My name is Cindy Conti and I've been growing
vegetables, herbs, and
flowers organically - and actively supporting
sustainable agriculture, for over 26 years.
In the fall of 2004, we moved to Winston-Salem so that my two sons could
attend the North Carolina School of the Arts... Previously, I lived
in Greensboro, NC for 47 years. Attended Grimsley High School, and Guilford College (B.S.
Psychology, class of '79). I have been a self-employed digital media presentation design and production consultant
to area businesses and non-profit organizations for the past 14 years. (my client list included The Center for
Creative Leadership, The Piedmont Land Conservancy, The Carolina Farm
Stewardship Association, and Rodale Press of PA).
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to farm and to grow for more folks than just my family and friends - maybe even make a living at it... In May of 2005, weary of yet another day sitting behind a computer - I got a wild hair and shot off an email to several vineyards in the Yadkin Valley area - letting them know that I really REALLY needed to get outside! I offered to work in their vineyards at whatever task needed doing - for minimum wage (or wine!). 30 minutes after I sent the email I received a reply from Lenna Hobson. She and husband Frank Jr. are the owners of RagApple Lassie Vineyards and Winery in Boonville, NC., and Lenna said that I must have been listening to her prayers because my email arrived about 5 minutes before her to do list had mushroomed beyond critical mass... She met me in Winston-Salem for lunch - and the very next day I found myself at RagApple Lassie Vineyards - doing landscaping (actually, I pulled weeds. Lots and lots of weeds!) and helping out at winery events.
This is me. I don't like cameras... Could have gone the rest of my life without seeing the top of my head. (Am I really that gray? EEEEK!)
I very quickly realized what a special place Boonville and the Yadkin Valley is. Not only is it one of the most beautiful and scenic rural places I've ever visited, it is also a very warm, welcoming and diverse community of life-long farmers, entrepreneurial spirited vineyard and winery owners, and gracious and hard working seasonal laborers who return each year to support them all. It didn't take but a few days for me to realize that this was the place I'd like to call home.
When the harvest season was over and things slowed down a bit around the vineyard in December, I met Neil Shore, the owner of Sanders Ridge Vineyard and he told me about his search for new ways in which his farm could continue to be viable. His 300+ acre farm had supported 5 generations of Shore farmers but the earning potential from conventional farming was in rapid decline and he was determined to find a way to reverse that trend so that the farm could remain in the family and hopefully even support his children and their children - long after he retired his old Massey Harris... So - in addition to building a winery and nature retreat for walking, hiking, and small events, Neil decided that he would also pursue USDA Organic Certification for the Sanders Ridge Farm - and that's how I landed here here I am... You can call me anytime - at 336 428-6818 or email me at cindy@sandersridge.com
Farm
Notes...
Last December - when I first came to the farm, I started carrying around an index card and pencil in my
overalls as a way to keep up with the reams of information and documentation required by the USDA for Organic Certification.
My notes evolved into both a good way to record necessary information as well as snippits
of the few billion things that run through my head as I'm picking, seeding,
weeding, walking etc... I got to thinking that my Farm Notes might be
interesting to some folks - those who want to know more about what is happening
on the farm - how the certification process works, (or anyone who might need a
diversion from the office - like I did last May...)
The notes and observations up until this week's will be forthcoming. (We've received so much positive response for the Food Guild - that I have had to focus all of my attention on planning and PLANTING! (A good problem to have!) I haven't been able to catch up on compiling the 100 or so note cards - so I decided that I should just start posting this week's and work backwards when I can (something I've gotten pretty good at!) So here they are - starting with this past week... Enjoy!
- cindy