I moved from Chicago back home to Alabama four years ago to get my family's farm back up and running again. I thought long and hard about leaving the kitchen behind. I looked deep within myself to make sure I was making the right decision. I loved cooking, but it did not come naturally to me. Farming does. There were so many times when I would check produce in and look in disgust at the produce and the herbs. The produce and herbs were lifeless. The best food and technique in the world are for nought if the food you are buying is of a low standard. So seeing so much sub-standard food was a catalyst for me. I also knew there was a ton of potential with the farm here.
One of the biggest catalysts for me is the chef Michel Bras. His book Essential Cuisine struck a deep chord in me. His talk about deep connections with the land through food and foraging really made me want to get the farm going.
