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Featured Farmer |
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Steve Smith’s Hollow Pumpkin Farm
by Jerry Bradley
 For 31 years Steve Smith has been stationed about 20 miles due south of Carbondale growing fruits and mostly vegetables on about 16 acres of low-lying land - or a “hollow” as it‘s sometimes called.
Recently, Smith changed the name of his farm from Pumpkin Hollow to Hollow Pumpkin, and his rationale reflects the giving spirit that defines this unique grower.
“You know … [it’s] like a hollow vessel, you can fill it up however you want,“ explained Smith. “It's something that's more changeable than Pumpkin Hollow, which is more of a geographic description.”
He keeps about five of the 16 total acres of that land in production, growing a wide variety of mostly vegetables using sustainable methods free of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
Smith said he learned a lot about organic farming in New York state during the early-to-mid 70s before moving permanently to Southern Illinois in 1977. Sustainable growing practices weren’t “in favor” at the time, yet Steve followed his gut and started to grow organically even as the industrial agriculture revolution was in full swing.
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Greenridge Farm |
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