#3

Thank you for providing opportunities for sponsorship. Our family of three is in short-term financial need; my husband is a full-time graduate student, making me the bread winner. For the first two years of this journey, we were more financially secure as I had a full time teaching job. However, when Minnesota’s financial forecast was looking grim in 2011,my job was cut. Since then in my new position, I have only been able to make about half of my previous salary. While I enjoy my new job, I was warned from the start that it was only guaranteed funding until this June. So,I am already back to job hunting. At this time we make just enough to pay our monthly expenses (we are thankful to at least have that) but I pray that we will be spared from medical or car repair bills until we can get through this time. Our situation will improve in a couple years once my husband is graduated and working full time. When that day comes, it would be our pleasure to return such a blessing to another family. For now, receiving a gift of healthy food would help alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty.

#4

Hello, my name is XXXXX and i live with my boyfriend and our 4 dogs. For the past 3 years I've been trying my hardest to save up to enroll in the CSA share with no luck. I almost was able to 3 years ago but i suddenly lost my job due to health issues, that I'm still dealing with, so i had to pull that idea. I have several friends that partake in the CSA share and rave about it. Since losing my job I've been on a tight budget and last year, thanks to friends and family (which i wish i lived closer to help with their garden) sharing their garden with me and occasional stops at farmers market's, i fell in love with canning. I even made my grandma proud with my beginners luck. I love having garden "fresh" stewed tomatoes during the winter and I'm shocked at how much money I've been able to save (enough to get heating fuel) since i canned. I've been trying to cook more "whole" meals to be more healthy (and give my dogs their "treats" they love their veggies) and get back to my childhood farm days. I'd be truly thankful if i could receive a CSA sponsor that i would be happy to share any items i end up canning. Thank you for taking your time in reading this.

#5

My family and I have been members of this CSA for the last 3 years. We love and enjoy it so much! We just had a second baby in 2012 making us now a family of four. Currently my husband is finishing up his undergraduate degree (taking full-time credits) and working as many hours as he can at his job. In order to make that possible I had to resign from my job to stay home to care for our children. Supporting our family on one limited income has been challenging but we are creative! That's one of the many reasons why we love being members. With all of the vegetables we get over the summer and freezing or canning any extras for the winter it can really go a long ways. My kids really enjoy going out to the farm to do "picks" and "farming" the pumpkins, as my oldest son says, in the fall has to be our favorite! It feels so great as a Mom to know I am giving my kids the best and healthiest foods possible. My oldest loves to try new varieties of vegetables and I have been making lots of squash for his brother...yum yum! We would just be devastated to no longer be able to be members this year because we can no longer afford to participate. We have learned so much and made many wonderful friends. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to be sponsored and thank you for taking the time to read our story.
All we would require is a share or even a bi-weekly share (It is mostly myself and my kids who are around to eat the vegetables since my husband has to work long hours. we don't need much.)
Thanks again for your consideration,

#6

Hi my name is XXXX and i have been a member for 2 years, this past summer my husband, mom, and mother in law had to do harvest events together because i became pregnant with my 3rd and 4th child (Yes TWINS!) It was a lot to handle because i was brought to Abbott northwest hospital at 24 weeks because I had a rare set of twins that are called mono/mono twins, they shared everything in the womb, which gave them a very very low survival rate without constant monitoring. The doctors told me not to keep my hopes up for their survival.

I stayed for 2 months until they needed to be born at 32weeks because of cord entanglement and knots forming. They then stayed in the NICU for 4 weeks. This was a huge strain in our life since i am a stay at home mom with my other 2 we had no child c are for the kids and had to rely on family and friends to help us while i was 5 hours away in the hospital.

I have medical insurance but it does not cover all my expenses, our grand total was about my house x4 (400,000) we are now ALOT in debt because of medical expenses and your farm has been a blessing to us the past 2 years since we moved near Moorhead. My kids have learned about new foods and their names, we eat so healthy with your farm, and juice with your vegetables as well. We also jar and deep freeze for the winter, I would love for my new baby girls to enjoy your food as well as I will be making my own baby food :)  i am so grateful for their survival they are such tough girls but we really need help feeding our family because of the cost of our care. :(

#7

My wife and I have been a part of the farm for 2 seasons now and have absolutely loved it. We have enjoyed receiving the boxes every week, as well as coming out to visit the farm. At the end of last season, we immediately decided that we'd like to do it again this upcoming year. At about the same time, we learned that we will be adding to our family this summer. Our due date is July 7th.
That being said, our finances immediately tightened up and now our wanting to do the CSA is not a guarantee. Because of the hospital bills that are already piling up and all of the baby stuff we need to buy, we're not sure if we can afford it this summer.
We are hoping there is someone out there who would be able to help us with at least a portion of the cost. All of the wonderful vegetables, full of vitamins, are perfect for my wife and the baby, even after baby is born. We really want to continue to be a part of the farm and hope someone out there can help. Thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.

#8

#10

I would like to apply for a CSA Sponsor for a half share. My husband has prostate cancer and we are waiting to see if he requires further treatment after his surgery, and I have Breast Cancer and am currently going through chemo. I have not been able to go back to my job, so we are now a 1 income family. We currently have alot of medical bills from both of us, and will for some time.

We need to start eating healthy and see your farm as a blessing to fill that need. Last summer we were able to go with our daughter and her family to your squash/pumpkin picking event and had a great time.