How to really farm out work to a Wellesley design firm
Valerie Gates, creative director for Gates Studio in Wellesley, has come up with a novel way to help local farms better get the word out about themselves while also seeing to it that her family eats more healthy food.
For the first 5 farms that respond to the offer, made public initially last Friday via the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership newsletter, they’ll get Gates Studio design and branding services in exchange for organic food or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. The idea being to give local farms a better chance to compete for market attention vs. well-heeled competitors.
“Of the 16 farms and growers that have contacted me so far, they are looking for a variety of branding needs from logo design to website design and development to signage to their farms. One winery also wanted tent cards designed for restaurant tables,” Gates says.
She plans on picking the first 5 farms and starting design work next week.
Gates, who operates the studio with her husband Barry Friedman, has begun documenting her effort in a new blog called “Will Work for Food.” Among other things, we’ll get to follow the progress of the farms’ design work and find out how much her family (including children Olivia and Cameron) enjoy eating organic meats and produce. She says she got inspired in part by reading the books Omnivore’s Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable and Miracle this winter.
It’s possible that the farm project could be the start of something bigger. Gates says she will look to develop a part of the studio into “a venture of sustainable design for green companies.”
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Best of luck on your new venture. I'll be watching the blog to see how it unfolds.
ReplyDeleteI read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, too, and will be very interested to see the extent to which you can sustain yourselves on local foods, especially during this New England winter.
ReplyDeleteI just love the bartering model you developed, because it is a win-win for all. I read an essay about what to expect if the economy enters a depression -- and abandonment of organic & other higher-priced foods was one of the trends they forecast. Your work can help keep these essential providers afloat.
Would it be a pun to say I'm "rooting" for you?
Such a fantastic idea! I'll definitely be following the blog to see how it all goes.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT! I have been racking my brain as to how I too can further this cause. I am a photo rep based in Atlanta. I buy farm direct beef, chicken, pork and produce. I read AVM last summer and although haven't read the Omnivore's dilemma (it's in my plans) I am familiar with it's principles. Kudos to you for contributing to the betterment of society and your health!
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