It may sound crazy for a person to establish a farm in a place where a frost occurs every day, but farmer Sarahlee Lawrence was up to the challenge. Located in the high desert of eastern Oregon, Rainshadow Organics farm has seen tremendous growth since it was founded 25 years ago.
On 130 organic acres, Lawrence grows flour, vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers. Her farm supports a thriving, year-round CSA, sells at three farmers markets, and supplies a handful of restaurants and grocery stores. Needless to say, this desert-based organic farm is flourishing.
“I came to farming at a time when my family was really needing help,” Lawrence said in an interview with Organic Connections. “It was also at a time when I was reading Michael Pollan and starting to have a better understanding of the food issues and what we’re faced with right now: how to create good, clean, fair, local food for as many people as possible.”
After diving head first into organic farming, Lawrence experienced a steep learning curve. From understanding the importance of microorganisms in the soil, to discovering how to handle pests without the use of chemicals, at the age of 30 she has grown into an expert biodynamic farmer.
Read more in Organic Connections.