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Organic growing produces more than just health benefits for Alma couple
by Betty Sayers
The month of April rinsed the brown-paper-sack color out of our landscapes, and May is working her magic painting green from tree top to hedge row. The early spring green is the most vibrant of the growing season, and as far as we’re concerned, the tastiest green is asparagus green. I relish my first taste of asparagus in the spring, and asparagus grown locally in the organic way cannot be matched in flavor and crunch. Fortunately, delicious, juicy asparagus is now growing vigorously at Well-Rooted Farms, an organic produce farm north of Alma, NE.
And that, as they say, is just the tip of the iceberg lettuce.
Cauliflower, chives, oregano, basil, radishes, leeks, carrots, cabbage (red and green), peppers (many varieties), onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, (Celebrity, Sweet 100, Yellow Pear, Beef Steak, Better Boy), mescaline salad greens and butter lettuce are all growing under lights in an immaculate, new building featuring a licensed kitchen, retail space, refrigerators and storage, as well as the shelves and grow lights for seedlings.
While I spoke with owner Marion Pillard, her husband, Eric was planting gladiolas, zinnias, Shasta daisies, delphinium, Echinacea, and marigolds to add brilliant color to their booth at the markets and additional profit to their business. Chickens contribute eggs to the produce of Well-Rooted Farms, and visitors can see them in their well-organized, clean chicken house environment and maybe even collect an egg or two if they make their request early in the day.
Organic entrepreneurs.
Well-Rooted Farms was started in 2007 by Eric and Marion Pillard. They started the first organic produce company in central Nebraska because they believe in the organic concept, they wanted to own their own business, and they wanted to work together as a family.
“Well-Rooted Farms focuses on the safety and soundness of the food we produce,” says Marion. “This means we practice the systems and process that have become known as organic production. We believe that organic practices are beneficial for our customers. As the list of illnesses and diseases grow, it is hard to ignore the influence of diet on health and wellness. We offer our customers a product with no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.”
The Pillard’s have Nebraska roots. Marion and Eric both grew up in Lincoln. Marion’s initial experiences with agriculture were summertime jobs on her grandparents’ farm in Lancaster County. Marion said, “Eric is a city boy, and I thought when I married him, my farming days were over.”
Jobs and education took them to Kansas State University and then to Colorado, where Eric was employed as a family counselor.
“We acquired an interest in organic produce while living in Colorado,” Marion said. “We experienced asthma and allergy issues, so we watched what we ate and searched for healthier options in the food we bought. We discovered the Whole Foods Company and began exploring the health benefits of eating organically raised produce.”
A return to their roots.
Eric’s work as a counselor demanded a great deal of his time and Marion said, “We were drifting apart as a family.” The Pillards decided they wanted to return to Nebraska and their roots.
They felt they were entrepreneurs at heart, and starting and running their own business as a family seemed the right thing to do. Eric was inspired to name the company Well-Rooted Farms when it was only an idea in process because to a family counselor, “well-rooted” means a lot more than just growing vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Their mission includes practicing organic farming principles, working together as a family, knowing their customers, being responsible members of the community, treating employees, customers and everyone in business fairly. Their children, Emily, Morgan and Mason share in the benefits and work of Well-Rooted Farms.
The Pillard’s learned by word-of-mouth about the property for sale north of Alma. Eric and Marion purchased the land and planted their first crops in 2007. In 2008 they planted 35,000 strawberry plants, and they hope to harvest 30,000 quarts of strawberries this spring. The asparagus bed is thriving, and they harvest daily until late May.
Friends on Facebook.
Well-Rooted Farms hires 18 part time employees, many of whom are high school students.
“We like to hire high school students, and we offer them 10% of their sales to donate to the school of their choice as a fund raising opportunity,” says Marion. “In this way we give back to the community, support local schools, and give young people a slice of ownership in the business.” Marion adds, “Young people are our best advertising since they text their friends about the market and invite them to see it.”
Marion and Eric publish their products and the business on Facebook where they have 155 friends. “Facebook is an easy, fast way to get updates out,” says Marion. “It is fun to see the support we receive on Facebook. People ask us what we are growing and recipes for our products. In the winter we advertise the conferences we attend and new information about the health benefits for eating organically.”
The vision for Well-Rooted Farms involves developing the company into a business large enough to sell organic produce wholesale to the Whole Foods Store in Omaha and other commercial outlets. Currently, Well-Rooted Farms sells their produce at Farmer’s Markets in Holdrege, Alma and Omaha.
Next step: organic certification.
