Connecting local farms with local consumers provides a direct link between production and consumption of food. And there are three ways to do this: through farmers markets, farm stands and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Hairston Creek is a great example of a farm that attends farmers markets and operates a CSA.

Located in Burnet County, Hairston Creek Farm is a 17-acre certified organic farm that was established in 1990. Gary and Sarah Rowland, and their three children Benjamin, Dorothy and Henry, make an unbeatable team as they grow a variety of different products year-round. Rowland received his Bachelor of Arts in horticulture from Texas A & M University, did research for the extension service and served as chief agronomist for the Bermuda government.

Under the banner of Hairston Creek Farm, the Rowlands grow upwards of 50 products, comprised of mixed vegetables ranging from asparagus to zucchini. They start harvesting asparagus, greens and root vegetables early in the spring, then move onto green beans, squash and tomatoes. Through the hot summer, okra, peas, peppers, eggplant and melons are brought to market and fall brings more of the same. Finally, winter showcases broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower and wonderful Asian greens.

In addition to growing strawberries and blackberries, Hairston Creek Farm has a wild plum thicket with unique sweet and sour plums. A small flock of chickens also provide multi-colored, fresh yard eggs. The children even help Rowland collect and bottle honey from the five beehives on the property, a convenient source of pollination for the vegetable fields.

Another unique facet of Hairston Creek Farm is the certified kitchen that produces an array of jams, jellies, pickles and pestos. A variety of wonderful foods are used from the farm, resulting in interesting products like strawberry-jalapeno jam, cucumber-lime marmalade, cantaloupe-peach jam, mustang grape preserves and wild plum preserves. Not to mention, the bread and butter pickles are deserving of a county fair ribbon.

By running a CSA, Hairston Creek Farm makes subscription-style farming a reality in Austin. Customers can pay weekly and in turn receive a fresh box of sumptuous goodies including fruits, vegetables, eggs and even flowers. This way of selling produce allows the farmers to plant ahead and guarantees a real commitment from the consumer. On the flip side, the buyer is ensured some of the freshest produce available, and given the special opportunity of reconnecting to the land and the people growing the food.

To some, a farmer’s way of life may seem easy, but the reality is that it requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Therefore, it is extremely important to support local farms like Hairston Creek, so that the reality of organic and sustainable produce remains an option for us all. For more information about Hairston Creek Farm, be sure to visit http:/www2.moment.net/~hcf.

Pamela Boyar has been working with organic farmers for 23 years. She started a fresh-pressed juice company in 1980 and in 1986 began distributing organically grown produce directly from the farmers to the restaurants in California. Committed to support and promote the small family farm, she’s currently the director of Westlake Farmers Market, which she established in 1997. It’s the highest grossing farmers’ market in Texas. To find out more, visit www.westlakefarmersmarket.com.