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Writer's pictureTim Freed

Meet the Family Behind the Farm

Updated: Feb 16


Tim and Kathryn Freed at the Freed Family Farm
Tim and Kathryn Freed at the Freed Family Farm

Tim and I have been married for 12 years. We began gardening several years ago when the opportunity to purchase a large plot of land in Shenandoah, where we live, came to Tim's attention. It was a good price and offered extra space for our growing family. Raising pre-teen boys, we needed all the space we could get. Additionally, gardening felt like a good use of summertime, since both of us were classroom teachers at the time. We also desired to know more about the food we were eating and work toward a healthier lifestyle.


However, what started as a little experiment, quickly became a passion. Along with a vegetable garden, we planted fruit trees and bushes. Tim made jam the way his mom had taught him. I asked for a pressure canner so we didn't need to freeze all our produce. Our deep freezer could only hold so much and I was eager to save more and more for the non-growing seasons. We have canned bone broth, tomato sauce, beans, corn, and peaches (along with the original jam). We have tried some things that didn't work out for us, and we have learned a lot.

girls feeding each other mulberries
Our daughters sharing a few mulberries.

As we have grown our garden, Tim and I have enjoyed watching our children learn and grow alongside us. Dirt, sunshine, plants, and bugs have made for some of our most treasured family memories. The value of knowing how plants grow and where food comes from was only a part of the importance of being in the garden each summer. We want to be the people who spend time together, outside.


Last year, Tim and I decided to sell some of our produce at the Shenandoah Farmer's Market. It was fun to meet more farmers and swap stories. We were also able to gain knowledge and advice from them--there is so much knowledge hidden within people to be brought forth and used in gardening. It became clear that helping others enjoy fresh, local food was important, and Tim and I want to be a part of making that happen.


This is how our dream of starting a CSA started - an opportunity to partner with local Shenandoah, IA, folks who want to enjoy fresh produce in a way that benefits both the farmer and the consumer.


~ Kathryn

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