High Country Gardens
OWNER: Patsy Kelley and Dan Wilson
ADDRESS: 13629 Farm to Market Road
PHONE: 208-634-4794
EMAIL: dpkelleywilson@citlink.net
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 25
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Volunteers
WHAT THEY SELL: “Beyond Organic” Greens and Herbs
WHY YOU SHOULD FIND PATSY AT McCALL FARMERS’ MARKET: “I have the freshest greens around, as soon as it is harvested, it is in the fridge within hours. Fresh is best!"
High Country Gardens is a market garden located along Farm to Market Road on a scenic drive just outside of McCall owned by Patsy Kelley and Dan Wilson. Look for the scarecrow at the end of the driveway with an honor system farm stand. Patsy grows “beyond organic” produce and seed starts for the local community and sells her plants and produce at the McCall Farmers' Market. Many customers say that she has the best greens in town!
When and why did you decide to start your business?
I began my market garden by taking extra veggies to Farmers' Market. Then I kept planting more and more to take each year. I transitioned from cooking in local restaurants into running the market garden in 1992. In semi-retirement, my farm roots began to grow and it is like that old saying, “You can take the girl off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl.” I always liked growing things and playing in the dirt and my occupation at High Country Gardens allows me to do just that!
What led you to starting your business in McCall?
I am originally from Indiana, lived in upstate New York for 22 years, then moved to Idaho. When I left upstate New York, I had human services burn out. I was tired of grants and supervising. So when I came out west and lived in Stanley, I was ready for change. I started cooking in 1984 at Stanley restaurants and high end guest ranches. Growing up on a farm I was used to fresh, non-chemical food. I knew the value of good quality food. It is really rewarding to cook for other people and have them love their food. After age 55, it got too hot in the kitchen so growing fresh food for others to prepare is another way to stay connected with food and be rewarded. In addition to the fun of sharing the food I grow, I enjoy teaching how to grow it. I have always been a teacher. I have a partner that doesn’t eat to live, he lives to eat. So that works out well. Dan grew up in Idaho and was on grandparents' farms. He is the garden mechanic, greenhouse construction, and master crafter. We met in Stanley and moved to McCall to pursue our market garden venture.
What does being featured as the Featured Farmer for the WCM Food Coalition mean to you?
I am flattered to be a featured farmer, but I don’t want to be considered exceptional. I just like a challenge and I started growing in the WCM of Idaho, but I can’t quit. If I can be an encouragement for others, then I would like that.
What do you think the benefits are of bringing people together through a coalition?
Today more than any time in recent history, we need to start establishing local connections. Most of us don’t know our neighbors. We came here to do our own thing, but we have created self-isolation. That is why the market is so neat because we make connections and share interests.
Food is a unifier. Everybody needs to eat, everybody likes to eat. It is important that we can grow our own and share it. I would love to see a farm to table event with people that grow food in the WCM as a community gathering. I would love to see farmers get together annually in the fall to share their farm stories.
Why should folks patronize your business?
Fresh is best and I am local.
Tell me more about growing “beyond organic”?
That is the new term that many non-certified organic growers use, it basically means chemical free. We use it because we grow organically, even though we are not USDA certified.
What challenges have you faced as an independent local business owner, and how have you met those challenges?
I am one of those people that didn’t believe the old saying that you can’t grow anything in McCall, or at least until the snow was off Jug Handle. But that is why I grow greens and herbs because they will grow when it is cool!
Another thing that I learned was the larger you get, you can’t do it all by yourself. So I started the work share volunteer program so I could get additional help. I can mentor the volunteer or they can just come work and I will give them fresh food, knowledge, and garden therapy. There are all kinds of articles coming out about the benefits of gardening. When volunteers come to the market garden they say, “How wonderful!”, If they were here 24/7 they might not think that, but it lightens up my day to have the company and gives them a good time. Dan even got some of the volunteers to sift compost and learn about some of the tedious aspects of farming. We both take a lot of pride in what we do. Mental, physical, spiritual and emotional aspects are all woven into gardening and you can really get a boost on life.
What do you feel is the impact of local farms on McCall, and what does the future look like for future grower in the WCM?
When I first came here the Long Valley Gardeners were focused on growing flowers and I talked about the value of growing your own food. I encourage people to grow their own food because it is so personally rewarding. I have lost a few customers because they have learned to grow their own produce. But, that is o.k. I will get more.
For a long time, I was the only local person at market. Now we have 3 or 4 local growers. When I first came here, the Master Gardener program was just getting started. I think this has also strengthened people’s ability to grow their own food in this region.
I used to be a college Geography instructor and the thought process is very integrative.
Gardening is also integrative. There are so many things to know you will always be learning. I am a sometime artist. I view the craft as the tools and the art is what you are creating. I think of gardening as an art. There are some basic tools you have to master and then you get to create. The future grower in the WCM needs to be able to use the tools of high elevation gardening and see the big picture into the future.
What do you enjoy most about owning your market garden in McCall area? What excites or inspires you?
I am inspired by the freedom to be creative. You have to think about a three year rotation. Every year you can start with a blank slate and see what you can grow. The seeds do the work, you are just their helper. If you can keep them away from the quail, that is a good place to start. I always worked for other people, but there were always restrictions on doing things the way someone else wanted. Now I get to do it the way I want to.
I am excited that the freezers in my household are full at the beginning of winter and we eat off of our garden harvest throughout the year. We supplement our income by what we grow and preserve. I cooked professionally for 16 years and this enhanced my ability to preserve food and make it easy. People think it is hard, but it isn’t. I also pickle things and I freeze my food.
What is your relationship to the community? What charities or organizations do you support or participate in?
When I was in Stanley I helped start the Artisans Guild, I lived there for 7 years. When I moved to McCall, I started the McCall Artists Connection. I helped establish the McCall Farmers' Market and have served on the board for 24 years. I helped start the Intermountain Regional Learning Center with Linda Heiter, who now lives in Riggins. We ordered the computers, and taught classes out of the Lands building. I was interested in teaching cooking real food. Dan is a musician, and has long been part of the folklore society.
How many people do you employ?
I do not employ any workers. I have three or four consistent volunteer helpers, however I always have an open door if you would like to learn, get some fresh food, or get some garden therapy.
How important is supporting the local food system and economy to you and your business?
It is my business. I wouldn’t have it if it wasn’t for the local Farmer’s Market and the local people wanting my fresh food.
I think it is important for people to know how to grow their own food and preserve it on their shelves and we just don’t do that anymore. We are pretty spoiled when it comes to food. I was a depression baby so I learned all of that thinking. My mom had a garden, we canned, and we butchered. Not that I would want to go back to the good old days, because they were not all good, but it taught me some life skills.
Most supermarkets have a three day supply of food. Several years ago, we found that out when highway 55 closed and 95 closed for a week. People in McCall were in panic mode and stealing food out of grocery carts. People were buying more gas than their limit. When I lived in Stanley, people hunkered down and bought all of the ice cream from the local store when the road was closed. They were used to the roads being closed. Here, I saw people panic.
Please give us your one-sentence take-away message about your business.
Do what you love and it isn’t work.
(Interview and article by Melissa Hamilton– May 15, 2017)
The Featured Farmer program is designed to help the West Central Mountains community identify our locally owned independent farmers by featuring two farmers per year. Two featured businesses will also be highlighted to showcase programs or business practices that support the strengthening of the local food system or buying local agricultural products.
