Photograph by Guy Hand

Photograph by Guy Hand

Josie Erskine,
Peaceful Belly Farm

I have realized that change is the only way I can make it as a farmer.
— Josie Erskine, Peaceful Belly

Josie and Clay Erskine started their small-scale, organic farm in 2002, with hope for a better future, “We filed for the name the same day that we went to war with Afghanistan, and that is the reason that our farm is named Peaceful Belly,” said Josie. 

Their optimism allowed them to persevere through the challenges of the profession, “Farming has these extreme ups and downs because you’re dealing with weather and you’re dealing with the marketplace and you’re also dealing with being someone in your society, that is really, really undervalued.”

They became leaders in many facets of Boise, “It was really quite surprising how integral farming is in every single part of society and how I had a voice at every table.”

Customers admire their playful approach to one of the hardest jobs around, “If I could go back in time and really realize what my strength was, I’m an installation artist. Every week my farmers market both gave me the opportunity to create an installation with the food and the flowers.”