Dennison’s Family Farm delivers CSA-fresh produce to Madison

Dennison’s Family Farm soon will make Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) deliveries to drop-off sites in the Madison-Huntsville area.

Madison residents are familiar with Dennison's 'strawberry booth' on Hughes Road.

D. W. ‘Wayve’ Dennison encourages people to order early for CSA deliveries, which start June 12. Dennison’s Family Farm is a three-generation, 52-year operation in Elora, Tenn. in Lincoln County.

For years, their “strawberry booth” at Hughes Plaza has sold strawberries, delivered on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.

Dennison explained that CSA involves “a farmer who commits to producing a variety of seasonal vegetables in return for your prepaid commitment to season-long purchase and pick-up of these fresh veggies.”

CSA creates a “two-way street.” Memberships help pay for seed, equipment, fuel, irrigation and labor. “In return, members receive fruit and vegetables, farm fresh, each week. We all share in the risks and benefits of farming,” Dennison said.

Three generations depend on their farm for a living. On June 4, Wayve’s 86-year-old father was combining wheat. Her mother was bookkeeping. “My brother Frank is jumping through government bureaucratic hoops. Of the third generation, who all completed college within the last six months, one is selling strawberries, two are helping with the grain harvest and one is working in South Carolina.”

Dennison’s Family Farm follows a blended system of good ecological practices.

They offer two CSA memberships: a full share for a box weekly for 14 weeks and a half share, every other week for seven boxes. Membership are open for this summer.

Wayve and her family make corporate deliveries to Dynetics and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in Cummings Research Park. “We have permission for non-employees to pick up there,” she said. Deliveries are on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re still picking strawberries and try to be in Madison at least two days a week,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll still have some berries for those first CSA boxes.” The weather always determines availability and farm schedules.

For more information, call the ‘veggie line’ at 931-937-8162, send email to dw@mindspring.com or visit dennisonsfarm.com and Facebook/Dennison’s Family Farm CSA.