Well-Rooted Farms is involved in the process to achieve USDA Organic certification and are being helped by Dr. Tom Thomas from Orleans, an agronomist with experience in organic certification procedures. Marion and Eric value his advice and assistance in the certification process and organic farming practices.
“We are learning more about the value of compost from Dr. Thomas,” says Marion. “We save grass clippings, tree leaves, household compost because soil that is rich and balanced produces a growing medium for vegetables, fruit and flowers that helps prevent insect and weed infestations.”
The Pillards also appreciate the advice and support that Janelle Ehrke and GROW Nebraska provides as well as Naber’s Produce in York whose owners have become friends and mentors to the Pillards.
“Nebraska Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association was the first group we joined,” said Marion. “Eric now serves as president of the association. The association among other things, provides networking opportunities with other growers.” The Pillards also joined the Nebraska Sustainable Ag Society (NSAS) last February. Marion said, “At NSAS we meet organic farmers in the state who are growing field crops.”
Marion also singled out Pat Underwood, Director of Harlan County tourism among their “fantastic resources”, as well as the help and support that caterer Charlene Hunt has brought to the Well-Rooted Farms project.
Organic adds an extra challenge
The challenges of a farming operation increase when the mission is producing organically certified fruits and vegetables.
“The physical labor is exhausting,” says Marion. “We pick everything by hand, and we wash, weigh and package the produce before we refrigerate it. We begin work at 6:30 a.m. and usually work until it is too dark to see the plants.”
Marion said, “Eric and I make an effort to sit down and communicate about what is growing, and we plan what we need to do in the days and weeks ahead. We have learned that when we fail to communicate and talk together, chaos ensues.” Marion adds, “Last winter Eric wrote a manual for the year in which he described the work and who does what. The manual is helping organize our time and our jobs.”
The Pillard’s land is located on a plateau with no trees to divert wind. “Wind is our biggest problem,” says Marion. “The last wind was 70 mph, and it destroyed the plastic on our green house.” But for every problem, the Pillards search for a solution. “We acquired bushes and fast growing trees from the NRD in our region, and we will be planting them this spring. We need a wind barrier, and we especially want to protect the strawberries from the wind.”
Acquiring appropriate signage on Highway 183 is a challenge that seems to lack a solution. The Nebraska Highway Dept. refuses to allow a highway sign announcing an off highway business. Customers from out of the area note the need for a signage.
Benefits and future plans
Marion counts the benefits associated with their business. “Eric and I work together and our children are involved in taking care of the animals and the produce. They learn about chickens, baby chicks, rabbits and dogs. We work outside nearly every day, and Eric likes to hunt. He hunts ducks along the Republican River.”
Well-Rooted Farms invites people interested in growing and in the organic growing concepts to tour the farm. They are selling their own produce and products in the store on their property. The store is open Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or call for an appointment. With a licensed kitchen, tables and seating, they can even serve meals.
Well-Rooted Farms is experimenting with the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) concept under which patrons subscribe to the service and pay a fee to own an interest in a grower’s produce. Their subscription pays for a box of vegetables grown at the farm and delivered every week or every other week during the growing season. CSA connects the grower with customers and builds a relationship with the farmer and the people who are buying and eating the food.
Marion says, “Our relationships with customers are built on trust, consistently excellent produce, open and honest conversations about organically grown fruits and vegetables and responses to questions.”
In 1994 the Pillards acquired 120 acres in Lancaster County that they hope to certify organic and use for commercial vegetable and fruit production. The 3-year certification process is underway. Marion’s brother is currently farming the property and following organic procedure has planted it in clover for the first year to prepare the soil and eliminate the need for inputs off the farm.
Marion also hopes to set-up a bluebird nesting box trail on the property. The Pillards want to attract a variety of birds to eat insects — although she hopes they don’t like strawberries — and add bird watching to the attractions offered at Well-Rooted Farms.
To the Pillards, “organic” means more than just free of chemicals – it means a way of life they can share in and benefit from together, while teaching their family values like hard work, honesty and respect for the land. And in that regard, you’d have to say organic growing produces a lot of extra benefits.
Who To Contact...
Well-Rooted Farms
Eric and Marion Pillard
11436 711 Road
Alma, Nebraska 68920
(308) 920-0459
Email: epillard@mac.com
www.wellrootedfarms.comStore open: Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or call for appointment
Farmer’s Markets
- Holdrege, Thursdays 4:30-7:30 p.m.
- Omaha, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Village Point Mall
- Alma, Saturday, 9 a.m. to Noon, Main Street
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