By Kate Bartlett
Dirt Rich Farm is a Certified Organic farm located in Springville, NY. Owned and farmed by WNY natives Laura Colligan and Ryan Leggio (pictured), the farm is entering its 10th CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) season with over 40 kinds of organic vegetables and culinary herbs.
Born and raised in Western New York, Laura became interested in organic farming after high school. She gained experience working small scale organic farms from 2012-2014 working in Michigan, Vermont, and the Hudson Valley. While Laura enjoyed her time in these fertile lands, she decided to return to WNY and start her own farm. Her parents agreed to let her farm ½ acre of their property while she searched for the ‘perfect land’ for this farm. “I was so grateful for this short-term solution,” says Laura. “My parents land in East Aurora was nutrient rich and provided great soil to start farming while I searched for more land to farm.”
Laura finally found this land in Springville where the farm is currently located, at 12318 Springville Boston Road. She bought 5 acres of property with good, rich, soil in 2018. “It was important for the farm to have well drained, gravely loam (soil that is in the happy medium between sand and clay) in order to be ideal for farming finicky vegetables.”
Her husband, Ryan, has a background in Culinary Arts along with a rich appreciation for the fruits of their labor. Graduating with a Bachelors in Culinary Arts Management from the Culinary Institute of America, Ryan has 10 years of experience working in various roles in the restaurant industry of Philadelphia and Buffalo. “As a chef, Ryan knows the difference fresh, quality ingredients make, and appreciates the sustainability of farming his own ingredients.” Ryan happily joined his wife in her farming journey.
Not long after acquiring the property, Laura and Ryan purchased a home in Springville and started planting roots in the community. They love hiking and birdwatching when they’re not farming, so they appreciate living so close to the outdoor recreation opportunities of Cattaraugus County.
the growing season (May-Oct) located at 12318
Springville Boston Road, in Springville, NY 14141.
As a teenager dreaming of starting a farm one day, Laura started writing down a list of potential farm names, and one of her first ideas was Dirt Rich Farm. The farm name is a play on the phrase “dirt poor,” which always stuck Laura as odd, since good soil is a major asset to a farmer.
Now entering its 10th season, Dirt Rich Farm is currently growing over 40 kinds of certified organic vegetables and culinary herbs on 2 ½ acres of land. The couple is dabbling in berries and fruit, including strawberries and raspberries, and recently planted apple trees. The farm has been Certified Organic since 2017.
Dirt Rich Farm has been offering their Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program for 10 years. “The idea behind the CSA,” explains Laura, “is that the farmer shares the harvest with the consumer. The consumer reaps the benefits of a good harvest year.” Buyers pay upfront for their season’s share of crop, and collect produce once per week during the 20-week growing season. Pick up locations are in Springville at the farm, or at the Hamburg Village Farmers Market. Buyers have the option of a sampler share, offering a choice of 4 items per week, or full share, where they’re welcome to as much produce they’d like every week.
Not only is the CSA a great opportunity for a fresh, organic, locally grown selection of produce, but it helps farmers with upfront costs. “Since buyers pay in the beginning of the season, it helps us farmers with expenses throughout the season.” CSA members then enjoy farmers market style shopping every week, without needing to pay each time since the cost was paid upfront.
Laura and Ryan have built relationships with their customers over the years, and enjoy watching them try new, healthy foods. “It’s an honor to be able to serve the community in this way. We’ve had the pleasure of providing options to our consumers, along with education regarding the nutrients and versatility of our crops.” Laura’s passion for farming and Ryan’s culinary expertise provide customers a diverse knowledge base along with a friendly, personalized experience.
While their products are mainly sold through CSA, produce can also be purchased from their roadside stand located at the farm 24/7 during growing season (May-Oct). The farm also offers vegetable seedling sales to help local customers start their own gardens. “This is one of the most fun and rewarding programs we run. We’ve had the pleasure of introducing farming to our local community by providing various young plants (tomatoes, peppers, etc) to our customers.”
Laura is passionate about farming and is grateful for the opportunity to be outside everyday of the year doing what she loves. “I love watching the seasons change, feeling the shifts in the air and connecting with nature. I’m thankful to make a difference in the community serving in this manner, all while building a sustainable lifestyle for our family. It’s fun being able to shop my own farm while cooking, and I’m honored to bring these items to our customers.”
For more information and to join the CSA, visit https://www.dirtrichcsa.com/. Those interested in the seedling program can email Laura and Ryan directly at dirtrichfarm@gmail.com. All are invited to visit the roadside stand 24/7 during the growing season (May-Oct) located at 12318 Springville Boston Road.