Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Bouchard.
Hi Anna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up playing in my grandmothers garden. I moved to Moab in 1992 and have been gardening in the valley ever since. Backyard gardening is a thing for Moab and people started asking for advice. I shared freely with knowledge, physical labor and abundance.
In 2007 I bought 3 acres in Spanish Valley south of Moab and that was the start of the farm! In 2009 I became “the farmer” for a the Youth Garden Project a non-profit educating kids. I had imposter syndrome having never been called “a farmer” but I slowly eased into the title. After 3 years of organizing infrastructure and growing food at YGP I established Easy Bee Farm LLC.
Easy Bee Farm started out as 3 acres of abandoned weed fields and blow sand . By utilizing cover crops and green manure crops we were able to improve the soil slowly over time.
What started out as growing food with friends for friends slowly turned into something more. More food was being grown- and more hands were helping to grow it.
Easy Bee offered its first CSA is 2015 with 20 shares- and 1 worker-share. ( a person who is paid in produce for their time)
The years kind of run together- but another field was opened up- and more food was able to be grown- and more CSA’s were able to be offered.
A dear friend up the road opened up some of her land for us to take care of- and we had even more room to grow.
Easy Bee started selling to the local co-op along with a few restaurants in town
By 2020 Easy Bee had a 50 member CSA. Even in the height of COVID the team kept farming and providing for their community.
The community loved teh CSA model- and appreciated the commitment to quality produce.
so the farm grew a bit more.
In 2023 an onsite farmstand was open. (5 days a week)
The farmstand continued to be a sucess- and eventually went to only being closed one day a week.
The team continued to grow, and with it so did the farm.
The CSA model has continued to be a backbone for the farm- in 2026 we have 18 full shares, and 40 half shares.
Now in 2026, the farmstand is open 7 days a week! We currently have 6 staff members. and over 35 trained worker-shares.
Farming in the desert is challenging- with lack of water, smoke from fires, and the continuious pest problems. However with the solid team that we have built and created we endure and thrive creating a healthy habitat for polinators and the humans that work it.
Not sure where this fits into the story- but the team is women own. and women led. (and all staff are fem)
We find this important to highlight seeing that farming is traditionally a male dominated field.
We all take a lot of pride in what we do- and how we choose to do it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
far from it. But with perseverance, patience and a great team, makes it possible.
Farming constantly has many factors working against it.
Lack of water,
heat,
pests,
and growing a small business.
creating and establishing a market for produce.
short shelf life of the product.
weather,
loss of grant funding
crop failures
weed pressure
transientness of the Moab Work Force
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Quality and consistency.
Easy Bee grows a little bit of everything. We do not specialize in any one particular crop- that is what sets us apart from many farms.
Easy Bee customers know that their produce was picked within the week- and will last another 2 weeks in their fridge.
The quality of Easy Bee produce is picture perfect- and tastes even better.
We are also known for our Sourdough bread and chocolate chip cookies that can be found for sale in the farmstand
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
How shopping locally, especially for produce, makes a difference.
The amount of travel time and distance is removed- keeping produce fresher, safer, and litterally putting hte money back into the community.
farming regenerativly also makes a difference-
It focuses on taking care of the soil first. with long term goals in mind as opposed to short term profits.
By taking care of the land we are able to take care of the people who care for the land.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://easybeefarm.com
- Instagram: @easybeefarm
