A Sense of Wonder

Farm News

Growing up, my mom always gave us the gift to explore and delight in the outdoors. Twenty-two years ago when I told her that Andrew and I were going to start a farm in the Pacific Northwest far, far away from the home turf of Pittsburgh, she looked at me and said, “I will grow a garden here that is a replica of your farm so that we can feel a connection.”

Sadly on November 12th, my mom passed, but her legacy of love both for our farm and her incredible herb garden will continue to grace our lives for years to come. Early in her years, she was a pioneer for Rachel Carson’s ideas and the need to recognize a sense of wonder in all that we have in our natural environment.

She was an advocate for eliminating toxic chemicals in many of the business practices in Pittsburgh, having grown up in the heart of Steel Town. She would tell us how her dad would come home from work for lunch and by noon, his white shirt was already black with pollution from the mills. She spent a great deal of her days in the clean-up and re-birth for the three rivers area rebounding from steel mill pollution. She believed in healthy air, water, food and gardens to be a lifeline worth protecting.

My mom visited our farm on numerous occasions and would always ask about the enormous amount of kale we grew. “Who eats all this kale?” she would say. Looking back on it, I laugh as now in 2017, kale is our number-one seller! She was a red beet fan and made the most amazing zucchini boats, a cherished family favorite.

In 2001, Andrew and I were married on the bank of the Snoqualmie River surrounded by friends and family. My mom transformed the old red barn into a sparkling space where we gathered around enjoying the bounty of our farm. We hope you will cherish your own sense of wonder in the coming months surrounded by friends and family at your own tables with Full Circle Farm produce, especially kale!

Don’t forget to find us on Instagram (@fullcirclefarms).
– Wendy