By Annie Rosemurgy | Photographed by Hillary Schave on location at Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
Everything that on-the-rise family-farm advocate Lauren Rudersdorf does is informed by her vision for “a food system that helps people eat well and doesn’t cause harm to the earth or our communities.”
For the past seven years Rudersdorf has helmed the business side of thriving CSA Raleigh’s Hillside Farm alongside her husband, Kyle Rudersdorf. In an era where making a living farming has become increasingly difficult, Rudersdorf’s willingness to innovate within the Community Supported Agriculture space has created a sustainable, vibrant business that continues to grow annually.
While Raleigh’s Hillside Farm flourishes, 2020 will be a year of growth and change for Rudersdorf herself. She’ll be lessening her role on the farm to expand her recipe blog, The Leek & The Carrot, and launch a video series aimed at helping beginning and aspiring farmers determine if CSA is the best business model for them.
She’ll also become a certified executive business coach and will begin coaching farmer clients on all aspects of creating and growing a sustainable, profitable small agricultural business.
Each of these exciting projects is deeply rooted in Rudersdorf’s commitment to support farmers, to encourage farm practices that keep both people and the earth healthy, and to promote the systemic change that will allow farmers to thrive financially in this endeavor.
“Lauren is taking the community-building aspects of CSA to a whole new level,” says Bethanee Wright, owner of Winterfell Acres farm. “She sees CSA farmers as teachers who highlight the relationship between land, food and people.”
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