Sophronia's Farm

Growing and Gathing at SOPHRONIA'S FARM

story and pictures by Erin Daniel

Most of us grocery shop on a whim; we run into the store, grab the items on our list, and head home. We shop the items that are on sale or buy what’s familiar to us, but most of us never stop to think about any of the thoughts, labor, or processes behind the produce. Wade Reynolds and Marion Pearson, the farmers behind Sophronia’s Farm in Lynchburg, South Carolina break down what it's like to grow and share crops. They reveal what goes behind growing their produce and the benefits of shopping at your local farmer’s market! Wade grew up in Sumter, South Carolina, and received his Associate’s Degree in Agriculture back in 1972. Ever since graduating, he’s been farming and it’s clear that he truly has a passion for it. He’s even resided in Virginia where he tended 92 acres of land, half of which he used to grow 150 varieties of heirloom apples. Wade named his farm after his mother, Sophronia. Being that her name is Greek, he knew nobody else would have a farm with the same name and it would surely stand out! Marion is from Pennsylvania, where she was exposed to various sides of the industry working as a driver in food distribution. She’s taken what she’s learned and applied it to raising their livestock, which includes goats, chickens, and pigs. When walking around their property, it’s clear there’s not a single inch of land that has been left untouched by their green thumbs. They grow everything from a variety of tomatoes, five types of blackberries, stone fruits, a variety of squash, melons, onions – really just about every type of produce you can think of along with SEVERAL types you wouldn’t find in grocery

SOME OF THE MANY LIVESTOCK RAISED AT SEOPHRONIA'S FARM, WHERE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO ROAM FREELY. WADE REYNOLDS, FARM OWNER

"I have people coming back to my stand at the farmer’s market specifically for the canary melons all because they tried them and have fallen in love with this melon they can’t find elsewhere.”

stores! Wade mentions that the main difference in his produce versus what can be found in stores is that his produce is cultivated for flavor. Produce found in stores is mainly grown for supply purposes. Using his greenhouse has allowed him to keep a competitive edge against other growers and retailers, while giving him the advantage of supplying customers with delicious, garden fresh produce year round. He's able to plant and sell seasonal crops, such as tomatoes and lettuce, for longer periods of time. While taking pride in growing produce, Wade also enjoys introducing people to new foods. He mentioned, “People are skeptical – they don’t eat what they don’t know. For instance, I enjoy having them try a different variety of melons we grow. They’re surprised when they taste them, how sweet they are. Now, I have people coming back to my stand at the farmer’s market specifically for the canary melons all because they tried them and have fallen in love with this melon they can’t find elsewhere.”

Though all of their produce is delicious and grown with lots of love, their tomatoes and blackberries are probably the most interesting and receive a little extra “TLC.” Rather than growing tomatoes in cages, Wade has trained his plants to grow up strings that he’s strung in his greenhouse. This produces a fuller plant, which in turn, yields more tomatoes! Their blackberries also get special treatment! They’ve created a “trellis” out of wire that can be rotated during their growing seasons. Wade mentioned that laying the berries flat in the spring encourages the flowers to grow on one side of the plant. As summer approaches and they start blooming, he raises the plants upright so that all the berries grow on the same side of the plant, making them easier to harvest. We all know crops come from planted seeds, but Wade digs deeper than just planting and harvesting. He’s particular about where his seeds are sourced from and he’s extremely knowledgeable about the origins of various crops. Every crop has its start at a state university. For instance, the University of Georgia specializes in the research of multiple varieties of blueberries. Meanwhile, Vidalia onions, which are grown in Georgia, are actually researched by Texas A&M. They’re just simply named for the area of Georgia that they’re grown in! Not only is he educated in his field, but Wade also learned how to pull water from the wells on the property to water his crops. He uses a method of farming known as plastic culture, which utilizes raised garden beds covered in plastic tarps and lined with drip tape. He has a machine that allows him to create these beds in one pass. This method prevents weeds from growing between the plants

Wade recounts the hardest challenge of being a farmer is the labor. He says it's not unusual for him to spend 12 hours a day tending to his property.

and keeps water from evaporating. This also eliminates the need for overhead irrigation and keeps roots moist. This keeps the roots moist while ensuring the foliage stays dry and healthy. He said one piece of advice he could offer to a home gardener would be, “Don’t put your plants to bed wet!” Watering at night can encourage mold growth and makes them more susceptible to disease! He also suggests watering your plants every few days, rather than every day. This teaches your plants’ roots to dig deeper into the ground to search for water, in turn creating a stronger root system! Wade recounts the hardest challenge of being a farmer is the labor. He says it’s not unusual for him to spend 12 hours a day tending to his property. He also mentioned that a field of crops not turning out is heartbreaking, though they ensure nothing on the property goes to waste. If a crop isn’t up to par for selling, it becomes feed for their animals.

Aside from farming, Wade enjoys cooking, baking, and food preservation. He’s dehydrated foods such as apple chips and jerky. He enjoys canning foods such as tomato sauce, pickles, jellies, and jams. He learned a lot of this from his mother, who used to make homemade blackberry jam, which he said is still one of his favorites today. He also enjoys grilling, smoking meats and has even dabbled with bread making and winemaking from homegrown grapes. Wade mentioned that oftentimes, he heads out to the yard to handpick their dinner. It’s not uncommon for him and Marion to have a vegetarian meal composed of all their fresh vegetables. He loves to constantly try new recipes and find new ways to use his produce. His most recent feat was a Julia Child recipe, Blackberry Clafoutis, which he described as a “custard-like dessert”, featuring his fresh blackberries!

SOPHRONIA'S FARM To follow along with what they’re growing, you can visit Sophronia’s Farm on Facebook and Instagram: @sophronias_farm.

To purchase their tasty produce,visit them each Saturday at the City Center Farmer’s Market located at 200 Sanborn Street in Florence!