Today we’d like to introduce you to Sapling Farms.
Sapling Farms, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up on a farm in India, watching my parents grow a variety of crops. So naturally, I became involved in our family farm and learned the basics of farming and how beneficial it can be for your body and mind. When I moved to America in the 1990’s, I started growing a few plants in the balcony of my apartment, which eventually expanded into a mini garden in the backyard of my house. What started as a way to be self-sufficient and eat healthy eventually turned into way more produce than we needed! I started giving it away to friends and neighbors, who shared my passion for eating healthy and encouraged me to turn my passion into a profession! I would have never thought that I would receive so much support for something I started as a way to keep my family healthy, but I know that there is nothing I would rather do than this!
Has it been a smooth road?
Even though I grew up on a farm and grew my vegetables for years, there were a lot of obstacles and challenges as I started and grew my business. For starters, I was unsure about where I could find land to farm with good soil that was close enough to my potential customers. Finding help was another big challenge because I couldn’t find enough people that were passionate about working on a farm in our crazy Texas weather. Growing up in India, I wasn’t exposed to all the vegetables that grew here or the extreme weather conditions, so it took time to learn about other vegetables that my customers requested and how to grow things year-round. Similarly, controlling pests, especially during grasshopper season, has been the hardest part of organic farming. I also started with limited funding and resources, so it has been a challenge to make budget decisions and execute my big plans.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Sapling Farms is a family run farm located in Sanger, Texas. We aim to grow fresh produce locally using natural organic principles and make healthy eating accessible to families and communities in the DFW Metroplex area. We bring our produce, chicken and duck eggs, honey, jams, salsa, pickles, and other seasonal items to weekly farmer’s markets through the area. We also offer a CSA program for members to get a portion of each week’s harvest. We are most proud of the fact that we are a woman owned farm, and our customers always buy directly from the farmer or a family member. What sets us apart from other farms in the area is that we offer a wide variety of vegetables, including some very unique Indian and Asian vegetables. Our main goal is to continue to grow a community of supportive customers and help them eat fresh, local, and healthy.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think major cities all over the U.S. require passionate farmers and farms that grow local, organic produce. Unfortunately, finding a good place to farm in a city like Dallas is difficult, which is why we had to expand our own search. For anyone starting out, I would recommend finding a place where you are surrounded by a community of supporters because they will ultimately motivate you to keep working hard. However, I think major cities like Dallas could welcome more farms by providing land for small farmers to grow their business within city limits.
Who also deserves credit? Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business? If so – who are they, and what role did they plan / how did they help.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of so many members of my community. First and foremost, I’d like to thank our friends Randy Smith and Dr. Ed Wolski for being generous and letting me use the land I farm on. I would also like to thank Leon Sloan for being a wonderful mentor and friend, guiding and helping me through this entire process. I’ve also been blessed with a wonderful farmhand, Mike Jors, and intern, Alex Walford, who are the reason my farm is up and running today. Finally, I’d like to thank my neighbors and loyal customers, who have supported my since the beginning, by showing up to farmers markets and signing up for our CSA program.
Pricing:
- $720 for a CSA half-share
- $960 for a CSA full-share
Contact Info:
- Website: www.saplingfarms.com
- Phone: (760) 77 FRESH , (214) 929-2349
- Email: saplingfarms@gmail.com
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