Meet Your Local Farmer: Tea House Gardens in Washoe Valley offers fresh micro-farmed produce
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Tue, 05/26/2020 - 11:07am
Farming and ranching is all around in Northern Nevada, and some of those who are doing it may even be your neighbors.
Donna and Bill Murphy-Sharp have been “micro-farming” on their one acre property in Eastlake, Washoe Valley for many years, and became certified producers of produce in the area in 2011.
Tucked away on their property they call “Tea House Gardens” their micro-farm includes chickens, bees, heritage fruit trees, and a massive hoop house that allows them to grow three seasons out of the year.
“Green” farming is very important to the pair, not only for human’s sake, but for the sake of their beloved bees as well.
“We never use any pesticides or herbicides or anything chemical,” said Donna.
They are always growing a vast array of small-batch produce, from leafy greens to root vegetables, corn, cucumbers, zucchinis, bushels of herbs, among a myriad of others.
In a normal year, Donna and Bill can usually be found at their farm stand in front of their own home, or at the Washoe Valley Farmer’s Market, which they started around four years ago.
This year, however, due to COVID-19 concerns, they don’t think they’ll be hosting the Washoe Valley Farmer’s Market, but their farm stand is still open.
“It’s easier to control,” said Donna, and they are taking safety very seriously.
Even during a normal harvest they don’t touch the produce, but rather use gloves. Now though they’ve also added masks to the equation to be safer.
A rope was tied off across their driveway and a trailer full of coolers announcing what fresh vegetables could be found inside was parked eight feet away. Behind the rope they had a table set up full of seedlings people could plant themselves, including hybrid tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, corn, hot peppers, melons, and more.
For people interested in purchasing seedlings, Bill would place them in an old wooden cart and roll it beneath the rope, staying always six feet back.
Last week their produce involved lettuces, radishes, arugula, turnips, kale and more. Offerings change each week as the plants start producing. Free-range eggs and honey are often on the menu as well.
Each October, the pair sponsors the Washoe Valley Cider Squeeze in October, and they are serious about their heritage apple trees.
Bill is an apple tree expert, though he won’t boast about it. He was given a grant from the UNR Agriculture department to restore 40 heritage apple trees between Verdi and Washoe Valley, and intends to apply for another to continue the work.
You can often find Tea House Gardens at the Incline Farmer’s Market, and you can learn more about them here.
If you’re interested in stopping by their farm stand, you can find them on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 3220 Churchill Drive. Please wear a mask or other face covering.
