Past Features
Featuring: Angela Tedesco
M.S. in Horticulture - 1995
While attending Okalahoma State University (in her home state and another lifetime) Angela Tedesco's favorite class was botany. She felt twinges of curiosity every time she walked past the campus greenhouses. It took another 25 years to pay attention to those "horticultural stirrings" and she decided to attend Iowa State University for her Masters in Horticulture. Angela grew up on a farm in Oklahoma that always included a large garden that fed the family of seven year round. Those were the testing grounds for growing food that tastes good. She feels those years contributed to her current horticultural interests.
Other than a few college years, Angela was never without a backyard garden. The addition of two children, a degree in chemistry, and a time as director of religious education made her even more interested in the quality of our food sources. Because that is of interest to so many people these days, it is the foundation of her business Turtle Farm.
Angela is the current owner of Turtle Farm, which grows organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers to sell as community supported agriculture shares to people interested in receiving wholesome, fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce. Her farm is located in Granger, Iowa and serves the Des Moines metro area. The year 2005 will be Turtle Farm's tenth season. The farm is located on Highway 17 at Granger on the east side of the road, just 1/2 mile north of Highway 141. Because the farm is organic (certified by IDALS) and seeks to cooperate with Nature, no genetically modified crops are grown, and no synthetic chemicals are used. Compost and cover crops are used for fertility, and beneficial insects are encouraged with habitat and food. Varieties are grown for flavor and nutrition and harvested at their peak. Deep well irrigation is available.
The majority of her customers are members of her community supported agriculture (CSA) project who sign up for the season to receive a box of produce each week.
Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a partnership between growers and consumers that seeks to recognize the importance of healthy food and the manner in which it is grown. Consumers (or CSA members) share costs of supporting the farm, including the risks. In turn, members receive locally grown, fresh, wholesome food grown in a sustainable and responsible manner by a farmer that they know. Produce hasn't traveled across the continent and is generally harvested the day of delivery. Opportunities are available to reconnect people with the earth, the rhythms and beauty of nature, and the physical and spiritual rewards of direct contact with the soil. A CSA promotes biodiversity, education, and the role of agriculture in the community. It helps to assure the continued existence of the local producer of these food products by allowing the farmer to receive the whole food dollar. There are currently 125 members in the CSA. A farm stand and U-pick berries are also a part of the farm. Angela says "the more I learn about farming and some great farmers, the more Ia m awed and honored to be a part of such growing adventures."
"Turtle Farm makes me attuned to where my food comes from." Turtle Farm CSA Member
After graduating from Iowa State, Angela was one of the founding members of Iowa Network for Community Agriculture and she is currently serving on the board of Practical Farmers of Iowa. She continues to be interested in organic agriculture and local food issues.
Angela currently lives in Johnston, Iowa with her husband John. They have two adult daughters, Amy who lives in Denver and Kristin who lives in SanFrancisco.
For additional information on Turtle-Farm, go to www.turtle-farm.com
