If finances are a real problem, which is totally understandable during this hard economic time, you are invited to apply for a CSA sponsor.  Just supply your name, address and phone number, which I will keep confidential, and your story.  Tell of your situation and the need you have for this CSA share. Also tell what size CSA share you need.   I will post your story on this page.  Based on your story, anyone can decide to sponsor your CSA for you!!  If you allow, it would be cool if your sponsor called you with the good news.   Otherwise, I can let you know the good news.

Once someone is sponsored, I will highlight their story so we know their need has been fulfilled.  (This could become a real celebration page!!)   Unless the sponsor wants to remain anonymous, we will add their name as the awesome sponsor!!  One never loses by giving!!!

#1

Our first one to take part in the food share program is a single mom and her son from the Moorhead area.  She and her son both have ADHD and he has some behavior issues.  The mom struggles with her weight and they both want to take on a healthy diet.  They would be thrilled if someone would sponsor them in a half share!  Let me know by phone 218-205-4739) or by email through this website if you would want to make their dream come true.  THANKS!!

#2

Our second food share story comes from a young couple in Grand Forks and their new daughter.  He was going to school in Grand Forks and had a great job as a store manager while attending school.  But the store consolidated and he lost his job.  At the same time, the new baby arrived.  They are now struggling with part time jobs making 1/4 of what they used to.  They really want a half share but can't afford it.  Since they are working, they don't qualify for housing assistance.  He is still going to school trying to finish his degree.  Let me know if you would like to sponsor this couple.  You can call me by phone (218-205-4739 or by email through this website.)  THANKS!

This amazing story of goodness will bring tears to your eyes.  A local couple is needing to relocate to western North Dakota since the husband was laid off from work a year and a half ago.  He has found a comparable job there.  They so much wanted to be part of our Summer CSA but are now moving.  But, in the midst of their own problems, they have chosen to sponsor #1 and #2!!  What amazing goodness!!  This is her message to both of them:

"In the midst of the difficult times you are going through, know that you are not alone. I am blessed to partner with you and hope that this sponsorship encourages and blesses you throughout this harvest season and beyond. Enjoy!! :)"

As a sponsor, they are invited to attend the farm harvest events.  I can't wait to meet them and give these incredible sponsors a giant hug!!  HATS OFF TO THEM FROM THE ENTIRE AREA!!!

If I missed someone's email who wants to be part of this food share, let me know.  I didn't mean to miss you!

#3

I would like to apply for the food share program. I am a single mother of two boys age 18 and 14. The 18 year old is a recovering drug addict which I had to put through drug treatment and that has put a financial burden on me to do that. While trying to do that I am trying to keep my 14 year olds life as normal as possible. Both boys suffer from ADHD. I personally struggle with my weight. And if that is enough my significant other has been diagnosised with multiple myloma. He has had 3 neck surgerys and has had a tumor removed from his side along with a rib. So right now it is my income that supports us. I know that with the fresh vegetables would be great source of vitamins that are very badly needed to help fight the cancer and give my boys the vitamins they need. So I would appreciate any help I could get with a full share.

#4

Hi! A friend posted your web-site on facebook and I went straight to it! I recently watched the documentary, Food Inc., and was mortified about the state of our food production in the US. My daughter and I vowed to seek out farmers markets this summer for anything we could get that was chemical and hormone free! What you have to offer sounds awesome! However, I am a single mom with one income and it will be tough for me to come up with the total amount for the half share at once. I read that you are willing to make arrangements. Can you let me know what my alternative options are? I would love to get in on this. Thanks!

We have an amazing couple from Fargo sponsoring this family.  I held off publishing this because I was hoping they would allow their name to be on the site.  This couple are great stand customers but they want to share the CSA with someone in need.  Such goodness abounds in the area.  Hats off to this amazing couple!!

# 5

Hello,

 Our family has recently grown and I (mom) am not employed during the summer months. We have adopted two special needs children (ages 3 and 5) both with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome so nutritional intake is very important to their growth and development. Both of our young children require several trips a year to the Twin Cities for appropriate medical care so we find ourselves taking many days off work in order to travel to these appointments.

 We also have two "homemade" children who are both in college and we are attempting to help them as much as we can in order for them to complete their education.

