Support Olson Garden Market After Fire

Hi, this is Tommy Hexter and Jordan Scheibel, we are the Directors of Grinnell Farm to Table, a local food hub committed to supporting family farms in our region. We’re raising funds for Olson Garden Market, a beloved local farm and longtime partner of ours, after a devastating fire broke out on their farm this past week.

At 10:29 AM on Friday, June 6, a fire was reported in the Olson's barn, and thanks to the quick response of the Grinnell Fire Department—along with departments from Gilman, Kellogg, Malcom, and Emergency Management—the worst was prevented. While their home was spared major damage thanks to an east wind, the fire did burn the south wall of their big shed and spread to nearby crops. Most of the tomato field, all of the cherry tomatoes, kale, and some peppers were lost. Irrigation systems were melted. Thankfully, a few crops like eggplant, onions, kohlrabi, and potatoes survived—but the losses are significant.

We’re aiming to raise $10,000 to help Olson Garden Market recover:

$3,000 to replace essential equipment: black mulch, high tunnel pipes and plastic, irrigation lines and nozzles, and ground staples

$3,000 to cover lost income from missed markets

$4,000 to replant lost crops, including their entire garlic patch and other burned produce

Small farms like Olson’s often can’t insure their crops, and they depend on weekly markets for income. Because of this fire, they’ve had to miss critical sales days during the beginning of the season, and now need to replant many of their their lost crops.

We’re asking our community to come together and help one of our own recover from this terrible accident. Your support will help Olson Garden Market rebuild, replant, and return to the market stronger. We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters who responded and to the friends and neighbors who have already reached out with support and prayers.

You can continue to support Olson Garden Market - and other small local farms - by shopping at the Grinnell Farmers Market and through Grinnell Farm to Table all year long. Thank you for being part of a resilient and caring food community.