Local Artist and Activist Tim Gaudreau Goes ‘Farmer’

One of the hardest things about supporting a cause is practicing what you preach. Unless you’re Tim Gaudreau that is.

Beginning in 2005 with an epiphany in the beautiful, smoggy mountains of Southwestern California, Gaudreau has spent his time combining his love for art with his passion for environmental issues. His 2005 project entitled “Self-Portrait, As Revealed In Trash” has since paved the way for other interactive and community oriented artwork, many of which have been installed right in Portsmouth.

The outlets for Gaudreau’s activism stretch farther than displaying it through his art, however. He’s also been involved in efforts to educate the community on art and sustainability through his involvement at schools and the community discussion board in Portsmouth.

Even at home, Gaudreau and his wife, Atlanta, have taken steps to make sustainability an important part of their lifestyle. Their house features solar panels on their roof, heat their house with an organic wood-pellet stove, and even drive bio-diesel cars. As if that wasn’t enough, they have now undertaken their own small-scale CSA farm and they are looking for shareholders.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, a form of local agriculture designed to directly connect consumers to growers.  Shareholders commit to supporting farms and growers by sharing the costs of produce production, along with the accompanying risks (weather, pests, etc.) and – more importantly – rewards.

Gaudreau’s backyard CSA is called Sleepy Farmer Farm, and includes raised beds along with a small corn field, and an abundance of berry bushes and fruit trees. He and his wife grow an array of heirloom varieties of vegetables including lettuce, beets and a few spices. They also offer organic raw eggs and honey.
“Since many of our friends don't have the land, sun, or time to garden, we're continuing to open the door to fresh, organic veggies to a few friends through our own micro farm CSA” says Gaudreau of his newest venture.

Each share – picked up on a weekly basis – is just $375 and runs from June until September. Gaudreau currently has three shares left for sale.

Gaudreau says that the harvest is usually slow until mid-summer, and that some items will be limited, while others will be abundant, depending on the week and the weather. Still, he says the variety of vegetables alone more than makes up for it.

What’s more, there is always a possibility of some “pick your own” produce, such as cherry tomatoes or raspberries.

If the guarantee of fresh produce grown within the city limits of Portsmouth isn’t enough of an incentive to join the CSA, there are a couple things you won’t get that may provide some inspiration: All of Sleepy Farmers Farm’s vegetables are all natural, with no pesticides, herbicides or chemicals to speak of.

You can’t get more natural than that!

It seems as though no matter what venture Tim Gaudreau takes on, he is always creating. Creating art, creating a sustainably educated community, and now creating a local food culture – all right here in Portsmouth.

If you're interested in purchasing a share of Sleepy Farmer Farms, contact Tim Gaudreau at 603.957.1422.