Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I grew up at Farrand Farms.  Having a whole greenhouse and lots of woods to explore was definitely exciting and inspiring.  To this day, my favorite time to be around the family business is at Christmas.  The self grown poinsettias and real Christmas tress are beautiful!

I took this photograph a few years ago when I was still insisting that I liked film much more than digital.  I actually took this photo on film and was disappointed to find that it was so blurry.  However, this image has grown on me as it captures the magical feeling Farrand Farms exudes around this time of year.  Ah, there is no place like home.  Merry Christmas from Kansas City!

Grandpa Grouch

Kenneth Morgan Farrand Aug. 17, 1923-Jan.17, 2009

This photo may be one of the most important portraits I will ever take.  It is of my grandfather on Father’s Day three years ago.  After making numerous funny faces at my camera, he finally decided to be kind and smile for a more traditional picture.

My grandfather, whom we affectionately referred to as Grandpa Grouch because of his scratchy voice, would have been 86 years old today.  Sadly, he suffered a minor stroke late last December and never made it home from his hospital stay.  It was a very tough time for my family as he was the rock that held everyone together.  While I am sure some bad stories exists, there are many great tales of my grandfather.  As his granddaughter, I was lucky to see only his best side, and the thing I remember most was his great sense of humor.  One time while watering his flowers, he sprayed my friend with his hose on purpose.  She had not even met him yet!  One of my last good memories of him was from last Thanksgiving when he stood with his hands on his hips glaring down at my two-year-old cousin, Charlie.  “What do you have to say for yourself?” He boomed.  Charlie, of course, stared up at him blankly, though not at all scared surprisingly enough.

My grandfather taught me to enjoy life, and I am so grateful I got to know him as an adult.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Grouch!

Signs

I took this photo a few weeks ago at Farrand Farms’ 2009 Tomato Fair.  Though I especially love it because the sign has changed very little over the years.  It reminds me of pictures I have seen at my grandfather’s house from when he opened the greenhouse just over 40 years ago.

Tomato Fair 2009

Pasta made with fresh tomatoes during Jasper's cooking demonstration at this year's Tomato Fair.

Tomato Fair 2009

Crafts to Entertain the Kids

Tomato Fair 2009

Cupcake

On their own, these cupcakes looked amazingly delicious and tempting.  But the temptation to capture this moment when a customer was checking them out was equally appealing.

Tomato Fair 2009

Kids' Crafts

Tomato Fair 2009

In the late 1960′s my grandfather, Kenny Farrand, opened Farrand Farms in Kansas City, MO. What had started as a fruit stand in the 1920′s then became a full-blown greenhouse. The greenhouses have now grown to become a well-established and well-known small business that is still family owned and run. Every other summer we host a Tomato Fair to bring growers from the community together to discuss the latest growing methods, taste different tomato varieties, and even enter their tomatoes in competitions in categories ranging from the ugliest to the biggest. This summer’s fair went really well with Italian chef Jasper and local broadcaster Larry Moore coming out to share their personal secrets to successful growing.

Though these tomatoes are a great example of what you don't want to find in your garden they are perfect for the Rotten Tomato Throw!