Bill and Janice Schiedler have been married for 30 years, and along with their children, Nathan, Celia, Cheri, and Bill's mom, Cel, started Gardenripe. Now that the kids are grown, Bill and Janice work with four employees to plant, water, weed, pick, package and deliver your produce each week. Our farm is located northeast of Silverton at 700 feet elevation. It has been owned by our family for alm
ost 150 years and is designated a "Century Farm." In growing up on the farm, I have been involved with farming and, more importantly, gardening most of my life. I draw a distinction between farming and gardening, and Gardenripe is gardening! I enjoy the variety of work in a garden as compared with the commercial production of a single crop on the farm. My family and I invite you to join us in an arrangement called "Community Supported Agriculture" or "CSA". CSA provides a mutually beneficial arrangement between the farmer and the community. In exchange for financial support in the spring from you and other subscribers, we commit to provide fresh, healthy, locally grown produce throughout the growing season. Only organic fertilizers and natural pest and weed control methods will be utilized; no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides will be used. As a subscriber, you know how and where the food you eat is grown. I benefit by having a known outlet for produce before it is grown. This arrangement means healthier food for you and your family, and a better return to the farmer for my work so that I am better able to care for my family. It's a win-win situation! This will be the fourteenth year for our CSA which is based near Silverton and serves customers locally as well as from Salem north to Portland, including points in between.
