Sweet corn and oil reform

Atina Diffley’s memoir Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works captures in intimate detail the heart of a farm and, as it turns out, of a farmer.

Diffley_Turn coverAtina and Martin Diffley have weathered their share of crop-destroying storms, but it was suburban development and an oil pipeline that nearly gutted their business twice in the 34 years they spent farming Gardens of Eagan. The Diffleys owned and operated one of the Midwest’s first organic produce farms from 1973 to 2007 and have been teaching other farmers how to prevail no matter the path they’re treading since leasing their land and farm name to the Wedge Community Co-op.

Earlier this year, Atina released the memoir Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works, capturing in intimate detail the heart of a farm and, as it turns out, of a farmer. We caught up with Atina this spring and talked with her about strategic decision-making, biodiversity and storytelling.

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Published in: Rodale Institute