Cable Creek sharing bounty with community

Cable Creek Farm, Community Supported Agriculture by Laura Umthun Down to Earth NW Correspondent Cable Creek Community Supported Agriculture Farm is truly a “farm-to-consumer” effort. Located at 3866 S. Stateline Road in Post Falls, Idaho, the historic farm was homesteaded in the late 1800s by John and William Cable. Dave and Beth Tysdal bought the property in 2006 and opened it to the public in 2009. The Tysdals have worked hard to restore the Gothic-looking barn which was originally built in the 1940s, and have made numerous other improvements. Beth Tysdal said the concept behind a Community-Support Agriculture, or CSA, is that the freshest, healthiest foods available are most often those that are grown organically, picked in-season, and able to travel the shortest distance from the farm to your table. “It is also a commitment to support those who farm sustainably and who produce food in a way that actually adds to, rather than detracting from, the health and vitality of the land,” said Tysdal. Members can buy a “subscription” to a CSA so they can receive farm-fresh foods on a weekly basis throughout the growing season. The Tysdals currently have 20 member/subscribers, plus a waiting list of 50, and have been very happy with their initial success. When a share of Cable Creek’s farm-fresh produce is purchased, a member receives 20 weeks of fresh, locally-grown, mostly organic produce; a dozen free-range eggs; other farm harvests such as herbs and flowers; a newsletter with information about your food and what to expect in the next week’s share; and an open invitation to visit the farm to see first-hand how the food is grown. She explains that farming sustainably means crop rotation; composting all yard, garden, animal and household waste; growing cover crops in the off-season to provide green compost that is tilled back into the soil; and finding natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers and herbicides. “We do not use any pesticides in our garden,” says Tysdal. According to the Tysdals, there is a big difference between Cable Creek’s chickens and “free range” chickens purchased at many stores. “Free-range chickens sold in the store simply means each chicken is not confined to its own cage,” says Tysdal. The chicken might be and generally is packed body-to-body with other chickens in a larger cage, but because the chickens can move around, they’re still considered “free range.” The only food available to these chickens is a daily ration of pellets. At Cable Creek, it’s different. “Our chickens scratch the earth, eat their fill of grasses and bugs, help themselves to grains as they desire, and get the exercise necessary to build lean, healthy muscle mass,” Tysdal said. When a share of Cable Creek’s farm-raised meat is purchased a member receives a monthly or quarterly delivery of local, pasture-raised, grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free meat and a variety of beef cuts including steaks and prime cuts and various sizes of whole chicken. “We are a co-op for beef,” says Tysdal. “We sell shares of a whole beef, have it processed, divide it up, and deliver it to our shareholders.” Cable Creek sells half shares, which are perfect for couples and families with young children, or a full share, great for families with four to five members. Another advantage to shared ownership is free delivery to homes and offices within five miles of downtown Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Hayden. It is possible to pick up an order at the farm. Cable Creek also books events like weddings, farm shows, and even offers classes on backyard farming. This year they plan to have opportunities to meet local farmers and food producers to help people expand their options for buying locally.