Morning Star Garden based at Inn Serendipity in 2000 and 2001
From the Cooperative Enterprise Program between Inn Serendipity and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

Based at Inn Serendipity, Morning Star Garden is the upstart creation of grower and owner Amy Kremen and is made possible through a unique collaboration between Inn Serendipity and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) which established the Cooperative Enterprise Program. Merging resources and skills from both organizations, the Cooperative Enterprise Program provides young people enthusiastic about running a sustainable farming business an opportunity to transform their ideas into real operations.

Morning Star Garden is a diversified organic flower and vegetable farming operation which focuses on cut-flower production for its main cash crop. Crops are grown on raised beds and in rows using hand tools and a rototiller with emphasis on minimal mechanical tillage.

In 2001, Morning Star Garden expanded its operations and include two additional partners, Kristen Vetterlein and David Stanger. Farm fresh flowers and vegetables from Morning Star Garden are sold through three Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. These farms are Pleasant Hill Market Garden of Stoughton, Scotch Hill Farm of Brodhead and Shooting Star Farm of Mineral Point, all in Wisconsin. Morning Star Garden also sells flower subscriptions independently in the Madison and north-side Chicago area, and will attend farmers' markets in Monroe, Madison, Galena, Dubuque and Chicago. A subscription or "share" is an up-front payment made to Morning Star Garden which covers a bouquet of flowers or pack of vegetables delivered to specified drop-off points each week for the entire growing season.

Morning Star Garden is a participating member of the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT). CRAFT is a yearly program of organic and biodynamic farmers and market gardeners whose mission is to strengthen a farm intern's awareness of the nature and requirements of farming/gardening. Through orientation programs, monthly workshops, farm event calendars, intern exchanges and intern transition workshops focusing on second-year opportunities, CRAFT broadens the training of interns and enables them to experience the importance and power of forming close associations and a supportive community among their peers. For details about other intern opportunities with CRAFT member growing operations, contact the CSA Learning Center at Angelic Organics in Caledonia, IL by calling 815-389-8455, or e-mail Learn@AngelicOrganics.com