Growing for the Greater Good
By: Paige Nelson
“To have good food, you have to be able to grow food,” says Ada Broussard, Marketing and CSA Manager at Johnson’s Backyard Garden.
Brenton Johnson began growing his own food because of that reason. He wanted good, whole food. He believes in food, that is regenerative giving back to the soil and ultimately, the environment. So, he started a garden in his backyard.
Johnson’s Backyard Garden, or JBG, began as a small garden in Johnson’s backyard, but quickly took over both his side and front yards, according to Broussard. Johnson had more vegetables than he knew what to do with, so he started selling them at the downtown Farmer’s Market in Austin. He quickly realized there was a need for expansion in order to sustain the current level of production.
In 2006 Johnson purchased 20 acres of land to expand the farm. Four years later, he purchased more, bringing the JBG farm to a total of 186 acres, growing over 200 different crops.
“We have a volume of vegetables that can really put a dent into the local food system,” Broussard says.
Because of the mass quantities of vegetables that JBG was producing, Johnson created a program called Community Supported Agriculture, also known as CSA. This program delivers boxes of mixed vegetables directly to people’s homes around Austin.
When it began, the CSA program had about 30 members. Today they have over 1,500 active members, Broussard says.
JBG has grown from a tiny backyard garden on Holly street, to a farm that is making a difference in the Austin food system. Getting the vegetables from the ground to the CSA boxes is a process.
It begins with planning. The team determines how many seeds need to be ordered, then plants those seeds and waits for vegetables to grow. After the harvest, the veggies are cleaned and packaged in individual boxes. When complete, the boxes are delivered to CSA members.
Even with a crew of over 100 men and women, JBG still needs assistance. Not only do they need help with the everyday tasks of the farm, but they also want the community to be a part of their overall mission.
“We’ve had volunteers help us do everything, from making our first beds to planting crops, and packing our first CSA boxes,” Broussard says.
Catherine O’Brien, a volunteer for JBG farm says that she loves how JBG integrates farming with community by inviting people to volunteer and providing an opportunity for them to learn about agriculture.
“It creates a sense of community around a greater good for the environment,” O’Brien says.
JBG has served many people throughout Austin, but it isn’t just about the vegetables they are selling and the money they are making. It’s about the community they are building.
