Where does the Flagstaff CSA produce come from?

The FCSA supports farmer Frank Martin of Crooked Sky Farms in Glendale, Arizona. Due to the constraints of urban development, Crooked Sky Farms consists of several plots of land throughout the Phoenix metro area. Crooked Sky's home base is an 18.75-acre plot on Bethany Home Road and 83rd Avenue. Frank also has a 9-acre citrus orchard in South Phoenix and another 15 acres with grains and vegetable crops near the main farm.

Frank also has two green houses, two 20 by 150 hoop houses. The greenhouses are mostly used to start plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants during early spring When the temperatures start to heat up, he takes off the plastic and puts up a shade cloth to provide protection to crops like lettuces. Since the green houses aren't sealed all year round, there are few pest problems.

Urban farming is no easy task, especially in the Arizona desert. Frank uses flood irrigation as well as drip irrigation to water his crops. He must compete with residential water usage, so he must choose crops that use little water and channel the water to use every drop.

Frank Martin uses sustainable agriculture methods to grow over 70 different crops each season. These methods work in natural balance with the land and avoid the use of chemically derived pesticides or herbicides. One way that Frank keeps harmful pests away from his vegetables is to let crops like arugula, dill, and mustard greens flower. These flowers in turn, attract ladybugs, birds, and pollinators. These creatures in turn feed on the harmful insects-a natural form of pest control. Another unique way of curbing pests on Crooked Sky Farms is to plow down a row of crops and let the birds come in to eat the seeds and bugs. Frank's strong belief in sustainability reaches beyond his use of land and water, as he provides a living wage for his farm crew on Crooked Sky Farms. Visit the Crooked Sky Farms webpage