Seeds of Change: Announcements

This year, Wellspring celebrates its 37th year. Many of you may know the history. The organization was founded in 1982 by Mary Ann Ihm to promote her vision, “for all to live in peace and harmony with themselves, others and the earth.” In Spring, 1987 the operation moved from Milwaukee to Newburg, WI to a property nestled in the Milwaukee River Valley. Currently, there are 36 acres of gardens and nature trails, woods and meadows, and ponds and prairies that are teaming with a wide variety of wildlife. Additionally, with a 6-acre certified organic vegetable farm, Wellspring is home to the longest-running CSA in Wisconsin.

The Wellspring Board of Directors is committed to protecting and nurturing Wellspring’s natural resources as well as to supporting the continuation of the CSA providing the community access to healthy locally grown produce. However, we are facing a new challenge.

COVID-19 has impacted us all and Wellspring is no exception. With safety as our primary objective, the staff has made important accommodations in order to carry out key Wellspring activities in 2020. However, as the pandemic continues, we find the need to look to 2021 and identify directions for Wellspring that will sustain all that has been achieved. Here are two important new directions!

1. Along with Wellspring Founder, Mary Ann Ihm, the Board will explore opportunities to work in collaboration with Land Trusts and similar organizations who share the same goals of conservation and preservation of Wellspring in perpetuity for people to always have a place to connect and commune with nature.

2. The CSA will continue and grow - same great Farmer (Caleb Trainor), same great produce! Wellspring is transferring the farm enterprise to Caleb Trainor who will launch Winterspring, LLC, an innovative model incubator farm that will operate on the Wellspring grounds. Caleb will continue his good work with organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture to provide the community with locally grown and harvested organic produce. Wellspring, Inc. will continue to support Caleb in his endeavor and hope that shareholders will do the same.

Caleb will be sending out information on Winterspring, LLC and instructions on how to enroll in the Summer, 2021 CSA! 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Caleb directly: 262-689-9938 or caleb@winterspringcsa.com

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Farewell to Department Directors

Because of COVID-19 and the continued increase in cases in Wisconsin, all Education and Hospitality programming as well as many of the regular events sponsored by Wellspring will be suspended indefinitely. We thank both Roxanne and Amber for their expertise and commitment to Wellspring. We wish them both all the best in the future.

​Unfortunately, Roxanne Hanna’s position as Education Director will not be renewed. Roxanne has been with Wellspring for three years. She has been the life of the education program, organizing workshops and events, conducting field trips, and developing partnerships with a number of organizations. She also managed herb production for the CSA, organized and contributed to the newsletter, coordinated social media and community outreach, conducted several fundraising campaigns, chaired multiple committees, served on the board, and volunteered hundreds of hours. Her contributions have impacted many aspects of Wellspring.

​Amber Trainor’s position as Office Director will also not be renewed in 2021. Amber has worked with Wellspring for 18-months and in that short period of time, she not only created great efficiency in our organization but also helped us through this difficult COVID time with policies and procedures that have made it possible for us to work safely. She has also served on the Education, Events, and Grants committees, volunteered many hours, and her organizational expertise has greatly contributed to Wellspring's successful navigation of 2020. 

​The Wellspring Board of Directors, Joseph Mantoan, Terri Schiller, Amber Heiser and Amy Otis-Wilborn, will continue to share our progress in setting new and exciting directions for Wellspring. Our commitment is to sustain and to grow Wellspring in ways that support creating a place “for all to live in peace and harmony with themselves, others and the earth.” In line with this vision is continued support for the conservation and preservation of Wellspring as a natural space that educates and feeds us in so many ways. As well, we pledge our support to Caleb and his new LLC, Winterspring.