beverage vendors. For Lauren, Farm Fridays represent the culmination of her passions for people and farming.
“It brings me so much joy that I get to welcome the public to the farm and help people get in touch with where their food comes from,” said Lauren. “We have 400 acres, so why shouldn’t we have the community come out and see this beautiful landscape?”
Finding the Right Partner
As Bloomsbury Farm expanded, Lauren sought financing from a traditional lender. When she could not receive a loan, the lender recommended she check out Farm Credit Mid-America for her unique agribusiness needs. This is when Lauren connected with her local office.
“The relationship piece of finding the right partner was important because it was such a new step for me as a business owner,” said Lauren. “Now, I have a great relationship with Farm Credit Mid-America. They’ve led me down a path that makes sense for my business.”
With Farm Credit Mid-America in her corner, Lauren looks forward to Bloomsbury Farm’s future. Her dream is to expand the farm’s educational programming to help even more people in the community connect with the land and gain access to fresh food.
This article was originally published by Farm Credit Mid-America.
