Loyal to Local: Down to Earth Farm
The Riverside Arts Market (RAM), now in its 14th year, is a weekly makers and farmers market hosted by Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., rain or shine. Each week more than 100 small business owners gather under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge to sell their products to the local community. Keep reading to learn more about some of the incredible vendors that make RAM a must-visit part of every Saturday.
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the number of U.S. farms has continued to steadily decline since the early 1980s. In just a 15-year span America lost around 200,000 farms, with only 2 million remaining in 2022, the data showed.
Challenging these statistics through their passion for farming are owners of Down to Earth Farm and husband and wife, Brian and Kristin Lapinski. The Jacksonville natives decided to answer their years-long calling to the slow food movement and start Down to Earth in 2007 after seeing the urban agricultural void in their hometown. Nestled on two acres on Jacksonville’s westside, Down to Earth grows a variety of seasonal produce and cut flowers for handmade bouquets.
More than ten years later, the Lapinskis commitment to and belief in vibrant, sustainably grown agriculture informs every aspect of their operation, from planting to harvesting and everything in between. The biggest difference? There are two more Lapinskis on the farm now: Brian and Kristin’s daughters have grown up on the farm, making it a family affair.
While farming in any part of the country is challenging today, it takes a particular level of commitment to sustainably grow crops in the wet, sandy Florida soil. But the Lapinskis are not deterred by this. Instead, they feel honored that their work grows food to nourish their community. Through the hard work of Brian, Kristin, dedicated interns and volunteers, and their daughters, they are able to offer a variety of vegetables, including arugula, broccoli, cabbage, kale, radishes, strawberries, zucchini, and more.
To meet their goal of growing produce in a way that’s gentle on the planet, Down to Earth follows organic farming practices. This includes using compost instead of chemical fertilizers and crop rotation, which helps to improve the soil and ward off pests. The result? A wide variety of healthy, delicious produce that’s sustainable for the land and the consumer.
If you’d like to get your hands on their delicious produce or beautiful bouquets, you can find Down to Earth each Saturday in farmers row at the RAM during their growing season. You can take pride in knowing that your produce is fresh, sustainable grown, and only traveled 10 miles from the farm to the market.
If you’d like to stay up to date with Down to Earth, be sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram. For more information about sustainable farming, volunteer opportunities or their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, email [email protected]. Are you interested in becoming a RAM maker in 2023? While applications are still open, the market is quickly reaching capacity for the remainder of the year. For more information and access to the application visit the Applications tab on RAM’s website. Please note that the market is currently at capacity for and therefore not accepting applications for: businesses, ceramics/pottery, clothes, jewelry, soap/body products, candles, cut flowers, macrame, and all food items. If this includes you and you’d still like to share your products with the market, please fill out the Future Vendor Interest Form.
By Elena Curtis
Outreach Manager, Riverside Avondale Preservation
Picture Credits – Down to Earth Farm
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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