We are so thankful to have Tony and Jenny join us for at least a few months for some hands-on farm training. This is a new experience for us and we hope we can give them just what they need. In the meantime, all the hands-on practice is translating into some much-needed help! It is so nice to have some extra hands to share the load and they will be missed when they move on to their next adventure.

We asked them a few questions so you could get to know them a little better.

Tony: I came to Toppled Barn Farm because I feel the need to learn agriculture so that I can use it to educate young people in the future. 

Jenny: What Tony said.

TBF: What were you doing before coming to Toppled Barn Farm?

Tony and Jenny: We both worked at a Bible evangelism school which is how we met. Tony was the business office manager and taught Bible classes. Jenny was the girl’s dean. We fell in love and got married on August 29th of this year.

TBF: Share something you’ve learned since being here.

Tony: I’ve learned the importance of having good soil in order to grow the healthiest plants. 

Jenny: Delayed gratification—farming is just one of the few things nowadays that no matter how advanced technology or science may be, you really can’t speed up the growth of the plants to just the time you would have it (no Amazon Prime harvesting available for your favorite crops!). I have been learning much about patience as I spend a lot of time and energy on caring for the plants and the land, even though I am unable to see any satisfying results of my efforts right away.

TBF: What is your favorite farm chore and why?

Tony: My favorite farm chore is planting with the Jang seeder because it is such a cool tool that turns an hour’s worth of work into just 5 to 10 minutes! 

Jenny: Weeding—it is laborious and tedious, but after I perseveringly pull them out one by one, before I know it, I can see how clean the area is for the right plants to keep growing healthily. Oh, and the satisfaction of pulling them out all the way down to the roots—nothing like it!! 

TBF: What is your least favorite farm chore? 

Tony: My least favorite chore is dealing with worms and aphids. 

Jenny: Weeding—it’s a long, long process, body cramps and aches are guaranteed, and it often happens inside the high tunnels and things can get sauna hot really quickly!

TBF: Share your favorite crop/vegetable to grow and at Toppled Barn Farm and why.

Tony: My favorite things to grow on the farm are the greens that go into our salad mix because I myself eat our salad mix almost every day. I love just combining our salad mix with some rice or tofu and good salad dressing!

Jenny: Romaine lettuce—they are so crunchy and crisp! Very versatile and can be used in everything: salads, soups, stir fry—you name it!

TBF: Is there a favorite quote you would like to share?

Tony: A quote I would like to share is from a book called Farmacology talking about the similarities between soil and our own bodies:
“Like our own biosystems, it (soil) too depends on bacteria and fungi to supply it with fats, amino acids, and carbohydrates that make up its structures… It suddenly dawned on me that the carbon, nitrogen, and every mineral and vitamin that is a building block in our own bodies is derived from soil. I’m other words, we are not simply nourished by the soil, we are of the soil.” Pg. 7-8

Jenny: “The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58) —A reality happening right now for me as I work on this farm!