Wiley's Farm

The only way to begin my Pure Michigan blog is to tell you about Wiley's Farm.  Wiley's is a real family farm.  Caroline and Matt Wiley bought the farm in 1954; she was 19, he was 21; and they have been farming it ever since.  Matt died unexpectedly in November 2011 and Caroline and her son Kurt now run the farm.  

I love this place.  It's only three miles from my house and I was there every couple of days this past summer and the summer before as well, buying whatever seasonal crop they had in the shed.  I made some delicious meals with Wiley's produce this summer.  Unfortunately, I didn't document much of that.  But you can be certain, next summer I will!  

And the produce is amazing!  Their fresh asparagus is probably the best vegetable I've ever eaten in my life.  Since I don't have a garden anymore, this is where I shop for (and pick) my vegetables.  They grow asparagus, blueberries, peaches, pears, zucchini, spinach, kale, cucumbers, broccoli, many different varieties of peppers, tomatoes, corn, tomatillos, eggplant, new potatoes, green and yellow beans, cauliflower, apples, pumpkins, melons, many varieties of squash, cilantro, basil, parsley, dill, lettuces, cabbage, beets and gorgeous zinnias, And they have laying hens which produce the best eggs.  Caroline was kind enough to let me work in the shed and the gardens, helping out.  That was so much fun for me.  I got my gardening fix while being outside in the gorgeous Michigan summer.  

In addition to being a trusted, local source for food, Caroline has become a friend.  She is the first friend I've made in Michigan. She is a wonderful, kind woman and I will miss her when we leave.  

Here are a few photos of Wiley's Farm.  With this wonderful place nearly in my back yard, why would I want to have a garden? :)

Ginger - the Great Pyrenees 

See what I mean? :)