At FormsKirns, we believe that knowing where your food comes from is just as important as how it tastes. That's why we're starting a series highlighting the dedicated farmers who grow the produce that ends up in your subscription boxes. Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to the Smith family, who have been farming the same land for three generations.
A Family Legacy
The Smith Family Farm sits on 75 acres of fertile land in the rolling hills just 40 miles from our distribution center. What began as a small apple orchard in 1952 has evolved into a diverse farm growing over 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables using organic and regenerative practices.
"My grandfather started with just apple trees," explains Tom Smith, who now runs the farm with his wife Sarah and their two children. "He was ahead of his time in many ways, refusing to use the chemical pesticides that were becoming popular in the 1950s. That commitment to working with nature rather than against it has been our family philosophy ever since."
Adapting to Climate Challenges
Like many farmers, the Smiths have had to adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns in recent years. "We've seen earlier springs, hotter summers, and more extreme weather events," Sarah notes. "It's forced us to get creative with our growing methods."
The farm has implemented several innovative approaches to build resilience against climate change:
- Diversification: Growing a wide variety of crops ensures that if one crop fails due to weather conditions, others will succeed.
- Water management: A sophisticated drip irrigation system conserves water while ensuring plants receive consistent moisture.
- Cover cropping: Planting cover crops during off-seasons improves soil health and reduces erosion.
- Season extension: High tunnels (unheated greenhouses) allow for earlier planting and later harvesting, extending the growing season by several weeks.
"Our high tunnels have been game-changers," Tom explains. "We can start growing greens almost a month earlier than we could in open fields, and we can extend our tomato and pepper seasons well into October."
Organic Practices with Modern Innovation
The Smith Family Farm has been certified organic since 1999, but they don't see organic farming as a return to old-fashioned methods. Instead, they combine traditional wisdom with modern science to maximize both sustainability and productivity.
"People sometimes think organic farming means doing things exactly like our great-grandparents did," Sarah laughs. "But we use soil testing, beneficial insects, advanced composting methods, and precision equipment. We're not anti-technology – we just choose technologies that work with natural systems rather than trying to override them."
Their commitment to soil health is particularly impressive. The Smiths regularly test their soil and amend it with precisely calculated combinations of compost, mineral supplements, and cover crops to ensure optimal fertility without synthetic fertilizers.
A Day in the Life
What does a typical day look like for the Smith family during growing season? There's no such thing as a "typical" day, they tell us. But here's a glimpse into their summer routine:
- 5:00 AM: Tom and Sarah start their day with coffee and a quick farm meeting to prioritize the day's tasks.
- 6:00 AM: Harvesting begins. Morning is the optimal time to pick most vegetables when they're at their freshest.
- 9:00 AM: Their small team of seasonal workers arrives to help with additional harvesting, washing, and packing.
- 11:00 AM: Harvested produce is moved to the cooling shed to maintain freshness.
- 12:00 PM: Quick lunch break, often featuring whatever vegetables are in peak season.
- 1:00 PM: Afternoon tasks vary by day – planting new crops, weeding, trellising tomatoes, or maintaining irrigation systems.
- 3:00 PM: Their children return from school and help with age-appropriate farm tasks.
- 5:00 PM: Final harvest check and preparation for next-day deliveries.
- 7:00 PM: Family dinner and, hopefully, a bit of rest before starting again tomorrow.
"During peak season, it's sunrise to sunset work," Tom admits. "But there's something deeply satisfying about working with the rhythms of nature and seeing the direct results of your labor."
The Next Generation
The Smiths' children, Emma (14) and Jack (12), represent the fourth generation on the farm. Both are already active participants in farm operations, with Emma showing particular interest in herb cultivation and Jack developing a passion for the mechanical aspects of farming.
"We never want to pressure them to take over the farm someday," Sarah emphasizes. "But we do want them to understand where food comes from and the value of working with the land."
That educational mission extends beyond their own family. The Smiths regularly host school groups and community workshops on topics ranging from composting to seasonal cooking.
From Their Farm to Your Table
The Smith Family Farm has been a FormsKirns partner since our beginning. We typically receive deliveries from them twice weekly during growing season, often harvested just hours before arriving at our distribution center.
"What I love about the FormsKirns model is that we can pick vegetables at peak ripeness," Tom explains. "When you're selling to supermarkets, you often have to harvest things under-ripe so they'll survive a long supply chain. But FormsKirns customers get produce that was in the ground that same morning. That makes all the difference in flavor and nutrition."
What's in Season at Smith Family Farm
Right now (late May), the Smiths are harvesting:
- Spring lettuce mixes
- Arugula
- Spinach
- Radishes
- Spring onions
- Asparagus (final harvests of the season)
- Rhubarb
- Fresh herbs (chives, cilantro, dill, mint)
Coming soon to your FormsKirns boxes from the Smith Farm (June-July):
- Sugar snap peas
- Early summer squash
- Cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Early potatoes
- Beets with greens
Get to Know Your Farmers
We believe that food tastes better when you know the story and the people behind it. That's why we're committed to transparency in our supply chain and to supporting farmers like the Smiths who are stewarding the land for future generations.
Next time you enjoy crisp lettuce or sweet strawberries from your FormsKirns box that were grown at Smith Family Farm, you can picture the careful hands that tended those plants from seed to harvest.
We'll be featuring more of our partner farms in the coming months. Is there something specific you'd like to know about where your food comes from? Let us know in the comments!
