Image courtesy of Springdale Farm
Image courtesy of Springdale Farm

Peoples was born right here in Austin and it’s part of our community vision to support other local institutions who are changing our home for the better. That’s why we work with amazing local torchbearers like Springdale Farms, Johnson’s Backyard Garden, Boggy Creek Farm and Coyote Creek Farm’s eggs.

Springdale Farm started in the ’90s through a City of Austin program supporting employment and economic development in select struggling neighborhoods. In the initial phases the property was used as a homebase for Texas Tree and Landscapes until 2009 when the Springdale Farm of today was born. Retaining its longterm employees, the farm has invested itself in creating a sustainable source for vibrant local produce in an area of Austin that has historically not had easy access to farm-fresh foods.

Springdale also serves a number of Austin’s finest restaurants, supplying picked-that-day produce for such Austin icons as the Driskill Hotel Grill, Wink, Justine’s, Vespaio, Easy Tiger and, of course, Peoples Deli. Springdale owners Paula and Glenn Foore were awarded the Edible Austin Local Heroes Award in 2012 for their farm’s significant contributions to the local food community.

Paula shared her appreciation of the Austin community and her feelings about the place of Springdale Farm within the social framework with us, saying, “small businesses are the backbone of any community and we are so fortunate to live and work in Austin where folks really understand and embrace the local culture. Partnering with chefs and businesses around town inspires us everyday to do the best we can on our end, and then stand back and appreciate the efforts of so many in the next steps of farm to table, to consumer, to health, to economy.  The Austin food community is truly one of a kind!”

Springdale also thrives as part of Austin’s cultural scene, participating in and hosting events like the East Austin Urban Farm Tour, Slow Food Austin Happy Hours, Austin’s Urban Farm Bike Tour and innumerable private events and fundraisers. All of these, however, pale in comparison to their always-anticipated Farm Stand, where you and your family can come to the farm and buy gorgeous, fresh vegetables and eggs directly from Paula and Glenn. The Farm Stand is open Wednesdays and Saturdays 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Right now at the Farm Stand the avocados are ripe, you can get gorgeous eggs from both chicken and ducks, grab eggplants, okra, kale, peas, peppers, radishes, squash blossoms, squash and the local popcorn may even be ripe enough for sale. Also don’t forget the mangoes and limes from their sister organic farm in south Texas called G & S Groves. Stop into any Peoples Deli today to enjoy healthy foods made from the richest of locally grown ingredients, like our Kale & White Bean Soup, made with Springdale’s kale, picked fresh every week. Or try the Organic Beet Salad, made from beets from Johnson’s Backyard Garden and goat cheese from local sources. Click here to view the full menu.

by Amy Neuzil, ND*. Amy is available for consultation at Peoples Wellness Center North.

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.