Who We Are
In the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass country near the historic village of Midway, noted cookbook author Susie Quick has founded a nonprofit sustainable farm. The mission of Honest Farm, a 501(c)3 organization, is to raise community awareness of holistic farming practices by creating a children’s garden and farm stand offering fresh produce to residents and visitors to the Midway area. 
We call the food we raise “honest” because it’s grown pretty much the same way our grandparents grew their food before the days of industrial farming and the widespread use of chemicals in farming. In other words, we use a lot of composted horse manure for fertilizer, regularly rotate crops, and plant cover crops of clover and buckwheat to add nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. This creates the healthiest and richest soil for our crops and the most delicious and nutrient rich food imaginable. We also plant flowers and herbs in between rows of vegetables to attract beneficial insects and we concentrate on those crops that we can grow successfully using organic methods and organic approved products. Honest Farm is currently in transition to becoming a certified organic farm.
At the center of Honest Farm’s mission is the children’s garden and educational programs. The recycled theme is visible everywhere in this colorful, fairy tale-like setting framed by tobacco stake fencing: From an old iron bed frame filled with zinnias and ornamental kale, to the castoff farm implements turned flower planters. Fragrant mint and scented geraniums release their aroma under the gentle crush of a small child’s fingers. Scarlet runner beans entwine bamboo teepees and provide a shady hiding place for the curious explorer. 
In order to fund our children’s garden and programs we grow and sell a variety of heirloom vegetables, herbs, and sunflowers to local restaurants and to the public on Saturdays at the farm from spring through September. The bounty includes a variety of new potatoes and multi-colored beets as well as an array of tomatoes — including prized Kentucky heirlooms in all shapes and sizes. We’ll have all your favorites as well as some interesting exotic varieties you’ll want to try. Come visit us at the new Honest Farm ‘Pure Kentucky’ Market, a year-round local food store where we sell our produce as well as an array of products from farmers within a 100-mile radius of Midway. We’re open Wednesday through Fridays from 9 am to 6 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. We’ll always have special treats and free tastes (and recipes). We’re planning to host cooking classes and stage special events. 
As Honest Farm is in the early stages of forming (and the limited budget that that implies) we have been blessed with donated services including, first of all, the fabulous design of our stupendous website and blog by Cathy and Tom at NewDrone.com, Kevin and Jenean at Diamond Graphics, composted manure trucked in by Great Acres Nursery, and expert advice from consulting arborist Larry Hanks. Ric Bessin, professor of agriculture at the University of Kentucky, has graciously loaned us a working bee hive to help pollinate our crops. I’m very grateful for the mentoring provided by our Woodford County Extension Agent, Patti Meads, and Mac Stone and Jake Schmidt who oversee the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s organic certification. We’d also like to thank the Holly Hill Inn, Wallace Station, and The Black Tulip, three great restaurants in Midway, for featuring food from Honest Farm on their menus. We are all thrilled with the progress so far and look forward to the fall when we’ll construct a hoop house over the garden to extend the fall harvest into the winter months. Located on the historic 325-acre Hurstland Farm, famous for its thoroughbred horses, Honest Farm was started by cookbook author Susie Quick, who moved to the bluegrass after a successful career as a food writer in New York. Susie has made numerous appearances on television as an expert on cooking, entertaining, and organic food, including Good Morning America, NBC’s TODAY Show, CNN and The Food Network. For more information, to make a tax-deductible donation, , or to make an appointment to tour the garden, contact us at: (859) 846-4155 or write at Honest Farm P.O. Box 3937, Midway, KY 40347.
