Leigh family
Jason and Ellen Leigh moved to their farm at the beginning of 2011. They had no prior farming experience and didn’t own any land. They wanted to have a piece of property where they could grow as much of their own food as possible, share it with others, promote diversity and wildlife, and at the same time, take good care of the land.
The Leighs grow perennial fruits and hope to develop a U-pick business. They produce some annual vegetables and value-added products, including sauces and salsas. They are beekeepers and extract honey, make maple syrup, and raise egg-layers and meat chickens.
Jason is the main farm laborer and marketer; he oversees the distribution of the farm’s products. Ellen assists with labor and works as the main processor of their goods. Daughters, Ava and Marina assist with farm labor and other activities when they are home from college.
The family was involved in 4-H and Girl Scouts when Ava and Marina were growing up. Jason is a member of the Byron Booster Club, helping to raise funds for different groups at Byron High School. He was an Extension Master Gardener and is now a member of the Sustainable Farming Association and the Land Stewardship Project.
The Leigh farm has been certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.