About
Our Story
Born and raised in Hood River meant growing up around farms. My story started in the little community of Pine Grove. I have fond memories checking water boxes and riding on tractors with my Dad. Farming is a very challenging profession; mentally and physically. Long story short, my Dad lost the family farm.
While this was a terrible time for many people involved, I think it laid a path for me to ask, Why? Why are farmers the last to get paid for the crops they grow? Why plant this and not that? Why are young adults advised not to farm? While I do not have the answers for these questions all these years later, I do know that farming runs in my blood.
I was fortunate enough to spend weekends and summers working on my Step Father's fruit farm. Together the family began managing 100 acres of fruit trees! What a wonderful opportunity to lease and work beside an experienced, devoted and respected farmer.
During this time, I found a I had a knack for building relationships with consumers at our family's produce stand, Cody Orchards Farm Stand, in the little community of Odell. This is where I found my identity as a farmer. I met numerous farmers and customers who have become very influential in my life during my time leasing land in Odell.
In 2017, Out On A Limb Farm was created when my husband and I had the opportunity to lease some land. Eventually, we purchased his Grandfather's 14 acre fruit farm just outside of Odell.
While it has taken a couple years to shift our farm into shape for our visions, I am thrilled to continue serving the middle valley with local produce. While my focus is on local families finding fresh produce for meals throughout the week, I enjoy meeting those who seek out fresh seasonal produce and/or want to support small businesses in my area.
I like being off the beaten path and take pride in knowing my best advertising comes through word of mouth. Farming is a rewarding and humbling experience. Hearing and seeing my customer's reaction to fresh peaches or a ripe pear helps to make farming fun. My satisfaction comes when my customers have that “aha” moment, that local farms are well worth supporting.
Our Practices
Our farm follows Regenerative practices. Hand lines have been replaced with micro sprinklers and an irrigation schedule is followed to allow proper hydration for the trees without over watering. This has reduced the amount of water used per season by many gallons.
Clover and other beneficial low growing ground cover has been allowed to spread under the canopy of the trees to keep the soil covered and allow beneficial insects habitat in the orchard to help control unwanted pests. Along the borders of our farm, we have been placing native flowering plants to increase food sources for a wide variety of pollinators throughout the season.
The Xerces society helped fund this project as well as placing alyssum, meadowfoam, clover, and flax within the tree strip of a newly planted block. The amount of ladybug and lacewing larvae found through the first season was promising. We continue adding strips of flowers through the year to help these beneficial insects become established in multiple sections of the farm.
Bat Boxes are being placed around the farm to aid in codling moth prevention. Along with our IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program we are able to narrow our applications to very specific pests.
