This is a series of flash interviews with people I admire, people who are doing something—anything, a lot of things—for the Earth. These folks walk the walk, each of them in their own way, using their own unique skillset. They dedicate their energy, their time, and their hearts to a crucial cause: the preservation of this precious planet we call home.
In the tiny hamlet of Six Mile, South Carolina—a town without a single traffic light on its one-block main street—great things are happening at the 21-acre homestead owned by Concetta Kome and her family. In five and a half years, the Komes have turned a vacant swath of pasture that was overrun with non-native invasive species (fire ants! kudzu! “feral” Bradford pear trees! yikes!) into a place of vibrant, buzzing life that supports a healthy ecosystem of diverse flora and fauna.
The Komes’ early experiments in sustainable agriculture eventually bloomed into a full-scale agribusiness. Concetta and her twin daughters, Lillian and Rosa, grow a huge variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers—all of it without any pesticides, herbicides, or tilling. Their natural fertilizer comes from compost teas and manure donated by the flock of 100-plus chickens, goats, rabbits, and a pair of sheep. The farm family also includes Ducky the duck and a mini-donkey named Gnocchi. Husband/father Hunter, who works in hospital administration, assists with building projects such as the homemade mobile chicken coop that is moved from one field to another for the hens’ foraging pleasure.
The Kome family biz is called Farm Girl Deliveries. During the growing season, Concetta and her daughters are busy bees, selling and delivering produce, fresh flowers and eggs to individual buyers, stores, and weekly farmer’s markets. Last year they launched a CSA program (community-supported agriculture) through which people can buy a subscription to receive a biweekly box of organic, locally-grown food during spring, summer, and fall. In addition, they donate the farm’s products to a program called “Produce Rx” at the Clemson Free Clinic, which feeds 16 low-income families twice a month.
During the off-season, Concetta and her daughters keep income flowing by selling dried flower wreaths and bouquets. They also overwinter vegetable plants, thanks to a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service which allowed them to build a 96-foot-long hoop house. Another grant, from the Travelers Rest Farmers Program, funded an 8-by-10-foot walk-in cooler that’s now under construction.
All this abundance has sprouted from the fertile soil of Concetta’s dream. She grew from a backyard gardener into a full-fledged female farmer who contributes to her community in vital ways. And here are her thoughts on the roots of it all, dating back to her nature-based childhood.
Tell me about some of your early experiences in nature.
Growing up in Beaverton, Oregon in the early 1970s, our family of eight often looked to the outdoors for adventure. I vividly remember the last time we camped before we moved to Europe and my older siblings went off to college. We loaded the station wagon and the Datsun and headed to the Willamette Valley. As per course for the Northwest, it rained every day at some point. Yet, undeterred, we filled our time with excursions into the red rock sandstone mountains and in the evenings, we ate poached eggs and corned beef hash around the fire.
How did those early experiences shape your relationship with the natural world?
Having exposure to the natural world in my early years created a sense of comfort with nature that influenced my choices as a young adult. I became an avid rock climber, paddler and Outward Bound Instructor in North Carolina, Maine and Florida.
How do you connect with nature now … either through your work or leisure or both?
My farm is my home now, keeping my feet firmly planted in nature's cycles and rhythms.
What are your biggest fears for the future of our planet?
I am deeply moved every day concerning the state of our planet. We have lost the balance we once had, the awareness that we are a part of this miraculous earth, not in control of her or depleting her for our comforts.
What is your biggest hope for the future of our planet?
My hope lies in my children. Fair or unfair, that is the truth. My daughters farm sustainably and regeneratively with us on our land. Their awareness and what they value are a part of their everyday lives. That is the difference. They live their values: earth care and people care.
Thank you, Concetta, for being a Champion of Nature!
Thank you thank you for spreading the word about this impressive family and their efforts to make this world a better place for all.
such wonderful work, and it seems to have evolved so organically from backyard gardner to this force of nature! thanks for the great work!