Growing up I loved being in nature, my parents had a huge garden, and took us for adventures in the local woods, or nearby farms, rain or shine. They were big national parks and wildlife fans, and I guess I was too. In college I tried farming and I fell in love. My studies honed in on these interests, and I worked with different farms and farmers over the years. After graduation, my skill-set in agriculture grew . I gained experience with tractors and power tools, I learned about dealing with employees and budgeting.
When my husband started his business, and we had our 2nd child, I took a break from farming. I jokingly called it my sabbatical. Then an opportunity came up that met our needs as a family, and my desire to farm again. The Humble Huckster Farm was born! In the fall of 2014, I hustled to get a garlic crop planted, and 2015 was my first full season. I had never owned a business or started a farm from scratch, so that was an exciting next step. 2015 went very well, and 2016 better! I grow and sell chemical-free mixed vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, and some fruit to a farmers’ market, a CSA, and some restaurants. I’m grateful we are able to live on the farm, as prior farm jobs required a commute. What a difference living here makes. The dream really is sustainable growth. Learning, evolving, and adapting with the changing needs of the farm, our clientele, and our family. Some future possibilities: goats, pigs, fruit trees, value-added products. But I think balance is so important. It is easy to get overextended, and self-care and pacing is really important to me, in order to achieve long-term growth and satisfaction.