The big cheese
- Barbara (my wife and the big cheese) was born and raised on a southern New Jersey flower farm (65 acres of flowers!!), she ventured to Colorado where she completed a B. S.
degree in International Agriculture (Colorado State University). She then became a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in which she taught farming practices to rural families
in Colombia, South America. She furthered her education at Michigan State University where she received a M. S. degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics.
Love for Flowers
- Her love for flowers was first revealed to me when we met as Ph.D. students in Plant Genetics at the University of California, Riverside. We left California for research positions
at Cornell University.
Children!
- With the advent of children, we reanalyzed our lives and decided on alternative careers. We purchased a small 13-acre farm on Keuka Lake (the central lake of the Finger Lakes,
the one shaped like a 'Y'). It started with a few plug trays in the cellar, a rented front-tine rototiller and about a quarter of an acre. We planted the flowers on our hands
and knees and watered them by buckets. The harvested flowers were hung on nylon ropes strung in one of our barns. Darn, I wish we had taken pictures.
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Presently
- We presently have grown into a family of five (mom, dad, boy, girl, boy) and our flowers have become a full-time occupation: over fifteen acres, two greenhouses, one cold frame,
three tractors and we are approaching three miles of drying lines in our three circa 1860 barns. Barb can take full credit for converting a 'city boy' into a farmer (although
I still smile every time I 'get to' drive one of our tractors).
Credit Due
- Two people have been most instrumental in any success we can claim.
- Mildred Recchio (Barb's mom) a flower growing MASTER!!
She has given us an incredible amount of advice, encouragement, plants, seeds, $, and love.
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Sir Harv Dudley - a true living angel
Harv and his sweet wife Eunie, are retired from Kodak (Kodak's home is in Rochester, NY - about 1 hour to the northwest). They live half the year in a home that they built themselves
on Keuka Lake. Harv approached us in 1992 and suggested that he could help us, "I'm pretty handy, I don't want any money and I am fully insured". Who was this guy?
This guy was and is a Godsend. He drives the tractor while Barb and I sit on the transplanter and plant. He cultivates (drives a tractor that dislodges weeds from the flower fields).
He designs (he was an engineer) and constructs everything (dye drying racks, flower head drying racks, cabinets, flower displays, floors, stairs, windows, doors, equipment, structural
enhancements to our old buildings, foundations, drying lines, benches, and much, much more).
In August when it is very hot and we have put in a long day in the fields, there is nothing better then going down (approximately 1.8 miles) to Harv and Eunie's beach and drinking
Eunie's famous iced tea and jumping into Keuka Lake.
They have brought much joy and happiness to our entire family. |
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