Sell the Farm, Keep the Table
Eden East Will Keep to its Roots for Two More Years.
Words by Jessi Devenyns
Don’t worry; Eden East is not going anywhere! Although neighbors mourned the January 31 announcement that Springdale Farm owners Paula and Glenn Foore had sold their urban farm, the question soon became: What is happening to Eden East? Mysteriously, owner Sonya Cote remained mum on the subject for months. That’s because she too wasn’t sure what her next step was going to be. However, as any respectable farmer and chef would do, Sonya turned lemons into lemonade.
Although the property was sold to PSW Real Estate to be developed as a mixed-use development, nothing will change at Eden East for the next two years. “Paula and Glenn built this farmers market and this farm, and for the next two years we’re going to continue,” declares Sonya. “Ultimately, we’re going to continue what the farmers have been doing.”
In order to do this, Sonya took out a commercial lease on the property — all five acres of it and is planning to continue to farm it alongside running her restaurant. She is even keeping on much of the original farm staff in hopes of encouraging a seamless transition. Because even with previous experience running a micro-farm, she says that maintaining the farm is a gargantuan undertaking that she cannot do without experienced hands in the dirt and the support of the community. She shrugs as she admits that her plan is rather simple and boils down to the age-old tradition of consulting the Farmer’s Almanac and adding a little water and a whole lot of elbow grease. With those ingredients, nature will provide.
After their 2-year lease on the property expires, Sonya says that she has negotiated an agreement with PSW which will allow her to continue to farm a parcel of the land and transfer Eden East to a brick and mortar on the property when development begins. “Beyond that, long term, we will do a brick and mortar with Eden East and have Eden East continue to farm portions of that property and be a community gathering space.”
One of the only changes that she will be implementing when she takes the reigns in June is that she plans to expand the farm’s CSA program and possibly rent out small parcels as chef’s gardens where “if you’re so inclined, you can rent a little plot and grow your own [produce],” she nudges.
While the neighborhood waits for these changes to take effect, Eden East will continue to offer brunch on Wednesdays and Saturdays while the farm stand is open, their classic prix fixe dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, and their new a la carte night on Thursday nights with live music and complimentary cocktails.
Did you know?
Sonya is also taking suggestions from the community on what they should rename the farm once Springdale Farms becomes a memory from the past.
Contact:
edeneastaustin.com
