Farm Horizons
•
Aug. 8, 2016
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Page 32
One of region’s only asparagus
farms grows sustainably
BY BRIANNA MATHIAS
out into the field early, acFrom the top of the hill,
cording to Herdklotz.
it may be hard to see the
“Picking in the heat is
plants emerging from the
dreadful,” Herdklotz said.
ground. But with a closer
“When we tried picking in
look, it’s easy to see the
the afternoon, the mosquihundreds and hundreds
tos were out, the sun was
of asparagus that have
beating down on us, and
changed the land they
the asparagus was harder
grow on.
to snap.”
Despite these chalThe start of something
lenges, Herdklotz said he
new
loves asparagus for many
Six years ago, Kevyn
reasons.
Herdklotz of Dassel began
“There’s a need for asgrowing asparagus on his
paragus
in the local marland. Originally, the 300
Photo by Brianna Mathias
ket,”
Herdklotz
said.
crowns were planted along
Each morning, the harvested asparagus gets sorted by color
One
restaurant
the farm
with a large garden full of
and overall appearance. Though very thin, seedy, broken, and sells to is Smack Shack,
other vegetables.
short asparagus taste the same as perfect ones, Herdklotz a seafood restaurant in
“It’s perennial,” Herdk- keeps those for himself and sells the more appealing plants.
Minneapolis. Herdklotz
lotz said. “I don’t have to
also said he sells to the
till and it grows really well
East Side and Litchfield
here.”
co-ops.
Because of how well the plant grows in the area, HerdThough Herdklotz sells most of his asparagus, he said
klotz eventually planted more and more, until, three
there
are plenty of plants that are too thin, too seedy, or
years ago, the farm became exclusively asparagus.
are
partly
eaten by the asparagus beetle. These, he gets
“We have 16,000 crowns of asparagus planted,” Herdto
keep.
klotz said. “The amount of asparagus each crown pro“We eat a lot of asparagus around here,” Herdklotz
duces really varies. In full maturity, each one produces
said.
“There are so many different things you can do
2 to 4 pounds a season, depending on variety.”
with it.”
Future of the farm
Luxury vegetable
Herdklotz plans to expand the farm in the future by
Green asparagus is grown on the farm, but the majorputting in another 15,000 crowns of asparagus, as well
ity
of the field consists of a purple variety of the plant,
as other plants.
according
to Herdklotz.
“I’m going to be putting in garlic, and more fruit
“Purple
asparagus is less fibrous and has a higher sugtrees,” Herdklotz said. “We’ve mostly just been workar
content
so it is highly desired by chefs,” Herdklotz
ing on getting all the asparagus in, which takes a couple
said.
“All
of
our asparaus has been very successful. It
of years.”
grows really well here and, in a lot of places, it’s considFriends and family
ered a luxury vegetable so it is very lucrative.”
Because of the growth, Herdklotz has had help with
Sustainable farming
both the planting and the harvesting of the crop.
Herdklotz said the money is awesome, and definitely
“I had a planting party with friends for all the new
a
necessity,
but he believes sustainability is equally as
crowns we put in,” Herdklotz said. “Friends and family
important.
help with harvesting.”
“For me, a lot of it has to do with the health of the
Since asparagus pop up out of the ground, picking it
planet,”
Herdklotz said. “A lot of people focus on the
requires a lot of bending over, which Herdklotz said can
health
of
the human. I try to keep in mind how I can
be a pain.
help
people
seven generations ahead of me.”
“This year, my nephew, Kenny, came up from Kansas
Natural
predators
and lived with us for a few weeks to help pick,” Herdklotz said. “He’s the real MVP.”
In order to fulfil his goal of keeping his plants natural,
Each morning, whoever was going to pick had to get
Herdklotz said he lets the asparagus grow how nature