After a stalled start last summer due to a destructive hailstorm, Lorrissa Stigings' Fresh From The Garden's roadside vegetable stand's first day of business on Saturday, July 19, more than made up for it, as many eager customers arrived early, resulting in some sold-out items before the doors officially opened.
Of last year's July 13 disaster, Stigings says, "I bawled my eyes out. The rain was so heavy, it washed potatoes to the surface and my peas and onions were only a week away from selling."
This year's opening was also slightly delayed by rain.
"I thought this day was never going to come. Everything was seeded by hand, except the potatoes. This year, there was a slight delay with seeding. Next year, we'll be fast and early, because we'll have a seeder."
This year, Stigings still has a garden of approximately two acres, but she also has a large greenhouse, with two more on order. Although an expansion is "definitely in the works", Stigings says that she is still committed to produce that is "locally-grown, chemical-free, with no pesticides and no growth or ripening stimulants."
"Our vegetables are grown and ripened on the vine. It's not perfect produce, meaning it's not symmetrical. What it is is produce grown how nature intended it to be grown."
Some of the vegetables grown in Stiging's garden are: broccoli, cauliflower, onions, peas, beans, beets, turnips, potatoes, corn, squash, zucchinis and pumpkins. In her greenhouse, the selection includes herbs, green, red and yellow peppers, kale, celery, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Customers like Jake Penner shop with Stigings because "It's the most awesome food."
However, others shop for the obvious health benefits of eating fresh from the garden.
"Kale is big with many people," says Stigings. "It's the best vegetable to get vitamins, minerals and all of your nutrients. A lot of people with cancer are coming to get kale from us."
Future offerings at the roadside stand will include home canning, such as dill pickles and salsa.
"Last year, she couldn't keep up with the salsa," says Stigings' mother and helper, Avis Bell.
Stigings plans (weather permitting) to keep the stand open until Thanksgiving weekend in October, where she will sell pumpkins as well as pumpkin pies and pumpkin cheesecakes.
"Two years ago, we sold 299 pumpkins and pre-sold 20 cheesecakes and 47 pies."
She is also hoping to sell greenhouse produce until Dec. 1,as well as more home baking and farm-raised eggs.
"I have about 200 chickens. They are raised on organic feed, with no chemicals, no vaccines and no antibiotics. They aren't technically free-range, but they aren't grown in a box, so they have a good life and are raised very humanely."
Stigings' commitment to whole, nourishing food naturally extends to her family. With four kids in the house ranging in age from 16 to four, she says she wouldn't sell anything that she wouldn't feed to her own family.
"I don't buy vegetables in the summers. If the kids want a salad, they go to the greenhouse."
Victoria Flynn, 10, of Carlyle is also a fan of Stiging's produce. "It's nice in summer to get fresh food. She has really good potatoes and peas."
Stigings also wants to introduce homemade stevia, a natural sweetener, to her customers.
"My customers are local people who enjoy fresh produce and other healthy foods. We are happy to serve them."
Fresh From The Garden's roadside stand is open Saturdays and Sundays until October from 11am until 4pm. It is located along Highway #9 in the Precision Ag Services parking lot. Delivery service is available on Wednesdays or orders can be picked up during market hours at the roadside stand.
To submit an online order, visit www.freshfromthegarden.me.
For updates and more information, join Fresh From The Garden on Facebook.
Phone: (306)-577-1327
