Rhonda McCurry
The spring season has been good to Clint Brauer, owner of MGHonor Farms, Cheney. As a grower of local herbicide-free produce, Brauer markets his heirloom and slicer tomatoes, cantalopes, watermelons, spring greens, potatoes and peppers to Wichita restaurants and is testing a delivery service to residential customers.
MGHonor Farms exists because Brauer returned home from California two years ago following a career in the technology industry. He named the produce farm after his late grandmother's initials "MG" as a way to recognize her way of doing the "right thing" all the time while utilizing the farm ground where she once lived. The following photos offer a second glance into his operation, continued from an April story where he began installing irrigation, low tunnels and planting his crops as seedlings. A third installment of MGHonor Farms will follow in August.
PRIZE TASTE: This heirloom variety will be visually brilliant in just a few weeks. Brauer says green zebra tomatoes are bright yellow and green and are prized by those who like tomatoes with a tart taste.
PRIZE TASTE:
This heirloom variety will be visually brilliant in just a few weeks. Brauer says green zebra tomatoes are bright yellow and green and are prized by those who like tomatoes with a tart taste.
WATER NEEDED:
Brauer has planted 2,500 potato hills this spring, mostly by hand. He says the vegetable is easy to grow but must have water. Planting potatoes has been possible due to equipment that shifts soil into mounds and another that will disc the plants when it's time for harvest. The straw beds help retain precious moisture for the plants.
HIGH DEMAND:
MGHonor Farms owner Client Brauer checks his heirloom Brandywine tomato vines. This variety, he says, has amazing taste and are in high demand. The plant itself shows off unique leaves compared to other varieties.
DISCOURAGING RABBITS:
A portion of the two-acre perimeter of MGHonor Farms is encircled by chicken wire and onions, both are used to deter rabbits from tasting the fresh local items Brauer is working to produce.
BIG TOMATOES:
Brauer says Brandywine tomatoes are large in size, their end result demonstrated by his hand gesture here.
SPRING SUCCESS:
Brauer had success with his spring greens this year, selling variety including Arugula, Spinach and Swiss Chard to his customers in one pound containers. He spent lots of time watching the humidity and temperatures to determine when to pick, clean and sell the salad mix.