About

Atina and Martin Diffley educate farmers and consumers through their consulting business Organic Farming Works LLC.

Martin Diffley started the Gardens of Eagan, an urban-edge organic vegetable farm, on his 5th generation family land in 1973. Atina joined him in 1985. They grew a diverse range of vegetables and “brand-name” marketed through their roadside stand in Eagan, Minnesota, and direct to Twin Cities area natural food co-operatives and restaurants.

From 1989 to 1992, the Diffley family land was bulldozed for suburban development. Filmmaker Helen De Michiel’s award-winning documentary video, Turn Here Sweet Corn, addressing the rural-suburban interface and the loss of agricultural land, was largely filmed at Gardens of Eagan during this time. Land use and development is a central theme in Atina Diffley’s 2012 memoir, Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works, published by the University of Minnesota Press.

After 5 years of leasing and farming on 18 different properties, the Diffleys reestablished the Gardens of Eagan on land in Eureka Township. In 2006 their farm was threatened again, this time by eminent domain for a Koch Industries owned crude oil pipeline. The Diffleys intervened as parties to the legal proceeding and with the help of over 4,500 letter writing customers, the food co-op community, attorney Paula Maccabee, expert witnesses, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, they succeeded at moving the pipeline and creating an Organic Mitigation Plan that provides protections for the soil and certification of threatened organic farms in Minnesota.

In January 2008 the Diffleys sold the Gardens of Eagan name and equipment to the Wedge Community Co-op. The Diffleys continue to own and live on their land. They are currently exploring a conservation easement to protect it into the future. Their present on-farm projects include breeding organic sweet-corn cultivars, mentoring beginning organic farmers, and transitioning land to organic.

Martin’s Biography

Martin Diffley started the Gardens of Eagan, an urban-edge organic vegetable farm, on his 5th generation family land in 1973. One of the first certified organic vegetable farms in Minnesota, Martin has extensive experience in transitioning land to organic, innovative marketing, small and mid-size farm equipment, soil-based fertility, and organic weed and pest management. In 2008 the Diffleys sold the Gardens of Eagan name and equipment to the Wedge Community Co-op in Minneapolis.  Martin now provides consulting services through Organic Farming Works L.L.C., owned with his wife, Atina. His current on-farm projects include, breeding of sweet corn, mentoring beginning farmers, and transitioning chemically farmed land to organic.

Additional: Land use issues have been a central point of entry for the Diffley’s organic advocacy. In 1989, the 5th-generation Diffley family land was lost to suburban development. The Diffleys collaborated with filmmaker Helen DeMichiel to create the award-winning documentary, Turn Here Sweet Corn: The video. Filmed on the Diffley land in Eagan and in the surrounding community, the video focuses on the loss of greenbelt farmlands to suburbia.

The Diffley’s started over on new land, but faced eminent domain again in 2006 when threatened by a crude oil pipeline owned by notorious polluters, Koch Industries. The Diffleys intervened as legal parties in the route proceeding and with the help of over 4,500 letter writing customers, attorney Paula Maccabee, expert witnesses, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, succeeded in creating an Organic Mitigation Plan that provides protections for the soil and certification of threatened organic farms in Minnesota. Martin can be reached at martin@organicfarmingworks.com.

Atina’s Biography

Atina Diffley is an organic farmer and consultant (Organic Farming Works LLC), public speaker, and author of the 2012 memoir, Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works. From 1985 to 2008, she and her husband Martin ran the Gardens of Eagan, an urban-edge, organic vegetable farm, which he started in 1973 as one of the first certified organic produce farms in the Midwest. Atina’s areas of expertise include post harvest handling, brand-name marketing, greenhouse management, and organic farming systems. She presently serves on the boards of three organic agriculture non-profit organizations and is also the editor and designer of Roger Blobaum’s Organic History Website, and a co-author author/editor and lead trainer for Wholesale Success: A Farmers Guide to Selling, Postharvest Handling and Packing Produce. For reflections, tips and decision-making tools subscribe to her on-line blog, What Is A Farm. www.atinadiffley.com

Additional: Land use issues have been a central point of entry for the Diffley’s organic advocacy. In 1989, the 5th-generation Diffley family land was lost to suburban development. The Diffleys collaborated with filmmaker Helen DeMichiel to create the award-winning documentary, Turn Here Sweet Corn: The video. Filmed on the Diffley land in Eagan and in the surrounding community, the video focuses on the loss of greenbelt farmlands to suburbia.

The Diffley’s started over on new land, but faced eminent domain again in 2006 when threatened by a crude oil pipeline owned by notorious polluters, Koch Industries. The Diffleys intervened as legal parties in the route proceeding and with the help of over 4,500 letter writing customers, attorney Paula Maccabee, expert witnesses, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, succeeded in creating an Organic Mitigation Plan that provides protections for the soil and certification of threatened organic farms in Minnesota. Atina can be reached at www.atinadiffley.com.

In 2008 the Diffleys sold the Gardens of Eagan name to the Wedge Community Co-op.  The Wedge-operated Gardens of Eagan continues to provide organic produce to the local community. The Diffley’s on-farm projects now include breeding of sweet corn cultivars, mentoring beginning farmers, and transitioning conventional land to organic.

Awards and Recognitions

2008    Successful Farmer of the Year | EcoFarm | California
2008    Lawsuit of the Year | Minnesota Law and Politics | December 2008
 2007    Cooperate for Community Award | National Cooperative Grocer Association Award
2004    Organic Farmer of the Year | Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services
2004    New Initiative Farmer of the Year | Dakota County., MN. Award

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