Dela and Tony Ends farm Scotch Hill Farm, a certified organic CSA farm near Broadhead, Wisc. Theirs is a charming ‘Charlotte Webb’ farm, the kind of small family farm in children’s books and produce advertisements.
The two farm about 27 acres, 6 or 7 of those in veggies, the remainder in hay and grain to feed their animals. They provide produce to about 75 to 80 households via their CSA. In addition to produce shares, they sell eggs, flowers, and homemade goat milk soap.
But they don’t just farm. This couple has been involved in advocating for organics and rural values for the past 15 years. They’ve traveled several times to Africa, to Senegal, as organic farming instructors for Farmer to Farmer. They started to fight CAFOs before the general public even knew the challenges they bring to neighbors. Dela has advocated for the Cookie Bill most recently, and she was the first woman farmer in her area on the Soil Sisters tour. Dela helped start a local chapter of the WI Farmers Union and mentors beginning women farmers of all ages.
She’s a farmer activist who loves the peace of living on the land, the beauty of flowers and the colors of rainbow chard. She loves animals. She homeschooled her four kids and started to farm because she cared about her kids knowing where food comes from and how to grow it. Son Micah and his wife Miranda have started the M&M Goat Dairy at Scotch Hill Farm; they raise about 50 milk goats and sell their milk to Montchevre Goat Cheese.
Dogs, cats, chickens, a sheep, lots of goats, and three pigs — they are all raised with love at Scotch Hill Farm.
~~~
Your family food dollars are Little Green soldiers for Good. Spend them directly with your local farmers via CSA or at the Madison farmers’ markets. Check out the Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas for farm and farmers’ market listings across Wisconsin, or Local Harvest for listings nationwide.
~~~
5 Minutes on the Farm was recently awarded a silver 2016 Excellence in Journalism award from the Milwaukee Press Club for Best Long Form Feature Story in the Audio category.
Photographs by Julie Garrett. Banjo by Cathryn Herlihey. Logo by Katie Hess.