Farm to Table in Williamsburg
A Tour of KelRae Farm, by Michele Garrard, Master Gardener, Class of 2022
Boots on the Ground Tour – As part of their training, the James City County Williamsburg Master Gardeners (JCCWMG) recently received a “boots on the ground” tour of KelRae Farm, located in Toano, VA. Leading the tour was the farm’s owner-operator, Michelle Gulden. Michelle together with her husband Randy, took over the farm in 2001 from Randy’s great uncle, Henry M. “Buck” Hazelwood, and they changed the name to KelRae, after their daughters Kelsey and Rachel.
That was more than 2 decades ago and now Michele and Randy have four daughters and what started as a part-time adventure is now a full-time farming career, with a year-round, on-site, indoor Farm Market Store, a popular Community Supported Agriculture program, and an online farmers market known as the KelRae Farm Food Hub (kelraefarm.com).
Exploring the Farm to Table Model – KelRae Farm sells a variety of greens, vegetables, melons, sunflowers, free range eggs including chicken, turkey, and duck through their Food Hub service which offers a year-round farmers market with online shopping for pickup at the farm, or local delivery options. It also provides a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) where consumers buy shares of the farm’s seasonal harvest. This spreads out the risk inherent in working the land while reinforcing the benefits of easy access to healthy fresh food using the farm-to-table consumption model. 
The Farm Market Store – There is also an onsite Farm Market Store with a vast variety of fresh produce, honey, meats, seafood, baked goods, soaps, and household items. All made possible through the hosting of over 40 local partners and collaborations with local farms and businesses. KelRae Farm conducts extensive outreach within the community supporting farm-to-school programs, participation in local farmers’ markets, volunteer opportunities for William and Mary students, as well as additional partnerships with local restaurants like the Culture Cafe, Two Drummers, Cochon, and Haas Mushroom, to name a few.
Farming Challenges – During their tour, Michelle, spoke about farming as a profession, rising early each morning to start her workday, and facing the daily challenges of growing and selling fresh food. This included the impact of the tight labor market affecting not only farm labor but the entire country as well as the unpredictable behavior of Mother Nature, always the “queen” of weather conditions. Michele concluded that each farming year teaches you something new and that despite the many challenges, it’s a good life for her and her family. 
Memorable Moments – The tour included a ride on the farm’s trailer pulled by the tractor with Randy at the wheel. And from their vantage point on the trailer, the Master Gardeners had a bird’s eye view of KelRae Farm where it was easy to see the fields and buildings that make up this successful business. And speaking of birds, while on their tour, the Master Gardeners were escorted by a hyper-vigilant flock of Guinea Fowl who, like watch dogs screeched at the arrival of these newcomers.
Nothin’ Easy About It – The Master Gardeners ended their tour and their class, enjoying lunch under the shade of an old oak tree with a sweeping view of this beautiful farm. They were told a story about a former U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower who in an address in 1956 at Bradley University in Peoria, IL, told his audience: “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”
After what they had learned, these Master Gardeners couldn’t help but agree.