In 2010, Sharon Leopardi founded Backyard Urban Garden Farms “to grow and direct market local, fresh, healthy, and happy food to people in the Salt Lake City” (from the website at Backyard Urban Garden Farms |). Sharon and her partners grow a variety of heirloom fruits and vegetables, as well as a series of micro greens, in seven small backyard plots throughout Salt Lake City. They utilize Spin farming techniques, which maximizes yield and variety on sub-acre plot sizes. In addition to supplying fresh chemical free, sustainably produced vegetables to several local restaurants, BUG Farms offers an opportunity to share in the harvest bounty each growing season through their CSA program.
For those that may be unfamiliar with CSA programs, it is ‘community supported agriculture’. Here is how it works. Each year, prior to the growing season, you have the opportunity to purchase a share (or half share) of the season’s harvest. As the crops ripen through the growing season, the fresh produce is divided among the shares and distributed either through delivery, or for pick up. The weekly allotment is determined by the growing cycle of each crop, and each week you will find a new variety of greens and vegetables in your share.
This past season, which is soon drawing to a close, the weekly shares have been fresh, original and varied. Each week uncovered a delicious culinary adventure, and a bonus recipe to best use the week’s harvest. Among the items were Red Arrow Radish micro greens, Golden and Early Wonder beets, Red Russian kale, Thai and Purple Ruffles basil, Mixed Rainbow carrots, and Walla Walla onions. Sharon took time each week to describe the harvest conditions, the upcoming crops, and provide original and borrowed recipes to prepare the weekly produce.
As the new kid on the block along the Wasatch Front, BUG Farms is raising the bar for both the quality and value of the shares, but also the level of service to the shareholders. Not only are they producing beautiful vegetables, fruits, herbs, and greens, but also doing it on what would typically be abandoned, under-utilized urban land plots.
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