Hail Storm at Common Good Farm

by Jackie Barnhardt, Outreach Educator

Severe weather in our area has impacted all of us to some degree. On June 4, a tornado hit Ceresco. That same night, 2-inch diameter hail hit Common Good Farm for about 20 minutes, destroying their crops, breaking out windows in chicken houses, riddling the greenhouse, and damaging multiple buildings. High winds damaged fencing and gates, and 28 chickens died from storm terror. Almost all the trees, including budding small fruit trees, have lesions. Ruth Chantry and Evrett Lunquist have been supplying Open Harvest with local farm goods since 1997 and have been educators in the community on organic and biodynamic farming. They are active members of Open Harvest and the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society.

Common Good Farm grows about 45 types of vegetables. They provide produce and eggs for Open Harvest in addition to running a CSA (community supported agriculture) where people join as shareholders/ members for the season, sharing a portion of the bounty and risk of the farm's production. This year, due to the storm, spring and summer crops for wholesale and restaurant accounts were lost. Evrett said "It was the most expensive 20 minutes I've ever been through in my life."

Their CSA members are feeling the risk side of the relationship of their harvest. Some vegetables have regrown, but are small and damaged. The family has lost time (and money) because of replanting and are admittedly physically tapped.

We asked how people can best support them now. Ruth said the support and appreciation of the farm and their efforts is overwhelming and they are grateful for that. They could use volunteers for workdays at the farm for weeding and other tasks (always!) and may need significant help later on if they can get materials and labor together for a barn raising, although this may be on permanent hold given the losses. Donations are accepted - old windows that may fit the chicken houses, or other items. Contact them at www. commongoodfarm.com or call 402-783-9005.