At Echollective Farm, responsible farming means prioritizing the ecosystem and community alike.
“So often, the conversation can go far in either direction and not include the other,” said farmer Molly Schintler.
To nourish the planet, Echollective uses organic farming practices and intentional conservation methods. They promote biodiversity by cultivating a robust crop rotation and leaving wild spaces on the farm, including ½ acre of pollinator prairie. ‘
Nourishing people starts with the farm’s own employees.
“You can be an organic farmer and not pay your workers a livable wage,” Schintler said.
Schintler acknowledged that the food system is extremely imbalanced, with little profit trickling back to producers. She and her farm partner, Derek Roller, aren’t able to pay themselves nor their workers as much as they’d like–what they’d consider “fair”. They do take care to provide a livable wage, however.
Likewise, they recognize those struggling to access food in the community as underpaid laborers, like themselves, who aren’t compensated sufficiently to afford life in the Corridor.
“I would never want someone to not have access to our food because of that,” Schintler said.
Schintler and Roller work intentionally to make Echollective Farm’s products more accessible. They have accept SNAP, EBT and WIC dollars at their “pop-up sales,” in addition to providing several other initiatives geared at creating change.
Learn about other produce stands in the area.
Perhaps the most unique is Echollective Farm’s “sliding scale” CSA model. Members pay for their weekly share depending on what they can afford. Some pay just a few dollars a week. Those who live more comfortably pay full price, or may even opt to contribute to “solidarity shares.” Every member gets the same fresh, high-quality produce every week.
Schintler and Roller work to promote food justice beyond their own farm as well. They are strong activists, encouraging local food colleagues to “dream beyond the oppressive systems we are currently within.”
Echollective aims to create more space to critically examine not just our food system’s impact on soil and worms, but on BIPOC, young and otherwise disadvantaged farmers. They hope to not only grow food, but to push for a system where local foods are “scaled up” sufficiently to become accessible to everyone in the community.
“It doesn’t have to be this way because it always has been,” she said.
Schintler invites consumers to take a more active role in bettering the local food system as well. While investing in local food through purchase is certainly helpful, she believes it’s not enough to transform the broken food system. Reading up on the issues, attending food policy council meetings and reaching out to representatives could make a more significant impact.
“I would love to see more consumers engage beyond the idea of ‘vote with your fork’ or ‘vote with your dollar,’” Schintler said. “The issues are so big and very real in eastern Iowa. We’re not going to eat our way out of it.”
“We have to actually change policy and talk to one another, get to know people who eat differently than we do to find solutions that work for everybody.”