I'm always surprise to find hidden gems in my backyard

 I'm always surprised to find hidden gems in my backyard. A few weeks ago I was driving down Troy Drive when I noticed some signs for a plant sale. Having just started my garden, I decided to drop by. Though I had seen the community gardens from the road, I had no idea there are 300 plots and some residents have been growing there for almost 20 years. 

Just north of the treeline, past The Kids Garden and all of the community gardens, there is a full production farm. The Troy Farm crew grew all of the plant seedlings they were selling that day, but they were also preparing for the farm's market season. Troy Farm offers a membership (kind of like a CSA). Families can sign up in spring and pay in advance or in instalments. Then, members (and non-members!) can pick out their Troy Farm vegetables every Thursday evening at the farm stand on Troy Drive. Members and non-members alike can also pick out Troy Farm produce at the Northside Farmers market on Sunday mornings. Rooted, the non-profit that runs Troy Farm and Troy Community Gardens, along with many other programs, makes the fresh produce affordable by offering up to 75% off membership costs based on income, and the remaining cost can be paid using SNAP benefits. 

Here's what else I learned about getting fresh food on the Northside: 

The Northside Farmers Market is open Sundays, 8:30am–12:30pm, May 9th – Oct. 24th at Northside Town Center, Sherman Ave. & Northport Drive. Not only can you get fresh vegetables, meat, baked goods and more from over 30 local farmers and producers, starting June 1st, EBT card shoppers can get a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $25 per day. This program is called Double Dollars and it is available at most farmers markets around Madison. 

Troy Farm also accepts non-member customers at their farm stand Thursdays, 3:30pm-6:30pm at 502 Troy Drive as well as at the Northside Farmers Market. Visitors are welcome to explore the land, including the beautiful community gardens, the kids' garden, and the paths through the prairie, and pick up fresh food using cash, check, card, or EBT. Troy Farm also participates in the Double Dollars program, so those SNAP funds go twice as far. 

Troy Farm is not the only farm that offers discounts based on income or other factors. The discount Troy Farm offers is in partnership with the Fairshare CSA Coalition. You can check out their website to find many CSA farms that deliver produce and other farm goods to the Madison area. 

In the off season, when most of the farmers' markets are shut down, Willy Street Coop offers a sister Double Dollars program. For every $5 you spent using SNAP funds, the Co-op will give you a $5 Double Dollar voucher, up to $20.