Back to the Garden, Wimberley style

Going out to the Montesino farm, my mind, on a endless loop, kept playing Crosby Stills and Nash’s version of the Joni Mitchell classic, “Woodstock.” Especially the three part harmony on the “got to get our selves back to the garden.” The new farmers on the land took that literally and have followed that everyday.

Heather Lundy and John Stanley decided that farming was the way to live life. Stanley was a preacher for 20 years and a stockbroker; Lundy was an administrative assistant at Chapel in the Hills and learned to swim just down from the Little Arkansas Bridge.

The two had lived and farmed together in Nova Scotia, Kentucky, and Mississippi. They liked being off the grid. But the call of family in Texas lured them back. Last July they leased the front nine acres of the Montesino Ranch when it became available.

“We heard that Montesino had a farm and said we would like to operate your farm,” Lundy said. And it became official.

“We’re an independent business from the ranch. We lease, we hired farmers hoping to cover costs and pay the rent,” Stanley said. “The infrastructure for a sustainable farmer takes capital with the irrigation, wells, tanks, refrigeration, and structures.”

Heather said, “We get that all. Montesino has been very helpful. They wanted a farming concern back on the land.” The land itself has been organic for 15 years, but the soil can still be depleted.”

“There’s six inches of compost for every square foot from mushrooms… we’re not just farmers but restorative farmers.” Stanley said. “It’s river bottom land, but hungry. It responded well to our compost.”

The land supports all kinds of crops and under fabric covers, they have lettuce growing still in June. They supply local restaurants, like Leaning Pear and the Back Porch. They’d also like to supply the community with fresh, local grown vegetables.

If you would like to know what vegetables are in season and harvested at the farm, joining their email list will do just that. They will let you know what has been harvested and available for pickup on Sunday afternoon. “People can come noon to 5 p.m. and come and go. We meet new friends each Sunday,” Lundy said

“It’s my favorite because you meet people face to face,” Stanley said. “Kids love it when they pull carrots right out of the ground.” Seeing how food is grown is a learning experience if you only have been to a supermarket.

The variety of the vegetables is also more than just what is offered at stores. They are growing over 30 varieties of tomatoes, heirloom, purple krim, cherry, yellow and more.

Being on the farm and farming is a 24/7 job, no vacations and a lot of elbow grease. Heather told of a time they were only gone one day and how in that short time a large squash crop was almost over-ripe.

“It’s just John and me and a part time girl,” Heather said. “It’s just us and we recognize how much we can really do. But we see our business growing along with the demand for fresh vegetables.”

For more information on what produce is available see their website and sign up for their email list. They can be located at 300 Little Arkansas, Wimberley, TX 78676.

For more information call (512) 648 0398.