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Meet your farmers
Hello. We are David Booth and Norma Hernández Gatica. We are happy to be living and farming at Arcadia Brook Farm in North Ferrisburgh, Vermont. In some ways our farm is a metaphor for how Vermont is changing. David was born in Vermont and influenced (unbeknownst to him at the time) by the back to the land movement that reached its apex in the 1970's. Living in the hills of Central Vermont he saw countless idealists trying to do their part to live a simpler, saner, and more sustainable life. The roots of today's organic movement in Vermont can be traced back to this time, and indeed much further back into the 1930's when Helen and Scott Nearing decided to leave the city and build their homestead in southern Vermont. Their 1954 classic "Living the Good Life" brought thousands to Vermont. Of course many Vermonters had continued an unbroken organic farming tradition, knowing that the "artificial manures" as the chemical fertilizers were known early on, were not really better for the plants. They were, it is fair to say, easier to apply and required a less intimate knowledge of the plants and soils than the traditional ways.
Fast forward four decades to Mexico City. Norma, a wee babe in the early 70's grew up in what was rapidly becoming a megalopolis. Her mother had grown up in a tiny pueblo in rural Oaxaca state in Central Mexico. Later she went on to become the sous chef at an exclusive Italian restaurant. Norma's father was a labor leader in a pottery factory who went on to teach himself the law so that he might better help his fellow workers and others like them.
Our lives intersected at her brother's apartment in Mexico City nearly ten years ago. My sister had met Norma's brother while studying in Mexico (they have since married and live in Mexico City) and we were sharing la comida (the afternoon meal) with his family. we connected instantly but it took us nearly eight more years to decide to make a life together.
Today we are working together to grow delicious and healthy food for our shareholders and our own family, without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Our skills compliment each other. David researches, plans and plants the crops. They range from the traditional to the nouveau and we always include some favorite Asian and Mexican specialty crops. Norma, an actuary by training, lends her considerable analytical and technology skills to the behind the scenes farm effort, further assisting on harvest days. Our passion is to share our food and love of food with you, the shareholders.
We appreciate your support and faith in our vision of a new Vermont food culture that looks to the future while remaining firmly rooted in the gustatory traditions of the past. Thank you. It will be our sincere pleasure to serve you.
David & Norma |
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