Background

Dan Bertram and I (Jacqui Fulcomer raised in New Jersey) met in Montana in 2002. At this time I had been working on an Organic Farm in Whitefish, Montana, called Purple Frog Gardens. I worked at the farm seasonally for four years from fall 1999 till late summer 2003. We moved to Wisconsin, Daniel’s stomping ground in fall 2003. We enrolled as Garden Students at Michael Fields Agriculture Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin, in the summer of 2004 for 6 months. Here we learned vast knowledge of the organic and biodynamic farming realm from fertility practices to marketing. While being students at Michael Field’s Agriculture Institute we found an opportunity to farm in Northeast Pennsylvania in the Endless Mountain Region.

An owner of 200 acres wanted her farmland to be farmed organically and biodynamicly. This was a grand opportunity for us to try managing our own organic farm without buying land. This was to be a trial run for the both of us to conclude whether or not it would be the lifestyle for us. We named the farm Carlton Organics after the family farm name. In fall a friend disked the acre of hay field and Dan in tilled the acre with a 6 horsepower rototiller. Come spring 2005 we turned it into a thriving raised bed garden, which we certified it as a Certified Organic (certified by Stellar Certifications). Solely we farmed Carlton Organics and we sold flowers, vegetables, herbs and eggs at markets and to local chefs. The two of us had a great year and had intentions to resume the farm in 2006. During this time I was training to conduct inspections on certified organic farms. Today I inspect certified organic farms part time.

Upon returning home to Wisconsin for the Holidays in 2005 I found a farm for sale not far from where Dan grew up. The farm was perfect for what we wanted. The property was on the real estate market only 3 business days and we gave an offer, which was accepted. The summer of 2006 was a foundation year of working hard to earn enough money to start a business and establishing a cover crop on the land before creating the raised bed garden space.

2007 was the year to make a go of it and the farm was well received by the public. Today Daniel and Jacqui wish to maintain a small CSA and less farmers markets to permit more time on the farm. Daniel and Jacqui continually educate themselves by attending the Upper Midwest Organic Conference, buying recordings of the workshops, research with books and keeping up to date on the USDA NOP (National Organic Program). Willoway Farm at this time is not Certified Organic and feels their customers can come to their own conclusion on our farming methods by observing firsthand how we farm. As a small farmer and the intimacy of the CSA organic certification is not a necessary marketing tool for us.