Table Top Farms was the topic of Thursday’s meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club. It was Ag Day with Chris Hoffman as the program chairman.
Aaron Stark and Andrew and Lisa Geiser presented the program about the farm to table venture, which is designed to make quality food available to many people. Stark and his wife, Michelle, and the Geisers will be producing 44 varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries on their farms, located north and southwest of Trenton. A total of 1 1/4 acres of land with 16 gardens will be in production this year. No synthetic herbicides or fertilizers are being used to “naturally grow” the items. The first produce – which would include things such as radishes and lettuce – is expected to be ready some time in late May.
There will also be pastured chickens available for sale and already 600 of the 1,000 chickens planned for this year have already been sold. The chickens, although caged, feed on the natural grass and are moved every 24 hours until they are about eight weeks, then they are moved twice a day until they are ready for processing. Their diet is supplemented with a non GMO feed.
Farm fresh eggs will also be available. They have 24 chickens in production at this time with the number expected to increase to 100 by mid-summer.
Persons will be able to purchase the locally grown produce, chicken and eggs from Table Top’s store, which will be located at the Stark farm, north of Trenton. Produce boxes can also be purchased on a weekly basis and a “chicken box” of four chickens is also available for sale every five weeks.
Stark said $100 cards will be available which can be used for purchases from the store. Persons who purchase the $100 cards in advance will receive a $25 gift certificate that they can keep for future purchases or give as a gift. Persons who buy the cards would also have priority in purchase of items from the farm.
Table Top Farms has committed to working with the Trenton R-9 School District’s Bright Futures program, providing food boxes for students in need and their families. Stark said customers would be able to make a donation at Table Top Farms that would be used to purchase foods for that program.
During the business meeting, members were reminded about donating shoes for the “Shoes for Orphan Souls” project. Shoes will be collected through the month of March, with each member being asked to bring at least two new pairs of shoes. The shoes can be left in the Rotary “shoe box” at the First Christian Church or brought to the Trenton Republican-Times newspaper office.
Next week’s program chairman is Donita Youtsey.
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