The general concept of Fullness Farm is simple.
Grant and Allison Guidroz grow seasonal, organic produce and vegetables, pick it, wash and bag it, and then bring it to weekly distribution points for their subscribers to pick up.
What sounds easy requires a lot of work leading to the end product, but the Guidrozes aren't complaining. This is what they signed up for in college.
After working on other farms after graduation, now they're working their own farm and are excited about the produce they're supplying to Baton Rouge residents through their CSA.
Grant Guidroz harvests microgreens at Fullness Farm.
"That's an acronym for Community Supported Agriculture," Allison Guidroz said. "We sell everything directly to the customer."
Fullness Farm is one of several Community Supported Agricultural farms in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas. Others include:
- Luckett Farms, 14722 Pride-Port Hudson Road, Pride.
- Earthshare Gardens, a community farm, 241 Encore Road, Scott. Call (225) 939-2998 or visit luckettfarms.com.
- Homestyle Natural Beef, 51367 Narretto Road, Loranger. Call (985) 507-3186 or visit localharvest.org/homestyle-natural-beef-M41507.
- Kennedy Family Farm, 3840 Safer Drive, Slaughter. Call (225) 907-9812 or visit kennedyfamilyfarm.com.
- Starkey Farmstead, 199 Dr. Bob Lane, Greensburg. Call (501) 697-3398 or visit localharvest.org/starkey-farmstead-M82326.
- Port Hudson Organics, 1340 Plains-Port Hudson Road, Zachary. Call (225) 658-8526 or visit localharvest.org/port-hudson-organics-M17349.
- Loup Farms, 6323 False River Road, Oscar. Call (225) 978-1716 or visit loupfarms.com.
The Guidrozes established their limited liability company, or LLC, while in college, starting by designing gardens at customers' homes.
They also worked on established organic farms around the state including Inglewood Farm in Alexandria, finally landing in their own organic farm business in Baton Rouge.
Fullness Farm technically is a micro-farm, occupying 1 acre of a 15-acre historic property owned by Mike Wampold where Nicholson Drive meets Bluebonnet Boulevard.
Cherry tomatoes fill a bag on the thigh of Allison Guidroz at Fullness Farm.
"Mike is developing a neighborhood in this area, and he thinks of the farm as an amenity to this neighborhood and how people, in lieu of things like golf courses, people are more interested in access to fresh food and walking trails and ponds and things like that," Allison Guidroz said. "And so, I kind of say we're sandwiched, basically, between suburbia and a big soybean field."
The farm isn't open to the public, but the Guidrozes hope to build a farm stand to serve as both a pick-up point for subscribers and a way for customers to buy directly from the farm.
For now, subscribers can pick up their freshly bagged produce either on Fridays at Iverstine Butcher, 7731 Perkins Road, or on Saturdays at the Red Stick Farmers Market, 501 North St.
And, of course, everything is grown organically without any synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.
Grant Guidroz carries a bucket to fill while walking through a greenhouse on Fullness Farm.
"We also use all sustainable practices," Allison Guidroz said. "I researched the soil on our farm and did a soil health assessment. We started with great soil, because we're so close to the Mississippi River, so we see ourselves as stewards of this land. We really try to practice good soil stewardship, because when you have good soil, then you have healthy plants, which are more resistant to any kind of disease or pests and a better quality in product."
So, quality, as well as diversity in the crops, are Fullness Farms' priorities.
"We grow a lot of different things, and right now, our spring mix of lettuce and greens is our most popular item," Allison Guidroz said.
Seasonal vegetables also are grown. At the moment, tomatoes and carrots, and as the summer progresses, squash, peppers and eggplant will be included in the mix.
Farm hand Taner Morgan works through cucumber plants to find cucumbers that are ready to be picked at Fullness Farm.
"We have a lot of cucumbers and watermelon, too," Allison Guidroz said. "We're actually midway through our summer season now. The heat of late summer is really hard on the farm and hard on the farmers, so we really maximize the cool growing season. We basically think of our farm growing season beginning when school starts."
Though the farm isn't open to the public, volunteers are welcome to help.
"We tell people that they should waste money on a gym and tanning bed, when they can get their exercise and tans working with us," Allison Guidroz said. "Plus, you get to take home free vegetables after work."
The Guidrozes also are provided part-time workers by LSU, who not only help work the gardens and pick the greens and vegetables but thoroughly wash them.
Allison Guidroz works alongside her husband Grant Guidroz as they pick cherry tomatoes at their farm, Fullness Farm.
"We put the bags together, and we try to have consistency but also a nice variety in each," Allison Guidroz said. "We try to have some of the favorites in there every week, but then we also include some different crops that people might not be used to, so it stretches people a little bit. Sometimes, people think of it like they're on the TV shows 'Chopped' or 'Iron Chef' or whatever, where you're just given a basket of ingredients, and you have to make your meal from that. And some people like not having to decide what they're going to eat."
But not everyone likes the element of surprise.
"Sometimes, the mix doesn't work for some people, so I send out an email every week with what's in the bag, along with recipe ideas and news from the farm," Allison Guidroz said.
Helper Mary Grace Campbell hands Grant Guidroz a bag full of freshly picked cherry tomatoes at Fullness Farm.
Bags are divided into two categories: Full Share at $38 a week and Half Share at $18 a week.
"A Full Share has six to nine items each week," Allison Guidroz said. "The Half Share has three to four items each week."
And for customers wanting to partake without subscribing, Iverstine Butcher also provides a cooler, where Fullness Farm can stock fresh vegetables that walk-ins can buy.
"Iverstine has been such a great partner to us," Allison Guidroz said.
Those interested in subscribing or volunteering time to Fullness Farm can visit fullnessfarm.com. For more information, call (225) 255-0675.