Meet the Farmers
Indian Hills Farm, Greater Austin Clay Artists, Texas Coffee Traders, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Out of My Gourd
Hersh and Karen Kendall, Indian Hills Farm
Hersh and Karen came by their farm in Smithville with a trick of fate. They had been living and working up in Alaska for many years and decided to get to southern zones some 20 years ago. Hersh was coming to sign a contact and pay for the deal on the land they found, but when he arrived, it had already been sold to another buyer! They quickly made another round of searches and found their current piece of property to their liking--170 acres--enough for growing organic vegetables on a few acres, harvesting from 30 acres of pecan trees that get no sprays or chemical fertilizer, and a pond to fish from. Hersh has brought a variety of common and unusual vegetables to the market, all certified organic. Karen makes up tasty granola, spiced pecans and gift-wrapped specialty popcorn. Come by and get some!
Welcome them as they come back to the market, as they went up again to Alaska in the heat of the summer and have just come back in October to harvest the pecans.
Greater Austin Clay Artists
An enterprising group of artists who work with clay approached the Market prior to the opening in May and sought a place to sell wares of their association members. The popular retail shop that features many of their works, Sunset Canyon Pottery, even sponsored the reservation fee. Each potter by her or himself could not produce enough product to supply the Market shoppers every week, but the group of artisans could certainly rotate in the appearances at the Market to make a 'show' every four to six weeks. The Market has proved to be a very successful outlet for the potters and they are going to repeat their appearances next year. Get to their booth this Saturday, November 22, to pick up some great gifts!
Texas Coffee Traders
Who wants coffee at a farmers' market? A LOT OF PEOPLE DO. Although we all know that coffee is not a locally grown crop, Texas Coffee Traders does roast it locally in East Austin. They only offer free trade and organically grown coffee at the Market, to ensure that the farmers who are supplying that cup of joe for shoppers at the market are getting a fair price for their labors. They even offer a Austin Farmers' Market blend. A pound of locally roasted coffee can't be beat for a great Christmas gift for someone!
Tracy Claros, Sticky Toffee Pudding
Creating really out of this world desserts is Tracy's specialty at the Market. The sticky toffee pudding, meringue fruit desserts, and fresh tarts are the not-so-average fare. Along with five different types of quiches. Her work is so sought after that she has been asked by both Whole Foods and Central Market to supply them with the desserts. Market shoppers are quite happy to unload her abundant table of desserts to take home (if they make it that far!) for a special treat after Saturday dinner or Sunday brunch. This way, shoppers can say, "Oh, no, I didn't make the dessert, but-- I know the baker personally!"
Martha Dewey, Out of My Gourd
Sometimes, farmers jokingly remark that they must be "out of their gourds" to farm in Central Texas, one of the hardest regions in the country to farm. Well, one grower in Spicewood who just plants and cultivates gourds is happy to "be out of her gourd." Martha loves all different types of gourds and specializes in drying and curing them so that customers can then convert the natural gourds to bird houses, feeders, ornaments and other items for their homes.
NOTE: This is the last installment of Meet the Farmer for the 2003 season. You can read about the vendors in previous issues written during the Market season. We will also be updating the back files of farmer profiles that are not currently in the archives. In addition, look at the main Austin Farmers' Market website, http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org/vendors to find a particular vendor you might want to get in touch with during the off-season of the Market. You can call our offices at 236-0074 to find detailed information if you need it.
posted November 18, 2003 | permanent link to this article
Gunderman Farm, Colorado River Pecans, Oh! Nuts Farm and Penguinville Purses
Cathy and Don at the market.
Cathy and Don Miller (related to Joan Gundermann) Gundermann Farm
Cathy is Joan's sister. She and her husband Don greet Austin Farmers' Market customers with the fresh-picked herbs, greens, eggplant, squashes, beans, lettuces and more from Joan's certified organic farm in Glen Flora. Cathy also sells her hand-crafted frames that depict rustic beauty recycled from old farm windows.
Joan began in agriculture first as a peach grower with her husband at Peachland Farms (the same place, different name). But after 20 years in the orchard business, her husband took a day job and Joan decided to continue with vegetables since they had 90 acres of great river-bottom soil and two teen-aged sons. With 45 acres as certified organic farm, Joan also grows enough acres of excellent farm vegetables to supply a number of coops in Houston, Central Market, and a small grower's only farmers market there as well. Some of you met Joan when she first came with Cathy and Don to the Market in September with her pears and figs. She quickly garnered a following of loyal customers who come to Cathy and Don every Saturday!
Joan and her son Eric at the Gunderman Farm.Bill, Chad and Tracy Berdoll, Colorado River Pecans
Bill Berdoll, the father, has been growing pecan trees for more than 20 years on 90 acres between Garfield and Bastrop bordering along the Colorado River. Chad, one of his two sons, can remember when he was 8 years old and 'helped' plant the first set of several hundred trees. They now number in the thousands. Tracy Berdoll, Chad's wife, is the one you will see at the Market. She will pleasantly inform customers how healthy pecans can be for overall health, and there are a variety of packages of shelled pecans to try them out right away!
Bill Williams, Oh, Nuts! Farm
Bill started too, about 20 years ago with 150 pecan trees on his homestead off Hwy. 969 before Webberville. He brings a bit of humor and lots of pecans both whole and shelled to the Market.
Jennifer Schossow, Penguinville Purses
Jennifer began making purses from cigar boxes to do something different and for gifts. It wasn't long before friends of hers told her she should 'go into business' and she did, at the Austin Farmers' Market. Jennifer also found ways to make men's watch boxes from the wooden boxes as well as compact cases for women and cloth purses made from unusual and plush fabrics. Check out her whole line when you visit the Market.
posted November 11, 2003 | permanent link to this article
Sunshine Gardeners, Joy Of Snack and Glenda's Gourmet Cakes
Sunshine GardenersAn enterprising group of three gardeners, including Virginia Raby this fall, have been bringing extra garden harvests to the Market all summer so that buyers may be able to pick up some unusual and rarely offered produce such as malabar greens, purslane (higher in Omega-3 than salmon) and uncommon herbs. Now Virginia is down to peppers pretty much for the fall, but continue to support these gardners that sow a little extra next spring when the market opens again.
The Joy of Snack
The Joy of Snack offers to customers some healthy alternatives for a quick tasty snack that goes handily in someone's mouth immediately or can be reserved for that school lunch snack pack or work lunch pick-me-up. Partners Fatima Unwala and Asma Hussain put together their combined talents of cooking (Fatima) and business planning (Asma) in order to create Joy of Snack this year. They chose the Market as their first store front because they felt they could, as a very small business enterprise, respond quickly to consumers' comments and recommendations as well as receive feedback immediately in a direct consumer to producer face-to-face conversation and relationship. Tantalize your taste buds with an Indian spiced treat from Joy of Snack soon.
Glenda's Gourmet Cakes
Glenda and Neil Gayle came into the market for much the same reason as Joy of Snack; to produce a new product for more people, following encouragement from their friends and neighbors who raved about their cake. The Market serves as the springboard for product introduction and helps small businesses hone their marketing skills while customers get a great opportunity to sample and test out tasty beginnings. Glenda has been making her cakes for years with special care to include ingredients that make it dense and flavorful. It comes ready wrapped for that special hostess gift or to go into a basket for Thanksgiving.
posted November 4, 2003 | permanent link to this article
){kind=link}