This is Stephen Johnson, a vendor at the Corner Farmers Market on West Market Street beside St. Andrews Episcopal Church. He sells produce and delicious baked goods with much inspired by his innovative farming techniques and his Australian roots. Stephen is the person who first had the idea for the corner market. His home is only a block away from the original, Walker/Elam location of the market. Stephen, a trained psychologist, left that career to farm full time. His sustainable farming practices are quite innovative. He seems to work farming miracles on less than an acre of Lindley Park land. From enhancing the quality of water on his property, to ensuring there are bees to pollinate to learning to market his produce to baking and preparing yummy products like pesto, this urban farmer seems to do it all. John Van Lindley (1838- 1913), the pomologist and nurseryman for whom Lindley Park is named, would be very happy to know the good work Stephen Johnson is doing in the community.
The Corner Farmers Market will be open today from 8-12 noon. Stop by and get some goodies for the holiday season. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Stephen's gardening techniques and his journey from Perth, Australia to Greensboro, USA, read this 2017 article in the O. Henry Magazine.
Happy Saturday!
A terrific portrait shot!
Posted by: William Kendall | Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 02:14 PM