This week we’re taking a closer look at Sun Gold Farm. I noticed the Sun Gold Farm booth when I saw their fantastic variety of both vegetables and potted plants and herbs. It’s always more fun and delicious to find out where our food comes from and who’s doing the growing so I asked Vicki Hertel over at Sun Gold to tell us a little more about themselves.
How long have you been farming? All of our lives. Both Charlie’s parents and my parents were second generation Washington County farmers. My dad purchased this farm in 1940 and we purchased his farm and the neighboring 40 acres to complete Sun Gold Farm.
It sounds like its a family business? How is everyone on the farm related? Yes, we are definitely all in the family. Charlie and I have two children – Chris and Stephanie. They are partners in the farming business, along with Stephanie’s husband Greg. We all share the responsibilities on the farm. Charlie is the seed planter, irrigater, and weekend market person. I plan plantings, grow transplants, and manage the harvest. Stephanie, besides being the mother of two youngsters, manages our CSA and runs the Woodstock and Hollywood booths on the weekends. She also has a beautiful field of cutting flowers. Chris is our delivery and market person, and when he has an hour or two of free time is usually found doing tractor work in the fields. Greg is our “Mr. Fix Anything That Broke” guy, and is usually found in the machine shop welding, hammering, and fixing. We have three young granddaughters who love exploring the farm, and are already showing an interest in fruit and vegetable production. Even my mom at 94 years lives on the farm and keeps my kitchen in order during the busy season.
Do you have a favorite item you grow or a favorite way to prepare something? I love to grow peas and beans. I am an impatient person and legumes are a fast crop with delicious results. Snow peas, sugar snap, green garbanzos, roma beans, Savanah beans, and wax beans are just a few of the varieties we grow that I really enjoy. My favorite way to enjoy almost any vegetable that we grow is to coat with olive oil and cook over the grill in a grilling pan and add a pinch of sea salt. Pea pods pair nicely with onions and summer squash when cooked this way.
I can’t wait to pick up some of their fantastic veggies for grilling this weekend. And while I’m at it, I’ll grab some of their great potted plants and herbs too!
Tags: Sun Gold Farm