After a lifetime of loving to garden, Ashton’s Dan Stumpenhorst has started a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm. His farm is called Oasis Acres Farm.
“This is my dream, multiplied times five,” said Stumpenhorst.
The concept of the CSA began in the 1980s where people buy a share of the summer’s bounty and receive delivery of fresh vegetables three times each week. Typical farms operate on an 18-week growing period.
In Stumpenhorst’s inaugural year he has contracted with 10 people for a 9-week trial and may extend that to 12 weeks, depending on the harvest.
Each customer “subscribes” to have fresh produce delivered, by doing so, they eliminate the middleman as produce moves from farm to table.

“People want to know where their food is coming from,” said Stumpenhorst. “Customers take a risk with weather and other issues. When there is a bountiful harvest, the customer will receive more in their basket, other times they may get a smaller basket of produce.”
Stumpenhorst has a Facebook page, Oasis Acres Farm, where he posts updates and videos about his farm. He also shares recipes from time to time.
On his farm he has planted three varieties of tomatoes, four varieties of peppers, eggplant, mixed greens, kale, arugula, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, wax beans, drying beans, leeks, onions, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes and more.
He has three local customers, two from his office and five from a running group he is involved with.
“This year has been really good,” he stated. “I could probably supply 20 families with the amount of stuff I have been picking.”
The vegetables are planted in neat rows where he can easily cultivate them. He uses old school technology in working the ground. While he is not a certified organic farm, he practices organic growing. Because of his proximity to other fields, he is unable to guarantee that none of the chemicals used by them have floated onto his plants. 
He has been known to donate excess produce to The Kitchen Table, a community café where all are welcome to come and eat, regardless of their ability to pay.
There are several CSA farms in the area. Some of them offer U-Pick days when the harvest is too much for the consigned customers.
Each and every plant that is now growing on the farm was started from seeds in the Stumpenhorst garage. He had 67 tomato plants, 60 pepper plants and much more.
“My dad was a gardener and I have always had a garden,” said Stumpenhorst. “I attended a seminar offered by the University of Illinois Extension about CSAs. I enjoy carrying on my dad’s legacy and I am teaching my nine grandchildren about growing their own food as well.”