STEVE AND MARCIA LITSINGER
CULTIVATE A WAY OF LIFE.
Written by Mike Colpo
Photo by Mike Okimoto
What Steve and Marcia Litsinger have accomplished in their pursuit of a simple life of thoughtful stewardship defines what many would call the highest level of organic growing. Marcia –– who Steve will tell you is the “brains behind the operation” –– uses bio-intensive (also known as “French-intensive”) growing techniques. Nothing grows around their vegetable patch that doesn’t serve a multi-layered purpose. The produce that supplies their fiercely loyal CSA customers is surrounded by fortifications of beneficials –– lavender, calendula, marigolds, and the like –– all serving to either draw in helpful insects, enrich the soil, complement companion plants, or all of the above. In keeping with their growing style, these beneficials are likely to show up in the regular CSA delivery. They come accompanied by instructions and suggestions for how to use them in everything from salads to homeopathic remedies. It’s been this way since they started doing produce deliveries 10 years ago.
The Litsingers’ approach to farming goes well beyond the food-growing end of the business. Their commitment to self-sufficiency informs everything they do, from the bank of self-installed solar panels behind their home to the natural spring that supplies them with water. Their property is entirely off the grid, and their growing houses are able to supply year-round vegetables in Nevada’s rugged climate without any electricity, making them the only CSA in the region to provide fresh, locally grown produce throughout the year.
“We never set out to become a big farm,” Steve says. “We knew how we wanted to live and we just kept trying things and working on ideas until we got it figured out.”
Indeed, the Litsingers’ friendly, encouraging energy has helped shape their deep connections to Northern Nevada’s community of organic growers. In the 10-plus years since Steve and Marcia officially began their CSA deliveries, they’ve been a part of every major effort to establish a market for locally grown organic produce –– from instructing classes through the River School in Reno to helping establish area farmers’ markets and forming the Great Basin Community Food Co-op (Greatbasinfood.coop). They are among the rare breed of folks who believe that it makes good business sense to show people how to take care of themselves. It’s why one of their regular produce deliveries might include an impromptu inspection of a customer’s fruit tree, or detailed coaching on how to grow the very vegetables that were just delivered.
For details, visit www.greatbasinfood.coop/about-us/farmers/churchill-butte-organics/.
