Welcome to our new blog series: Meet the Team. Each month, we will share an interview of one of team members! We hope you will enjoy these!
This month I’m up!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Silver Run, Maryland, a little south of Littlestown, Pennsylvania and north of Westminster, Maryland. Believe it or not, Silver Run makes Emmitsburg look like a metropolis!
What did you do before you came to farming/Good Soil Farm?
I gardened at our home in Bowie and volunteered at an organic farm, both with Raphael and Miriam in tow. Before Raphael was born, I taught Spanish in Catholic schools.
What inspired you to become a farmer?
I was inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Wendell Berry, Nourishing Traditions, and my love of gardening and being outside! And I learned to love being outdoors from both of my parents: my dad is a landscaper and my mom runs my parents’ horse farm!
What are some things you didn’t expect to learn that farming has taught you?
I have learned that I can’t always go full-speed-ahead and get everything on my list done! Random things happen that slow me down, the weather is not always ideal for the task I have planned, and I can’t just ignore the kids! 😀 So I have had to learn to accept that maybe everything doesn’t get done, and I have to trust that the actually important things will get done in the proper time.
How has farming benefited you?
I love being outside, so it’s a great job for me! Plus I love being able to open up the freezer/fridge/pantry and have farm fresh ingredients to eat!
What do you hope to accomplish through farming?
I hope to feed our family and our community the best quality food while also building up the culture of the community!
How has your role at Good Soil Farm evolved in your time here?
I’ve always done a lot of the office work and planting and harvesting with Stephen. I am happy to be able to pass on QuickBooks to my friend Amanda. All the happy sounding marketing is from me. You can even tell that Stephen is typing this as I dictate because there are no exclamation points in this paragraph.
Most memorable Good Soil Farm experience?
In the first spring that we had the farm, I was taking the kids to the farm to go on a nature walk (we used to live across the highway in the brick house near the gas station on South Seton Avenue). When we came around the curve of Keysville Road there was a turtle crossing it. Naturally, I stopped in the middle of the road, put the turtle in the car, and brought it to the farm. As I was looking for a good place to put it on the farm, I found another turtle in the woods! So, I thought this must be a good spot for a turtle!
We took our nature walk.
Then, I decided to check on the turtles to make sure they weren’t fighting or something. But, instead, they were mating! I’m a turtle matchmaker!
What’s your favorite animal on the farm? And why?
Besides Beowulf and turtles, I love the turkeys! They are so curious and friendly.
Favorite hobby? Or favorite things you like to do when not working?
I love to run, read, paint, and take walks in the woods or stream!
Favorite food?
Besides ice cream :), I love chicken pot pie! And its so good made from our own chicken!
Favorite dish you like to make with a Good Soil Farm item?
I love making Sopa de Ajo (garlic soup) because it was the first meal I could make with almost all Good Soil Farm ingredients: garlic, chicken broth, sourdough bread, and eggs!
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