Spring has a way of reminding us that growth is always possible. At Samaritan Farm in Rogers, that growth isn’t just happening in the soil. It’s happening in the lives of thousands of neighbors across Northwest Arkansas.

A supportive leg of the Samaritan Community Center, the 1.5-acre farm sustainably grows vegetables, fruits, and flowers that are served entirely free through the Center’s markets and cafes. Last year alone, the farm produced more than 29,000 pounds of fresh food. Through the Samaritan Community Center as a whole, 82,547 free meals were served and 81,676 free grocery bags were distributed.

For Farm Manager Megan Knutson, the mission is clear: provide fresher, more nutrient-dense produce to neighbors who may not otherwise have access to it.

“We sustainably grow food to serve directly in our neighboring free markets and cafes,” Megan shares. “Our goal is to offer the most locally grown and sustainable food possible to our community.”

Megan’s background makes her uniquely suited for this role. After earning her LMSW from the University of Arkansas, she developed a deep passion for healthy eating while working with individuals whose most basic needs were often unmet. Later, she fell in love with organic gardening at Dripping Springs Garden. Samaritan Farm beautifully blends both of her passions: improving access to healthy food and caring for the ecology of the land.

The farm practices regenerative market gardening, meaning no chemical sprays and no tillage. Native plants and pollinator gardens are intentionally incorporated to encourage beneficial life across the land.

Butterflies. Birds. Bees. Flowers placed on café tables. Volunteers working side by side in the soil.

The beauty of the farm itself has become part of the gift.

“It’s so fun to see the joy on our neighbors’ faces when we serve them fresh produce,” Megan says. “So many express gratitude and excitement, especially when we provide healthy cooking demos in our teaching kitchen.”

What began as Megan and a part-time garden assistant has grown into a team of three full-time members and a part-time maintenance manager. The current farm was built just three and a half years ago, expanding from a smaller garden behind the old community center.

Of course, farming is not without its challenges. Pests, disease, climate, and the rising cost of supplies are constant stressors. And because none of the produce is sold, the farm relies entirely on donors, grants, and revenue from the Samaritan Shops thrift stores, which fund about 40% of the Center’s work.

Still, the team presses on. As Megan puts it, “Farming is a game of hard work and luck.” And at Samaritan Farm, both are cultivated daily.

The farm’s biggest fundraising event of the season is coming up:

🌸 Annual Plant Sale

📍 Samaritan Shop in Rogers

📅 April 25 at 10 AM

Shoppers can purchase annual flowers, vegetables, and herbs, along with a special pop-up vintage boutique market.

Community members and groups are also invited to volunteer on weekday mornings. With spring plantings underway, there is no shortage of meaningful work to be done.

This season, as our own gardens begin to bloom and farmers markets fill with color, it’s inspiring to know that right here in Rogers, a farm is quietly growing more than food. It’s growing dignity, beauty, and hope for our neighbors.

As part of the Samaritan Community Center in Rogers, Samaritan Farm is cultivating far more than vegetables. Under the leadership of Farm Manager Megan Knutson, the 1.5-acre regenerative farm is growing fresh, nutrient-dense produce that is distributed entirely free through neighboring markets and cafes. We asked Megan to share more about the heart behind the harvest.

Our first mission is to provide fresher, more nutrient-dense produce to our community for free. We want to offer the most locally grown and sustainable food possible to neighbors who often do not have access to that. We also aim to educate the community about growing their own food sustainably and to steward the land in a way that supports long-term ecological health.

We practice regenerative market gardening. That means no chemical sprays and no tillage. We incorporate native plant spaces and pollinator gardens to encourage beneficial life on the farm. It is important to us that we care for the soil while caring for our neighbors.

Seeing the joy on our neighbors’ faces when they receive fresh produce at the markets and cafes is incredibly rewarding. Many express gratitude and excitement, especially when we provide healthy cooking demonstrations through our teaching kitchen. The beauty of the farm itself also brings joy to volunteers and visitors through flowers, butterflies, birds, and the simple appreciation of nature.

We invite individuals and groups to volunteer on weekday mornings, especially during the busy spring planting season. Our annual plant sale on April 25 at 10 AM at the Samaritan Shop in Rogers is also a wonderful way to support the farm’s work.