Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Country Acres • Page 1
Country Acres Saturday, May 4, 2024
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gRoW,
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 11, Edition 06
Mother-son duo
harvest vegetables PHOTO BY SARA EISINGER
Lisa Beumer, of Cowgirl Acres, waters plants April 22 with her son, Cole, on their 7-acre farm near St. Cloud. The Beumer family grows more than 40 varieties of fruit and vegetables to offer in a Community Supported Agriculture program.
Community Supported Agriculture program gives Lisa Beumer a chance to teach her son about life, farming raised their children on the 30-acre family farm, and Beumer shares that life with her son. ROCKVILLE — “It means the world to Cowgirl Acres is a Commu- involve him in the CSA,” nity Supported Agriculture Beumer said. “With socibusiness situated on apety the way it is, I want to proximately 7 acres of land provide the best form of near Rockville that allows parenting I can by sharing Lisa Beumer time with her my morals, values and what 2-year-old son, Cole, doing farming means to me.” what is near and dear. Cole picks up eggs and “I am a cowgirl by cherry tomatoes in the sumheart, true and true,” Beum- mertime, and he helps feed er said. “From the time I goats. Last year, he helped was 3, I have been barrel with raising pumpkins. racing. Life on the farm has On a typical day, Cole been my ultimate joy. Cole can be found watering is my mini-me.” plants, sitting on the back Beumer’s parents, of a horse or pulling a red Floyd and Vergie Beumer, wagon filled with sticks BY SARA EISINGER STAFF WRITER
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and dried up sunflowers. Mom is always nearby, teaching Cole about life on the farm. Together, they raise vegetables and fruits, and poultry, pigs and goats. They sell chicken, pork, goat meat, eggs and more. Beumer also sells gourd birdhouses, loofah gourds, jams, jellies and goat soap at the St. Cloud Area Farmers Market. “Quality matters,” Beumer said. “While there are a lot of options out there, a thoughtful and important part of our farm is our animal welfare. … “We are actively advancing our animal care programs.” Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, leeks, carrots, artichokes, potatoes, herbs, melons and strawberries are among the 40 varieties of fruit and
COUNTRY: Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on May 18, 2024
vegetables grown without pesticides at Cowgirl Acres. “I am 100% natural,” Beumer said. “I am not certified organic, because I cannot buy hay organically. It is small town and small family love that goes into what we grow.” People who join the CSA program receive weekly or bi-weekly deliveries. They purchase a 10- or 14-week subscription. Beumer page 2
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Family of Blue Saddle Farm is bound by horses Brandon
nosis 15 Parkinson’s diagnosis founds Shaky Rigs Benson
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Time well spent Tiffany Klaphake column
18 Translating what Dad said Nancy Packard Leasman column
11 A lilac labyrinth Cold Spring
19 Country cooking St. Cloud 21 Old parts bring new life Pierz