#6  A very kind man on a very tight budget has sponsored #6 just to show once again, how incredible the people of this area are!!

My name is *** and I am a 29 year old former student. This past December I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease after being in and out of hospitals all fall- well, not just fall, but all my life now that I think about it.

 After contracting H1N1 in September, I was not able to fight it off, and it turned into horrible bacterial pneumonia and secondary infection after infection. I couldn't walk and was constantly naseous/ill. The H1N1 took away any of the remaining few "good" bacteria in my gut left, which led to tons of antibiotics and suddenly I was having multiple concussions from loss of balance and falls, as well as being severely malnourished- my skin turned gray because my body wasn't digesting food properly- I was hospitalized with yet another infection and finally a endoscopy and blood test that revealed I had Celiac Disease. I had to quit school because I was so ill and couldn't digest food. Since then I have started to cook everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, from scratch! It has been so isolating. I become extremely ill for sometimes up to a week if I ingest gluten, and right now I am so sensitive I cannot add any "gluten-free" convenience foods because they all contain some level of cross contamination. My last cross-contamination was from the "natural flavorings" in some organic ground chicken from the market. So I am suddenly very in need of food that is connected to the earth and unprocessed.

 Needless to say, this diagnosis has FORCED me to learn all about the food I have been eating my whole life, and to see how much it correlates with how ill I have been continuing to get my whole life. I now realize why I have had a stomachache since the age of 5. This has been the hardest thing I have ever done- who knew I would feel so alone! Food does connect us all- and bring people together. I cannot go out to eat and have had to give away all my beauty products, toothpaste, even handsoap! I have had horrible rashes and dry skin since a young age, and now I know why.

 I struggle everyday and I need help. It has also been so hard to learn about the effects of industrial food- mostly because I have been so ill and medicated all my life- but still never HAD to question why I felt so horrible all the time. I just thought something was wrong with me personally! I have an endocrine disorder, bladder problems, and hormonal problems which has made me infertile and have embarrasing hirsutism. In the past I was pre-diabetic. I need to avoid all the pesticides I can and try, if possible, to heal my ovaries. I was also diagnosed with childhood depression and ADD and have been on many medications since I was about 17 (before the FDA issued it's black box warning on SSRIs- I was put on Paxil and took myself off of it because it made me feel so strange- only to have a dissociative episode and subsequent suicide attempt, which has since been proven a side effect of putting children on these medicines). I became eating disordered in my mid-teens, which I now see as a result of my own attempt at figuring out my gut problems gone awry. In fact, I believe all these health issues- both mental and physical- are related to undiagnosed Celiac. I am trying to be brave and to break a taboo about mental illness by writing this personal letter to show that it can all be connected to the body as a whole and not a brain/body divide. I am sure you all already know this- I, on the other hand, had to have a revelation in order to come to this conclusion.

 Only recently have I been forced to understand this due to my diagnosis and see a path to health by removing both the industrial food and industrial medications. Thankfully, I am starting to digest food! I would like to return to school and graduate before I am 30 (one of my life goals) but cannot see that happening now because in order to afford fresh food now that my savings is almost gone, I have to have a job, which would then likely cancel my health care through the state and make it impossible to return to school.

 I would like to apply for a food share program because quite honestly fresh fruits, vegetables, and pastured meats have saved my life these past 4 months- unfortunately I am unable to afford eating this way- and it becomes so disheartening because all these fresh foods really are healing my small intestine- which seems to be spreading good health all around my body! I want to continue to live in this holistic path with my health but fear terribly what I will do when I have no money. I struggle everyday and have no way but this way or else total illness and pain.

 On another note, I have gained and lost around 800 pounds in my lifetime, all as a result of cheaper food and the prescriptions that come with it. I want to be healthy and live a free life full of liberty... maybe even learn to farm someday! That is my dream now, knowing what nutritional healing has done. I would do anything, including working around the farm or helping in any way possible, in order to not go back to illness.

 I thought I was on the verge of death at a young age because of these intricate and interdependent illnesses. Now that I see I could have a real life like everyone else (I always wondered where some people got all there energy!), I will do anything. Please help me if you can or are willing.

 Sincerely and with much respect,