Morris City Ordinances—Gardening, Greenhouses, Chickens, and Compost Morris City Ordinances were reviewed in 2009 for opportunities and limitations related to food and healthy eating initiatives. City ordinances were last updated in 2005 and currently comprise 777 pages. A few ordinances applied directly to Morris Healthy Eating follow. • No restrictions on gardening were noted, except that multi-family buildings and apartments cannot make business, trade, or industry off of gardens or conservatories. • A straightforward procedure is outlined for obtaining a permit for a greenhouse or nursery. • The only animals that are permitted are cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, household birds, and horses that are affiliated with UMM Saddle Club. No farm animals or reptiles are permitted. While many cities are providing opportunities for backyard chicken co-ops where urban residents raise their own eggs, chicken co-ops are not allowed in Morris within the current ordinances. • All compost material must be stored in containers that are clean, rust-resistant, water tight, non- absorbent, washable, and closed.
Morris Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)—Easy Bean CSA Member Survey Easy Bean Farm is one of two Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms delivering a box of vegetables each week to families in Morris. Easy Bean provides summer deliveries (early June to mid-October) from their Montevideo, Minnesota farm, while Garden Goddess Produce offers winter shares from their Milan, Minnesota low-input greenhouse and stored root crops. Both local CSAs deliver through Pomme de Terre Food Co-op. The Pride of the Prairie directory lists additional CSAs in the region including Plentiful Visions Farm in Glenwood, Minnesota, and Ploughshare Farm in Alexandria, Minnesota. Easy Bean CSA participants were surveyed to better understand the benefits and barriers of the program.
Key Findings— • CSA members join to support local farmers, create connections in the community, and gain access to organic vegetables. • An average of 40 percent of members’ food came from their CSA produce during the growing season. • CSA cost is not a barrier to individuals, especially if shares are split between families. • Greater advertising may result in more families having access to fresh vegetables from a CSA. Fifteen Easy Bean CSA members were surveyed when they picked up their CSA shares in August 2009. The average length of their CSA membership was six years. Members indicated that the biggest motivator for joining the CSA is supporting local farmers, followed by creating connections in the community, and gaining access to organic vegetables. The barriers to joining the CSA included getting to the pick-up location on time, the impact of the weather, and financial concerns about expense and value. In general, members indicated that they were satisfied with the pick-up times, location, and social environment, as well as the price, quality, and variety of the produce received. Access to fresh, high quality vegetables was the most often cited benefit. As noted in the key findings, CSA cost is not a barrier to individuals, especially if shares are split between families. The main dislikes cited were that individuals were not always able to use all of the produce in a week due to the large amount received, and a lack of control over the amount of certain items they received (some individuals wanted more or less of certain vegetables). CSA shares provided a significant amount of the members’ food for the week: an average of 40 percent of members’ food came from their CSA produce during the growing season. Nearly three out of four (70 percent) of the survey respondents indicated that they heard about the CSA through word of mouth. CSA advertising was perceived as very limited to non-existent. Additional advertising could generate greater interest and demand for CSA shares in the Morris area.
CSA members pay an annual fee before the growing season begins to buy a “subscription” in a farm. In return, they receive a weekly delivery of produce through the growing season. CSA members share the risk with the farmer and reap the benefits or misfortunes of the growing season. Most CSAs sell a full or half share. Easy Bean’s weekly boxes usually contain 10–15 different vegetables in addition to herbs, heirlooms, and a few unusual varieties of vegetables.
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COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENT