Bulbs of garlic from a light bulb moment
Light bulb moments come in all sizes. Sometimes it’s a spotlight. Desiree Mathews’ moment was like a tiny night light. She was rubbing some essential oils on her skin when she wondered, “if these oils were absorbed so easily, what about chemicals used on fruits and vegetables?” The more she wondered – and researched – the brighter that light became, eventually involving two generations of Central Rural Electric Cooperative members.
Desiree remembers her folks, Doug and Doylene Manning, having a small garden when she was young – but they hadn’t had one for many years. In 2001, Doug Manning bought 160 acres near Mulhall to run cattle.
It was almost 15 years later that his daughter became worried about the safety of the food her family was consuming. Because of her concern, Desiree’s husband Larry built two raised beds in the backyard of their home, adding two more the next year. They had started a healthy hobby that would soon get out of hand.
Both of the Mathews have busy careers. Desiree teaches art at two Edmond elementary schools and Larry is a sonographer at a local hospital.
In her spare time, Desiree read books, watched YouTube videos, attended the Oklahoma Local Ag Summit and began getting to know local farmers who willingly shared their knowledge with her.
The four beds at the Mathews’ home were overflowing with produce. And Desiree wanted to plant cantaloupes.
Coincidentally, it was at this time that her mother, Doylene, asked her husband if he would plant some black-eyed peas. As he was creating the small pea plot and planting the peas, Desiree asked if she could have part of it to plant cantaloupes.
More and more of the Mathews horticultural activities moved to her dad’s land. “At first we had farmer friends come and help us make plots with their tractors. We tilled initially; but now with the use of planting diverse cover crops and adding compost, we use a broad fork to prep our beds,” Desiree says. Their treatment of the land influenced the name of their enterprise – Redeemed Soil Farm.
After learning about the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and their grant program, Desiree contacted the county NRCS representative who came out, evaluated the farm plots and approved the site for a grant for a high tunnel. This would extend their growing season by several months. The next year, they qualified for a second tunnel.
Larry ran water lines to the beds and put landscape fabric around the perimeters of the tunnels to cut down on weeds. Screen doors deterred rabbits and armadillos. Hanging cables and trellises gave support to tomato plants and climbing vegetables.
By 2019, the Mathews were selling produce regularly at the Edmond Farmers’ Market.
Disaster struck in 2022. Eighty-mile-an-hour straight winds took down both of the high tunnels. They were able to save some of the cucumbers and low-growing plants, but, “The tomatoes were toast,” Desiree says.
Today, they’re still trying to finish taking the destroyed tunnels apart. This year, they’ll be starting the garden without the tunnels.
“We do everything organically. I try to do everything heirloom. I’m known for having different varieties like yellow tomatoes, purple carrots and Malabar spinach,” Desiree says.
If pesticides become necessary, they use only products approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute. “I don’t want chemicals on my farm; that’s why I started it in the first place,” Desiree says.
While summer is her big selling season, one of her biggest sellers is available year-round. She grows at least a dozen varieties of garlic – from German Extra Hardy and Lorz Italian garlic to elephant garlic and hotter, spicier Transylvania – better options than grocery store garlic, much of which comes from China. The garlic planting, growing and harvest seasons also work well with her school calendar.
In addition to growing fruits and vegetables, Desiree makes vanilla paste using whole vanilla beans from Madagascar, Indonesia, Uganda and Papua, New Guinea. Mixed with rum and sugar, the paste has a more potent vanilla taste than liquid vanilla. Her paste is available at the Edmond Winter Farmers’ Market, Harvest Hub and Conscious Community Co-op in Edmond.
Desiree never stops learning. She’s looking forward to OKLAS – the Oklahoma Local Agricultural Summit, which will be held in Edmond, February 28-March 1. The event includes hands-on workshops, panel discussions, marketing information, a farm-to-table dinner and an agritourism and innovative farm tour. Visit oklac.org/oklas for more information.
For now, the Mathews are part-time farmers. During the busy season, Larry works 10-hour days Monday through Thursday. Friday is harvest day and Saturday they take the produce to market.
Desiree’s dream is to retire and farm full time. Larry’s dream? “My hope and dream is to make her happy,” he says.
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