Who We Are—About the Bauer Family

Bauer in German means Farmer. We are farmers for the 6th generation, second generation in CA.  Having been born into a family that for generations that has shown great appreciation for the earth and all the blessings God has bestowed upon us we strive to be an ecologically friendly farm that firmly believes in being good stewards of the land.  Growing food does not require a specific educational degree, although some of us do.  Our ancestral heritage comes from the tending of plants and animals and with a little observation and much will be rediscovered and applied in this lifetime.

The growing of food is not only a neglected profession but also a lost art. The diminishing numbers of family farms in this country is testimony to our growing reliance on large-scale agri-business.  We are shamefully dependent and extremely vulnerable in this situation.  As world resources diminish, we must ask ourselves “Who will feed us, who will feed our children?”

We pride ourselves in choosing our vegetable varieties only according to their superb flavor, not length of shelf life.  As a family, we have often had larger than normal family gardens, sharing what we produced with neighbors and friends.  Now as an extension of what we have done for years, we offer a bit of our farming experience to you and the opportunity to become our neighbor and friend.  We are located in Snelling, a small farming community along the Merced River, in the Central Valley of California.

What do we do?
Like a book of the month club, except it’s “vegetables of the week!”  You pre-pay the season and in return, we supply you with 16-22 weeks of a variety of fresh vegetables, melons, herbs, berries, and more!  Each week’s selection has a different combination of items depending on the season. We share cooking tips, recipes, and farm updates in the accompanying weekly newsletter. Order your CSA on line and ensure your season's bounty of family variety produce. Subscriptions contain a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits each week. Average size is similar to a large paper grocery bag. One weekly share is enough to serve the vegetable needs of a family of 4-5 for a week. Organic egg subscriptions can be added or purchased separately for $5.00/dozen. We also offer natural honey in various sizes that may be purchased for an additional cost. Pick up at the farm by special arrangement. Local subscriptions only at this time. Pick UP schedule will be set according to what is most benificial for all, usually in North Merced.

What benefit can we offer you?
Food is an essential requirement in our daily life. Ultimately we all must play a role in providing food for ourselves, our families, and those that are unable to care for themselves. Prior to modern transportation and the current distribution system, of shipping food around the globe to meet the needs of a growing populace, communities like ours relied on home gardens and market gardens to supply their basic needs through the growing of annual crops and fruit trees. CSA reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium farms. CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters, which provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it.

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