Acres U.S.A.

http://discover.acresusa.com/

Acres U.S.A. is a national magazine that offers a comprehensive guide to sustainable agriculture.  Drawing on knowledge accumulated in more than 30 years of continuous publishing, Acres U.S.A. brings readers the latest techniques for growing bountiful, nutritious crops and healthy, vibrant livestock.​

Buy Fresh Buy Local

http://drakebuyfreshbuylocal.org/

Greater Des Moines Buy Fresh Buy Local is a network of local farms, food businesses, and consumers committed to increasing the production and sales of fresh, local foods in the eight-county region surrounding Des Moines.  Farms and business participate in the campaign by becoming members and are listed in the annual directory.  Consumers participate by taking the pledge to purchase local foods.  Together, farmers, business owners, and consumers are growing the local food movement in Greater Des Moines.  This chapter, hosted by Drake University, is part of a nationwide organization.  Blue Gate Farm is a BFBL member.

Certified Naturally Grown - CNG

http://www.cngfarming.org/

CNG was created to provide farmers with an inspection-based, nationally recognized label that is endorsed by National Environmental Groups, Health Organizations, Agriculture Groups, Farmer's Markets and Universities and well publicized in the National and Local Media.  CNG farmers are required to adhere to the same strict Organic Agricultural Practices and materials list published by the USDA National Organic Program but is not affiliated with the USDA National Organic Program.  Blue Gate Farm is certified by CNG and we participate in inspections of other CNG farms.

Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market

http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/

The DM Downtown Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning typically from Mother's Day weekend to Halloween.  The market is located on Court Ave between 1st (at the DM River) and 5th (at the Courthouse). Visit their site for information on other vendors, activities, special events, and directions.  Blue Gate Farm has been a vendor of this market since 2005.

Farm Crawl   

http://www.farmcrawl.com/

Annual event in SW Marion and North Lucas Counties of joint open houses at each of the eight participating independent family farms, including Blue Gate Farm.

Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/

Iowa State University (ISU) hosts the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture which seeks to identify and reduce adverse socioeconomic and environmental impacts of farming practices, develop profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources, and create educational programs with the ISU Extension Service.  The center was founded by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act.

Local Harvest

http://www.localharvest.org/blue-gate-farm-M11943

Local Harvest was founded in 1998, and is now the number one informational resource for the Buy Local movement and the top place on the Internet where people find information on direct marketing family farms.  Local Harvest maintains a definitive and reliable "living" public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food resources which help people find local sources of sustainably grown food.  Blue Gate Farm is listed on this site.

Practical Farmers of Iowa

http://www.practicalfarmers.org/

PFIPractical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) is a non-profit, educational organization that began in 1985 and now has over 700 members in Iowa and neighboring states.  Their mission is to research, develop and promote profitable, ecologically sound and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture.  PFI carries out diverse programs to assist farmers with both production and marketing needs, to raise public awareness of where food comes from and how it is grown, and to educate youth about agriculture and the environment.  Blue Gate Farm is a PFI member and has participated in PFI sponsored field trails.

Rodale Institute

http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/

The Rodale Institute, a global leader in regenerative agriculture, is devoted to innovative agriculture research, outreach and training.  The Institute works with people worldwide to achieve a regenerative food system that renews and improves environmental and human health, working with the philosophy that:  "Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People."​

Seed Savers Exchange

http://www.seedsavers.org/

Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations.  When people grow and save seeds, they join an ancient tradition as stewards, nurturing our diverse, fragile, genetic and cultural heritage.