|
Terra Bella Farm: Two girls making it happen |
PDF |
| Print | |
E-mail |
|
Written by Sallie Maron
|
|
Thursday, 02 September 2010 14:32 |
I visited Terra Bella Farm on a warm, sunny morning to talk with two young farmers, Emily Magnotto and Rachel Fesler-Schnitzer, while they harvested kale, swiss chard and other fresh vegetables. 
The two became friends in 9th grade and over the years developed a farming dream, nourished by Emily's time living in Italy and Rachel's work in Hawaii with WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farmers). 
The dream started to turn real in the fall of 2007 when they cleared and planted a cover crop on some land that Emily's family owned on Bainbridge. The land was overgrown though it had been part of the original Wardwell Farm. Since then they've built a greenhouse, expanded the crop production and successfully marketed their produce. You'll find some of their fresh veggies at local restaurants such as Hitchcock, Pegasus and Arbutus, as well as being available at the Bainbridge Farmers' Market and the Sound Food Ferry Farm Stand.
This year they've added delicious soups to their offerings at the Bainbridge Farmers' Market. Emily, who grew up on Bainbridge, creates the soups at a friend's commercial kitchen with input from
her husband Giuseppe. Rachel works at the farm full-time and relishes the time spent in the field as well as the opportunity for 'knowledge expansion." When asked for her farming secrets to survival, Rachel's immediate response was "disco and green tea!"
 As I nibbled tender green beans and snap peas at the farm, I found it easy to share their delight in connecting to the land and the community through teamwork and a dream of 'two girls making it happen."
|
