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GODFREY - A group of community members picked their way through muddy fields on a cold and wet Saturday in early March, touring the Community Supported Garden at La Vista. The garden is entering its fourth year and plans an open greenhouse early in April.

The tour began in the greenhouse, where flats of seedlings were protected from the cold and spring greens grew in a patch of soil. Kris Larson, the garden's head farmer, told the group the greens were part of a pilot project. Using propane to keep the temperature inside the greenhouse a mild 50 degrees at night and between 65 degrees and 70 degrees during the day, Larson is growing asian greens, lettuce, and spinach. 

Larson told the group January and February is the time for ordering seeds and making plans.

"Now (March) begins the physical work," he said. "Peak planting is in May then comes the time for weeding." Last year, more than 30,000 seedlings were transplanted from the greenhouse to the fields.

 Organic gardening "begins and ends with the soil," Larson said and added that the soil is "composted and tilled." The garden has four to five acres and a cache pond about 300 yards from the fields.

"The pond is our backup system," Larson said in a later interview. "We rely on rainfall for the crops so last year was hard (with the dry summer). We do have city water access but that's for emergency use only. We have good clay soil that holds on to water, so that's a plus." 

The garden is entering its fourth year and recently hired Kris Larson as its new head farmer. Larson, a native of Watseka, Ill., has six years of experience in community-supported agriculture. He arrived from western Massachusetts in mid-December along with his wife, Stacey, and their 7­month-old son, Jacob. Larson has also farmed in Oregon and California. 

Larson said he works about 80 hours a week during the summer but added that winter gave him and his wife time to visit relatives. He also uses the time to make repairs around the farm and to market the garden.

"We have a high deer population so winter gives us a chance to maintain the fence," Larson said. 

According to literature at the open greenhouse, the Community Supported Garden at La Vista was formally approved in December 2001 and is part of the Oblate Ecological Initiative, a ministry of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The Rev. Maurice Lange, OMI, serves as director of the initiative. Besides the garden, the OEI also sponsors La Vista Ecological Learning Center, which offers discussions, information, workshops and retreats reflecting spiritual and ecological themes.

CSG at La Vista operates in a mutually supportive commitment between the farm and the local community whose members pay the farmer an annual membership fee to cover production costs of running the farm. In return, members receive a weekly share of the harvest. CSG at La Vista is one of about 1,000 such gardens. nationwide. 

Currently, the garden has 100 families and individuals who own shares in the farm and Larson said the garden will accept up to 140 shareholders this year. Members can buy a full share and receive produce weekly or buy an alternate share and pick up produce on alternate weeks. Families with low incomes who are interested in a membership should call Lange to discuss the possibility of a "working share." Vegetables that aren't wanted or needed can be swapped or left behind for donation to the Alton Crisis Food Center. The garden also offers some "pick your own" produce and flowers.

Jim Schell, of Alton, was touring the garden with his family. He had heard of the garden earlier that morning from Lange at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic church.

"We like the idea (of the garden) and we're definitely going to look into it. We like the idea of organic vegetables - they're better for you," Schell said. 

Maxine Pohlman, of St. Louis, has been a member for two years and said there are a number of advantages to being a member. She's changed her diet and now she eats a greater variety of vegetables. 

"I'm cooking differently, too. Picking up the food is pleasurable and there is no packaging. It's as fresh as can be," she said.

Larson said in the recent interview that the winter storm won't hurt the seedlings in the greenhouse but "it will likely delay the first planting of potatoes and peas this Saturday. The cold snap is our real concern. We need the ground to warm up so we can start planting."

Eventually, the first cool crops of broccoli, lettuce, spinach and peas will give way to strawberries. Summer's long growing season will arrive with its juicy tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs. As summer wanes, the garden will return to the root vegetables and greens of cool weather in the timeless cycle of the seasons. And shareholders can enjoy the fruits of the harvest in each of the seasons.

The garden is located on private property owned by the Oblate Fathers mission in Godfrey. For information on visiting the Community Supported Garden, call head farmer Kris Larson at 467-2104. The Web site is www.lavistacsa.org.