Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Harrington.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Since the early days of our marriage, my husband and I had a longing to own some land where we could watch things grow. My husband spent his childhood on a large scale farm in western Kansas, so it has always been deep in our hearts. Four years ago we found a piece of land in Lone Jack, MO and Harrington Family Farm began. We started our farm with three simple goals in mind: 1. Teach our kids to work hard. 2. Make memories as a family. and 3. Bless others with what we grow. We have had lots of trial and error, failures and achievements, but so far, we’ve accomplished these goals and plan to continue doing so! We sell produce, flowers, jams and salts at our local farmer’s market (Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market), as well as doing some wholesale work and donations. We are known for our sweet corn in the summer, heirloom pumpkins in the fall, and small wildflower bouquets all market season. We work hard, play hard, and try to enjoy every minute!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every season brings new challenges on the farm. Sometimes it’s weed pressure, sometimes it’s a surprise new pest (google pickleworms! yuck!), or the ebb and flow of moisture, there’s literally ALWAYS something that keeps you humble as a farmer.
Our very first season, with the planter loaded with sweet corn seed, we tried to plant directly into the untilled soil and realized Missouri soil has more clay than Kansas soil, we had to pivot our entire planting strategy!
Before we had a water hydrant, we use to haul water in a large container and pour it out over the freshly planted seeds by hand. Doing this for six acres is quite the chore. You have to figure out what is worth investing in, and how valuable your time is.
By and large, the biggest obstacle in our area is raccoons. They really love our sweet corn and will often destroy 750-1000 ears overnight! We have to constantly figure out ways to protect the crops and honor the fact that their nature habitat is right there next to ours.
Learning how to work a Farmer’s Market is also a huge learning curve. It’s hard to predict what people will be willing to buy from week to week and the return on investment is always something to consider. Also, did you know that people don’t like to shop when it rains?? 🙂
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a small, local, produce and flower farm in the KC area. We grow crops and flowers to sell at the Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market. We are known for our sweet corn in the summer months, our heirloom pumpkins in the Fall, and small wildflower bouquets placed in paper lunch sacks and tied with twine.
What sets us apart from other vendors is the fact that we are committed to selling only what we grow ourselves. It’s perfectly legal for farmers to buy from other farmers and resell, but we love the idea of planting, tending, growing, harvesting, and selling ONLY what comes from the dirt on our farm. Believe it or not, this is actually a unique thing at a farmer’s market and this definitely sets us apart. I’m really proud to say that I grew everything I sell in my stand. I can tell you when it was harvested, what it took to grow it, and the quality speaks for itself.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In farming, almost everything you do is a risk. There are so many factors that cannot be controlled including weather, pests, and even economical fluctuations. We do our best every year, and make investments that we hope will have a return. We are grateful when the rain comes at the right time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.harringtonfamilyfarm.org
- Instagram: @Harrington_Family_Farm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19knrGU1d5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
