Kitchen Garden Journal

One of my main projects for this season is to really document the farm like never before. Having my iPhone in my pocket means that I always have my photo and video capability on me at all times, so I can catch those moments that have eluded me in years past.

So I am overjoyed to have another iPhone user working on the farm this year, one with a different perspective, a different eye, and a completely different aesthetic. Candace Hope is an amateur photographer, devotee of antique cameras of all sorts, and a proponent of the ShakeIt photo app. She hates the iPhone camera. After she manipulates the images she likes the original is instantly deleted. I think you will like the results as much as I do.

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This year at The Kitchen Garden, we have the immense good fortune of a spectacular crew of hardworking farmers. Heather Diaz (right) has moved here from Worcester to lead our field crew. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she has worked on vegetable farms in Rhode Island and Washington State. She is a committed vegetable-lover and all around asset to the farm.

Brian Garretson (above, left) comes to the farm from Portland, Oregon, where he has spent the last four years working in restaurants and keeping a home garden. Come and see him at the markets; he loves to talk about food. Although fairly new to vegetable farming, he worked on his uncle’s Christmas tree farm in Ohio during summers growing up and lends his comfort and familiarity with tractors to our mechanical operations.

Emmett Van Driesche grew up in the Valley before leaving to work on sailing ships all over the world. Since returning to the valley he has worked at Sidehill Farm with his wife, Cecilia, and now the couple and their 9-month-old daughter, Eliza May, are working on establishing their own farm in Ashfield. He’s got some serious skills with rope and is an all around jokester in charge of keeping everyone smiling.

Julia Costa (right) has returned for a second season with us after spending the winter in the US Virgin Islands working and studying permaculture at a small farm on St. Croix. Julia is an amazing, fun-loving person and a hard worker. We value her experience and insights and admire her dedication to farming. She will return to Greenfield Community College in the fall to study nutrition.

Last but certainly not least is Candace Hope (above, driving). You may know her if you did any business with Paradise Copies in Northampton in the past several years, where she worked as a graphic designer. Candace volunteered with us our very first year farming 4 years ago. This year she is back, finally following her farming dream and she seems to be loving every minute of it. She’s also a photographer and musician; she plays the cello in a local band and often tours on weekends.

Not officially crew members (yet), Lily (2.25) and Oliver (0.75, below) sometimes drop in for some farm fun. One of Lily's first words was "tractor" and we won't be surprised if her little brother is equally enthusiastic about machinery.

Both kids make regular appearances at the farmers' markets where Lily cools the vegetables (and herself) with our water spray mister, and Oliver loves teething on carrots and cooing with customers. Caroline's parents moved to Amherst in May to help look after the kids when we're working late on the farm. 

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Our most eagerly awaited fall crop has finally come in: Oliver Rathbone Wilcox was born Monday Sept. 21 and everyone is happy and healthy. So far, Oliver's favorite vegetable is milk.

A big and well-deserved thank you to our crew for keeping the farm running smoothly in our absence. 

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