Mission Statement

Well gang, I(mike)have been back for about a week now and most of our time so far has been spent talking about the future of Bantry Bay Farm and looking at goals and aspirations for years to come. We spent some time before Christmas creating a mission statement for the farm and we are now setting goals to try and realize that mission statement to its fullest extent. Here is the finished product so let me know what you all think of it:


Mission Statement

1)Environmental Responsibility:
-To create a business that shifts our food system towards environmental sustainability

2)Healthy Relationships:
-To foster healthy relationships with our members, customers, and community

3)Quality Food
-To provide the healthiest, tastiest, and freshest food

4)Workplace
-To create a place where workers feel fulfilled


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At the beginning of last growing season we sat down and made a list consisting of all the major jobs on the farm. The idea is that the list would get divided up among the farmers and that each farmer would be 'in charge' of his or her particular job. Now being 'in charge' didn't mean you had to do it, it just meant you needed to make sure that all pertinent aspects of that job would get brought to the table and done.

Now, the dividing up of this list is actually quite a fun process. First we privately grade each task A, B or C. A rating of 'A' would mean it's something you really want to be in charge of, 'B' means that you don't particularly WANT that job, but you're certainly happy to take it, and a 'C' would mean you don't want it at all.

So of course the fun comes in discovering which things you received outright (eg. having an 'A' when the others put 'B's) and wrangling to get or not get the jobs where you tied with others(eg. all 3 people putting 'B's). Its like a Christmas where you know what all the presents are and which ones you want, just not which one's your going to get.

Anyways, I received such exciting gifts as Tool Care, Planting, Bed Preparation and Finances. I know you're all thinking, "how lucky can one guy get!" , but believe it or not, these are aspects of the farm which I am genuinely interested in being in charge of. We're quite lucky in that our interests are diverse enough that almost every task on our list gets a rating of 'A' by at least one person.

In fact, we had only two jobs on the list that received a grade of 'C' from all three people, Trellising and Watering. So if there are any potential farmers out there who are just super pumped about being in charge of those two tasks, I'm sure we can find a place for you at Bantry Bay Farm.


-Mike