Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Landrus
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up on a beef farm near Aitkin MN, and was active in 4-H and FFA. I’ve gardened since I was the age of 12, I had many mentors along the way and have thought myself a lot too. I started doing farmers markets over ten years ago with just 2-3 other vendors. Since then that original market has since grown to close to 40+ vendors, and I also started another market last summer.
I enjoy living a slow lifestyle with my husband and three kids, going “to work” with my family at the farmers markets twice a week. I enjoy socializing with all of the amazing people I meet at the farmers markets weekly, and have build great friendships with.
We have a farmstand on the farm we own just outside of Deerwood, where visitors can come shop from April until Oct 31( depending on temperature). Shoppers can purchase eggs, canned goods of all sorts, soaps, and seasonal produce!
There are approximately 12,000 feet of rows of gardened space, including sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, squashes, peppers, pumpkins, green beans, cabbages, herbs and more!
I can all sorts of goods sourced right from the gardens in there prime including dill pickles, pickles veggies, salsa, jams, jellies and relishes .
I also do some baking the slower times of the season and have took up sourdough baking too.
We also have registered Nigerian Dwarf goats, laying hens and pedigreed Holland Lop rabbits that we show.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting started with a market garden business can not happen overnight. I always say “that’s farming, not everything is going to work out”. You will always be learning when gardening and working in the kitchen. Some struggles of owning a unofficial organic garden include: pressure from pests, bugs, the amount of rain or lack of. We try not to use any pesticides unless absolutely necessary and it must be organic certified. Not every year is perfect but our customers have grown exponentially over the years.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I grown heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs. I also offer canned goods from product I grow.
Most people my age (34) do not know the skill set I have, I sometimes feel I come from decades before my time.
I am proud of the vegetable varieties that our customers love. It’s taken several years of research to study and try to see what works best for our farm.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
“You can’t do it all at once, one thing at a time.”
It takes time to build your business, it takes time to build your customer base.
I started my gig as just a hobby and a way to share what I’ve grown and made with the community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Lakeviewgardensgifts
- Other: Tik Tok: Lakeview Gardens
