It’s been an interesting transition from photographer to my new role as Farm Manager here at Gravel Springs Farms just outside of Westminster, Maryland.  I’ve been a professional photographer for the past decade and some change.  I have worked in many areas of the photography field from, shooting catalog photography, working on tv show sets, weddings, architectural shoots, even teaching photography to kids in Peru but, I can say that nothing compares to farming, or I should say, at least for me.  While I am taking on a new “job” in life, it never feels like work.  See, I first met Paul and Emma about 4 years ago while I was still in Peru.  They inquired about my wedding photography and after meeting them and photographing their wedding, I knew they were different, there was an instant connection and a friendship formed which was different from many of the clients with whom I’ve worked.  And as they say, from there it’s history. And If you’d like, you can view their wedding at the link below:

Paul and Emma’s wedding, click here.

So now, years later our paths have crossed paths again. We find our selves together, bent over all day long, out in a field, pulling weeds, sowing and harvesting with the hopes that we will be able to contribute something to your plates in the future.   We’ve gone all in on organic farming and we do it as a labor of love.  There could be no other reason why we wake up so early just to let out chickens and stay out so late in the fields that we need to wear head lamps in order to finish our tasks.

In addition to time, there are sacrifices which are made in order to complete the tasks which come with the sun.  Paul and Emma have brought home a new John Deere tractor in order to bring the food we grow to market in a more efficient manner.  New tractors are a sacrifice.  In order to bring heatlthy food to market they have sacrificed their vacations, new clothes or better cars.  This tractor is their labor of love to you, with the hopes that the clean food grown here at the farm will bring you better health.  So, when you’re at the farmer’s market shopping around and comparing prices tags, remember there’s a lot of love in the food we grow for you. Much more than the price reflects.  We will do all we can to bring you the healthiest food we know how to grow, with the tools and time we’ve been given.  And being that we’re just getting started, a thank you goes a long way to put fuel in our tanks and that thank you will keep us going for many years to come.

Sometimes chicken just give you a look.  It’s that look that seems to say something about what the chicken is thinking.  Maybe I’m wrong, maybe not.  However, I believe chickens are great