April 13 , 2022
Career Change to Urban Farmers: Billie & Jean’s Farm
What sprightliness variety did you make during the pandemic ? Leigh’Ann and Jordan Andrews started an urban farm . After 12 years in theatre stage and production direction , when the pandemic shuttered line of work in the arts , including theirs in Seattle , they turned the limelight on a ambition cultivated since grad school : grow tidy intellectual nourishment for their community . They were born in Texas , so headed home in fall 2020 . They bought a house in Kyle and turn its front and back into vegetable crops , naming itBillie & Jean ’s Farmafter their path - guiding grannie , Billie Rea Ebersole and Jean Daniel . Sadly , they lost Jean latterly last year , so we dedicate this history to her!They had never garden while growing up in Texas and assist TCU . That started in Iowa when Leigh’Ann was a grad student study dramatic art stage management and funds were short . In exchange for a CSA box of nutrient to feed them for a week , they offer at a farmers ’ market . They liked it so much that they volunteered at their mentor ’ farm , nowJupiter Ridge Farm — still guiding lights for them . They continued growing food when their careers occupy them to Seattle ( and help fertilise fellow worker during the pandemic ) . In Texas , they adapt their knowledge to harness our territory and weather challenge . The first nine months in Kyle , Jordan taught theater production management at an Austin high school , the hardest thing she ’d ever done . “ I was supposed to be teaching in a theater with 20 kids making things , and instead I was in a classroom , an empty au naturel - bones schoolroom alone , on a camera . And as the farm start , then I would number home in the even and peck courgette and take the air around and get to begin helping on the farm , ” she enounce . Leigh’Ann expend back - expose days represent out the beds and strangle Bermuda sess with salvage cardboard , an astonishing feat ! She ordered compost from thecity of Kyle , and when it was delivered to their driveway , laid four inches on the front beds ( the backyard came later).And then , after she laid the dripping crease , they realized that the clay soil was so dense that the beds were n’t draining underneath the cardboard , creating a big , stinky plenty . They dug oceanic abyss between every single bottom and then got another physical exertion to take them with 2 - 3 ” of river stone . Problem solve . weewee also pool near the front threshold . They utilise the same technique , which crop out all right . But this spot would never work for food production and Leigh’Ann and Jordan freely admit that flowers are not in their repertoire . Jordan ’s mommy , Kelly Andrews , come to the rescue . A skilled designer of her Georgetown gardens , she produce a welcoming , colorful entryway terrace , including flowers for pollinators . I lie with her style!Leigh’Ann and Jordan recently added bins to make their own compost . With their heavy stiff soil , they bring compost at nearly every planting . Then , they got six biddy ( all that Kyle allows in a homestead ) to naturally reprocess plant waste . The hencoop ’s composted litter by and by nurture the dirt . Soon , Leigh’Ann and Jordan anticipate dewy fresh testis . It was tough enough for them to lose their chore , leave their friends , and move during a pandemic . Sure , this was the opportunity to follow their dream , but Texas atmospheric condition did n’t make it any prosperous — tossing them every harsh challenge , let in the big halt of 2021 . But , after yr in dramatics ( and ferment on farm ) , they ’re skilled trouble solvers!This year ’s weather has been a pain in the neck already . Heat and freeze played cat and creep with us . In former April , tatsoi ’s run off next to Red Giant Indian mustard greens . Leigh’Ann and Jordan are n’t put away the quarrel book binding just yet , since newfangled squash vine flora are come right along . Beyond , cool time of year cabbages will twist up presently . After contend tardy freeze for a couple of year , they ’re await a bit longer to set out tomatoes , peppers , and Basil the Great . They endeavor to be the formula of harvest rotation to keep the grime healthy and pest press down . nerveless weather sugar duck soup peas fix nitrogen in the soil to tip upcoming tomato plant . To make cultivation and harvest home wanton , they originate in rows dedicated to a exclusive crop . However , “ We do allow mistakes to flourish on the farm ! ” Leigh’Ann tell . With the electric battery of freeze this wintertime , they ended up seeding things three times . Lettuce got stuck in the cloud seeder and when the weather warmed up , it cheerfully popped in among peas and beets . Root crop do extremely well for them , including Boro beets ( they expend the leaves in salad mix , too ) and Sora radishes . A newfangled favorite is bantam and sweet - taste Hakurei turnip . These Japanese turnips grow very promptly and are absolutely yummy!And then they grow microgreens , including pea plant and helianthus shoots . Microgreens are simply young edible plants harvested after first leaves modernize . Jordan grows them in tray indoors under Inner Light , harvest home nutrient - packed lusciousness in just seven to 14 days . At Austin’sSustainable Food CenterFarmers ’ marketplace last Saturday , microgreens were take flight off the tables , along with beet , turnip , Swiss chard , sugar mix , and gluten - innocent sunbaked good . The Sustainable Food Center ’s serve them from the start ( include a Zoom lecture they listened to on their drive from Seattle ) . Although skilled in direction , budgeting , and planning , SFC head them as raw farmers through revenue enhancement , bungalow intellectual nourishment laws , Cary Grant , and more . On Sundays , find Billie & Jean ’s Farm at theDowntown Buda Farmers ’ Marketin Buda City Park . Be sure to snag a loaf of their gluten - costless focaccia — it ’s simply heavenly , peculiarly wassail . SupportBillie & Jean ’s Farm on Patreonto bridge deck the seasonal crack in halt and summertime ’s heat and drought . backing degree can admit one - on - one Zoom conversation , farm term of enlistment , insider info , and recipes . “ Something that we love to do is connect with our biotic community and so we need to grow that online , not just for people in Central Texas , but for anyone , ” Leigh’Ann said . “We have always been passionate about levelheaded eating and local solid food and run through tight to menage and seasonal eating . And we always kind of knew that when we were done doing theater full prison term , we want to really invest our lives in our lifestyle , in eating that way . And we did n’t get laid what that looked like or what it meant . But this is what it ’s turn into , and we ’re so thankful for that , ” Leigh’Ann said . For Jordan , who took occasional Fridays off from school to help out : “ There was a sentence to be out of doors , to be subdued , to think my thoughts and I feel like I process the pandemic in a fresh job . I processed all of that out here on this country . So when I got to finally turn this into my full time job , I was so quick for it because this is this is sincerely my happy , my happy topographic point . ”Check out their Instagram to see what ’s growing on .
Watch their story now !
Thanks for break off by , Linda
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