Farm Description:
    My 10.5 acre farm is located in SW Pennsylvania in a quiet rural location tucked away from any major roads. The land is about half wooded and half open farm land. When the land was purchased about three years ago I was informed that at one time the land had been used to grow corn, but that it had not been farmed in many years (approximately 13 or more). The area where we grow our garlic is in full sun, which is important since garlic is a sun lover. I have had the soil tested and it has good organic matter. We grow our garlic on less than a quarter acre of our property in several plots, which we rotate and keep in cover crops when not in use. We harvested approximately 5,000 garlic bulbs in 2006.

Practices:
    My garlic is grown with absolutely NO herbicides or pesticides, not even organic ones. I plant my garlic by hand in the fall and weed my garlic by hand in the spring. I use only organic fertilizers, mostly alfalfa meal, and plant based compost. I do not use any animal based fertilizers. I use cover crops to enhance the soil and control weeds (buckwheat, rye, oats). I try to be gentle on the soil because I feel a strong sense of reverence for the land and the organisims that live in the soil. I believe in minimal tillage of the soil and work hard to use farming methods that work towards that goal. I am fascinated by galic and truly love my crop. Besides its' culinary delights, I view garlic as a true health food which should not be adulterated with herbicides or pesticides. More labor is involved in producing my garlic, but I feel it is worth it and feel it makes a superior crop.

Describe your product specialties and highlights:
    I specialize in growing garlic. I grow both hardneck and softneck varieties. I weed my garlic by hand and use absolutely NO herbicides or pesticides. I also grow herbs and make herbal products including: herbal aftershave, lavender and rosemary cosmetic vinegar to be used as a wonderful hair rinse, catnip pillows, lavender and spice sachets with only real garden fresh herbs and spices and pure essential oils. I love dogs and make a herbal dog sprinkle that includes culinary herbs (high in antioxidants), nutritional yeast, and high quality garlic powder. Herbal dog sprinkles are to sprinkle over your dogs food and help reduce flea problems, skin problems and also add nutrition. Many dogs do not get to forage outside for herbs and grasses which are beneficial to their system. My dog sprinkles help them get some much needed "green nutrients" in their system. All herbs used come from my garden and are grown without herbicides or pesticides.

Where we sell our products:
    My garlic and herbal products can be purchased at the College Park Farmers' Market at 5211 Paint Branch Parkway in College Park Maryland (Across from the Airport). The market is open on Saturdays from 7am - 12 noon from May through November. I also sell by arranging pick up orders. Pick up site is at the College Park Market location. E-mail me to arrange a pick up time. Garlic is available from August through the end of January. Herbal products are available year round. I also sell mail order. E-mail me for an order form. I will soon have a web site (Winter 2007). My catnip pillows are available at the Greenbelt Consumer CO-OP at 121 Centerway in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Web/Mail Order Items:
    Garlic (August through January), catnip pillows and lavender sachets are available by mail order. E-mail me for an order form. Web site will be available winter 2007