Rising Phoenix Community Farm: Growing Greens, Building Community, and Planning for the Future
At Rising Phoenix Community Farm in Barnum, MN, Heather-Marie and her partner John are cultivating more than just vegetables; they’re growing a vibrant, resilient community rooted in sustainability and care. Now in their fifth season on the farm and Heather-Marie’s 15th year farming, the duo has transformed their 40-acre property into a thriving food source for CSA members, local restaurants, and neighbors who value fresh, local food.
This year, Rising Phoenix received a Grow Local Food Fund grant to help expand their greens production, a response to growing demand and the physical toll of harvesting. “We’ve spent so much time on our hands and knees with scissors, harvesting rows and rows of greens,” Heather-Marie explained. “It’s time to make it easier on our bodies and more efficient for the farm.”
The grant supported a multi-part upgrade to their greens operation, including:
- A bubbler system to gently clean greens before packaging.
- A specialized greens harvester that dramatically reduces harvest time.
- Shade cloths to protect delicate greens from summer heat.
- A converted washing machine that now functions as a salad spinner.
These tools are already making a difference. Heather-Marie demonstrated the greens harvester, which can clear a 50-foot row in minutes—a task that used to take hours. “It’s pretty slick,” she said. “We knocked down a whole bed in 15 minutes.”
Beyond efficiency, the upgrades are helping future-proof the farm. “I just turned 50 and my husband just turned 60,” Heather-Marie shared. “We’re thinking about how the farm evolves and how to make it easier on our bodies. These changes are part of that.”
The grant also builds on previous support from the Grow Local Food Fund, which helped transform an old dairy barn into a community space. With a raised cement floor and cozy touches like couches and string lights, the barn now hosts flower workshops, movie nights, fundraisers, and CSA events. “It’s become a really great gathering space,” Heather-Marie said.
Looking ahead, Rising Phoenix is planning to build a pavilion near the growing fields, which will be a space for farm-to-table meals, workshops, and outdoor events. “It’s fun having events in the barn,” Heather-Marie said, “but it’ll be nice to have a space where you can see the flowers and the fields.”
The farm’s approach blends innovation with deep care for the land. Using a market garden model, Heather-Marie rotates crops across five plots, incorporates cover crops like buckwheat and clover, and experiments with soil health strategies. “There’s always something new to learn,” she said. “It’s a constant evolution.”
Heather-Marie also added flower shares to the CSA this year, offering bursts of color alongside the vegetables. “It’s been a great experiment,” she said. “Flowers use a different part of my brain, and it’s been fun to explore that.”
For Heather-Marie, the Grow Local Food Fund is more than financial support; it’s a connection to a community that values local food and sustainable farming. “I love the program,” she said. “It’s a great way for Co-op shoppers to have a direct impact on farmers and growers in the area.” She’s invested in the program herself, serving on the selection committee in past years.
When you round up for GIVE!, a portion of your donation goes to support the Grow Local Food Fund, and our regional farms and food producers, like Rising Phoenix. Thank you for rounding up!
Learn more about Rising Phoenix at https://risingphoenixcommunityfarm.com/ and follow them at https://www.facebook.com/risingphoenixcommunityfarm/ and https://www.instagram.com/risingphoenixcommunityfarm/.