Farmer Gene Farms

About Us:

History of Farm: The farm has been in the family since the colonial times. It has stayed in the family since and has been operated as a large-scale farm, row crops, poultry farm, beef farm, and now a small family farm. We produce several varieties of vegetables and fruits in our fields and greenhouses. We now have several greenhouses for produce off season and start plants for other far

mers. All though it is much smaller in size now it is still loved and cherished just as much by the current generations of farmers. It is in Marshville a little south of Monroe with a few roads separating parts of the farm. Philosophy: We want to care for our land and make sure that it is healthy and clean for generations to come. We like to bring produce that were common foods in the south when people produced their own food. We will bring some newer produce but we really like to educate people and reintroduce society to older produce that has been forgotten. For pest, fungi, and w**d control we use integrated control. We try to do natural treatment first such as lady bugs, wasps, pulling w**ds, compost, etc. We like to choose products we think are the safest for us and the land and not just choose to spray everything with products that are labeled organic but can be very detrimental to the environment. About Farmers:

Gene Moore (Jerry's son) went to NC State majoring in Poultry science and agriculture. Since then he has been working on or around the farm. Now runs most of the day to day operations and is trying to implement new technology, diversify the farms products, and increase public interaction/education with the farm. Gene loves to farm, wants to keep the land health, and productive for generation to come to enjoy. You can see Gene every Saturday at his permit both in building B of the Charlotte Regional Farmers market. His favorite part of farming is connecting people with the food, educating people about seasons and how things grow, and watching produce grow. Wanda Moore married in to this family and has been helping around the farm ever since. She helps in the greenhouses getting all the seeds to grow and is the best transplanter. She is also who you will see if you are at the Charlotte Regional market during the week and she is there on the weekend. Jerry (pop) Moore the Patriarch of the family has been a farmer full time since the 70s. He started his career as a row crop and poultry farmer with little diversity, but after the farm had some trouble in the 80's he and his late wife realized they needed to diversify. With Gene's help they turned the farm into an integrated farm with lots of diversity. Though he has slowed down he still is out on the farm everyday picking and telling everyone how things should be done. You can also see him talking with everyone at the Monroe market during the warmer weather. His favorite part of farming is talking to people and working with family. Donald Moore (Jerry's son) left the farm life for several years after school to work at other jobs. Two seasons ago he decided to come back to farming. He is relearning some lessons in farming like that you can't do anything except the farm on Fridays and Saturdays. H can be found at the Monroe's Farmers Market on Saturdays all year and during the week when open. His favorite part of farming is working with the tractors and starting new crops. Ann Moore is Donald's wife, who helps some, and you can see her at the market in Monroe. Marissa Moore (Donald's daughter-in-law) had been part of the family for a few years before starting to work on the farm in 2014. This past year she had to take a job outside of farming to help with finances, but she still is sometime is in charge of the picking, washing, and string up of produce; you can see her some of the summer out in the fields or hiding from the sun for a while when washing and packing the produce for markets and customers. She cares about the land, the family farm, is always willing to help, and is looking for ways to improve the day to day operations of the farm. What she likes about farming is that she can be around family, have her children with her, and being outside except when the sun does not like her or her skin. Jacob Moore studied agriculture and then returned to the Marshville where he has been in and out on the farm ever since. While he has another job that takes a lot of his time, he helps with bigger customer orders and greenhouse production as well as has an outside both at Charlotte regional market. His favorite part of farming is working in the greenhouses and growing flowers. Children/next Generation are 2 to 11 years old. They all will have part on the farming even the youngest will at least come to visit. We have had 2-7-year-old helping us pick in the field which sometimes means they only help until there is something they want to eat picked. During the summer the older children are out of school you can find all the children on the farm and sometimes a few extras tag along.