Summer may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean that farming is set to stop anytime soon. With kids back in school and the grind in full swing, why not grab some veggies and herbs from our September featured vendor and use them to create a wonderfully flavorful meal? This month, we are highlighting our friends at Lovefood Farm!
The owners of Lovefood — the Bachhuber family!
Farming with Intention
Lovefood is a family farm that produces herbs and vegetables in Stoughton, WI (only 9.5 miles away from Vitruvian Farms!). The first iteration of Lovefood was in 2015 on 1 acre that owners David and Abby Bachhuber rented in Sun Prairie, WI. Shortly after, they transitioned to the Farley Center Farm Incubator in Verona, WI, where, for 3 years, they received education and hands-on training to learn how to run an organic farm. In 2018, they purchased the 30 acres they farm on today.
With the help of their daughter (Soleia), their dedicated field team, and their professional farm cuties (Luca the dog and Matilda the cat), the Bachhubers grow approximately 70 different veggies and herbs! They distribute their produce to the greater Madison community via grocery stores, restaurants, their seasonal farm store, and the Eastside and Dane County Farmer’s Markets.
Like Vitruvian Farms, Lovefood offers a CSA program where shoppers can directly support their farmers while receiving a weekly or biweekly box of fresh herbs, greens, root vegetables, and more throughout the growing season.
Lovefood’s philosophy is that they “aim to grow food with intention.” They believe that the quality of food is influenced by the attention put into growing and preparing it. With their whimsical spirit, Lovefood imbues joy into their produce. We think you really can taste the love that goes into their food (haha, get it?😉).
Love Your Land, Love(Your)Food!
Being southeast of the Yahara River and Lake Kegonsa, Lovefood is in the perfect place to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the natural world. They are fortunate enough to host plenty of native wildlife on and above their land, especially birds like sandhill cranes, geese, and pelicans.
They are also grateful for their fertile soil which allows them to grow high-quality produce. They conserve this soil by employing farming practices like soil testing, cover cropping, crop rotation, and compost applications.
Lovefood has been certified organic since they started farming in 2018. Since the land had previously been kept in pasture and was free from synthetic inputs for at least 3 years, the Bachhubers were able to certify their land immediately.
This was a huge asset because certification meant that Lovefood could use the USDA Organic label right away. Other aspiring organic farmers who start on land that had been more recently treated with prohibited inputs need to wait at least 3 years to become certified, meaning that even if they follow organic guidelines, they cannot call their food “organic.”
A gorgeous photo from the beginning of Lovefood’s Farm in 2018.
Available at the Farm Store
We are proud to offer a variety of herbs from Lovefood, (exact availability dependent on season and stock) including:
Bay Leaves
Chives
Mixed Herbs
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Tarragon
Thyme
Tell Me More!
Want to learn more about Lovefood? View their website here
Want to shop their products in the Farm Store? Shop online here
Check out some of Lovefood’s recommended recipes for CSA produce here!
Credit for Photo 1 — Lovefood
Credit for Photos 2, 3, and 4 — @lovefoodfarm on Instagram