Morning Glory hosted an appreciation picnic for volunteers at the farm near Mount Vernon, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Morning Glory, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm near Mount Vernon, Iowa, recently thanked volunteers with an appreciation picnic, sourced with ingredients straight from the farm.

Donna Warhover, who operates the farm with her husband, Bill, hosted nearly 40 people at the farm on a beautiful Iowa evening, noting that the volunteers play a large role in the “community” behind the CSA.

Donna Warhover thanks volunteers at Morning Glory farm, near Mount Vernon, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

My sister has been interning at the farm through a Practical Farmers of Iowa program and I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer at Morning Glory’s booth at the Iowa City Farmers Market so I was one of the lucky guests.

Becky’s Mindful Kitchen prepared incredible soup, salad, dessert and an entree from the farm’s squash, kale, apples and other fresh produce, bread was baked by Aaron Hall, from The Local Crumb, and Donna gave her guests a gift of chocolates from my favorite chocolate shop, Mount Vernon Confections.

Morning Glory has volunteers of all ages; people who come to the farm to help with planting, harvest and more. Many other CSAs operate throughout Iowa, providing fresh food, generally on a weekly basis to its members throughout the growing season. The work involved is extensive, so volunteers can help fill in the gaps to keep our food local and allow small farms like Morning Glory to thrive.

See more photos from the event, below, and more about Morning Glory at: www.morningglory.community.