Our Roots
Hello!
I’m Stacy Geny, founder and owner of Paradise Produce. Our Roots here are deep, just like our produce. We are first and foremost deeply rooted in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Sonia and I thoroughly enjoy working with our hands in His creation. My story begins with dad, Steve, who taught me at an early age how to garden. He would take me out to the family garden in the baby backpack way before I could walk, or have me along for the ride as he mowed the lawn on the small tractor. I got the love of God’s creation instilled in me from the beginning! As I got older I gradually “took over” the home garden, planning and experimenting with crops and techniques. From even nine or ten years of age on, I knew I wanted to be a farmer, but in my late teens I decided to pursue vegetable production as my primary enterprise. At first I sold primarily through Tana Comer of Eaton’s Creek Organics who kindly offered to take my produce to market and who has given lots of great advice along my path of developing my farm system. I am now going to farmer’s markets myself and thoroughly enjoy seeing our dedicated customers enjoy the food that I grow. I can’t leave my mom out either! She was a horse trainer and riding instructor. I believe I got my love of animals from her. I love horses and would like to use draft horses for power to limit fossil fuel usage and keep the farm as sustainable as possible. While I have yet to accomplish that goal, we do have two horses who supply the farm with much needed manure along with some neighboring cows. And even though they’re destined for the table, I think a love of animals is still necessary to raise meat chickens carefully! I have in the past but hope to get the opportunity to again start doing just that which completes another fertility loop in the farm system. In 2013 I took a break from farming as many of you know to move to Oregon and marry my beloved bride, Sonia. She grew up in the suburbs but is 100% country girl at heart. She showed this by doing her best to raise all manner of things on their 1/2 acre in the city and obtaining a degree as a veterinary technician. While she loves growing good food, her passion truly is the animals and we hope to begin adding more to our farm soon. Sonia is the perfect match for me. Look for her smiling face at markets! In 2014 we had our first child Wilder. He is as eager to be outside as I am. To sum up, I have always wanted to work producing good food and to see people enjoy that food and the direct connection with their farmer. Thank you for being a part of that! — Stacy |