Farm owner and operator:
Tom Hurtgen was born and raised on a Wisconsin dairy farm and has returned to his farming roots after 40 years of working in an office for Eastman Kodak and Duke Medical Center. Tom has always grown a large family garden and has been a woodworker for most of his life. Tom does most of the field prep with amendments, overall steering of crop planting, works the market in Durham, and more than can be listed here. Most days begin before sunrise and end well after sunset. "Grandpa" knows a lot of things related to farming and life and has no shortage of stories to teach with.
Farm co-owner:
Nancy Hurtgen aka" Grandma" fills several roles on the farm. She assists with market prep, processes the seconds for jams, fills in at the markets, handles communications and ordering, and lots of the "inside" jobs.
Farm manager:
Lisa Pope has worked on the farm since it moved to vegetable and fruit production in 2008. She manages many of the day to day operations, field work, market prep, plant production, website, marketing, jam productions, bee keeping, and works the Eno River farmers market. This is her full time job and she enjoys teaching what she has learned about all aspects of farming.
Other family members:
There is a host of family members that pitch in to make it all happen. The grandkids jump in for their favorite parts as well as helping when the tasks need many hands. As they get older, it happens to be a built in summer/weekend/holiday job to help fulfill the dreams they may have that require some "funding". This is one of the best parts: the kids spend cherished time with family while learning what it takes to grow food, work hard, and eat well without harmful synthetic chemicals on their food. There aren't many life situations that Grandpa doesn't have a life lesson story to pass along to all listeners.
Other helpers:
The farm employs seasonal and part time workers too. Lisa is joined by some fellow moms (some regular, some occasional). They fondly refer to it as "farm therapy"; while the work is happening, they are digesting all the blessings and challenges of what it takes to raise a happy, healthy family in today's world.
Tom Hurtgen was born and raised on a Wisconsin dairy farm and has returned to his farming roots after 40 years of working in an office for Eastman Kodak and Duke Medical Center. Tom has always grown a large family garden and has been a woodworker for most of his life. Tom does most of the field prep with amendments, overall steering of crop planting, works the market in Durham, and more than can be listed here. Most days begin before sunrise and end well after sunset. "Grandpa" knows a lot of things related to farming and life and has no shortage of stories to teach with.
Farm co-owner:
Nancy Hurtgen aka" Grandma" fills several roles on the farm. She assists with market prep, processes the seconds for jams, fills in at the markets, handles communications and ordering, and lots of the "inside" jobs.
Farm manager:
Lisa Pope has worked on the farm since it moved to vegetable and fruit production in 2008. She manages many of the day to day operations, field work, market prep, plant production, website, marketing, jam productions, bee keeping, and works the Eno River farmers market. This is her full time job and she enjoys teaching what she has learned about all aspects of farming.
Other family members:
There is a host of family members that pitch in to make it all happen. The grandkids jump in for their favorite parts as well as helping when the tasks need many hands. As they get older, it happens to be a built in summer/weekend/holiday job to help fulfill the dreams they may have that require some "funding". This is one of the best parts: the kids spend cherished time with family while learning what it takes to grow food, work hard, and eat well without harmful synthetic chemicals on their food. There aren't many life situations that Grandpa doesn't have a life lesson story to pass along to all listeners.
Other helpers:
The farm employs seasonal and part time workers too. Lisa is joined by some fellow moms (some regular, some occasional). They fondly refer to it as "farm therapy"; while the work is happening, they are digesting all the blessings and challenges of what it takes to raise a happy, healthy family in today's world.
Tom
Lisa