By Mike Barnhardt

Company record

When Ann Anderson worked as a nurse, her days could be quite hectic and stressful.

When she got home, she needed something relaxing to occupy her time.

So she started gardening.

“It was my therapy,” she says.

Now that she is retired, it is still her therapy. And with the help of her husband Larry, her stepdaughter Nikki and her other children, Yellowbell Farms was born.

People can get hydroponic lettuce, as well as peas, corn, peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and other vegetables from Yellowbell at the Mocksville Farmer’s Market, which takes place every Wednesday afternoon. at Junker’s Mill in Salisbury Street.

Like most market gardeners, when produce started arriving – it was coming in droves – faster than his family could eat or eat. So she started taking vegetables to work to give them away.

Then people started asking for the vegetables. So she started selling some, creating what she called a “golf cart fund” for their camping trips.

It turned into Yellowbell Farms, which included fresh baked goods. Bakery products are not on offer at this time, but should be back soon.

“We’re not bored,” she said. “The business itself has worked well, it pays for itself. And that keeps me out of the psychiatrist’s office.

Ann and Larry had grown up in gardening families, so the process wasn’t entirely new when they started the business on Larry’s family farm east of Mocksville.

“Our specialty is hydroponic lettuce,” she says, bragging about her husband Larry for designing and building their own hydroponic system.

“We are increasing the volume a lot now.” A few weeks ago, they had just planted some 461 tomato plants, Big Beef, Chef’s Choice, mini’s and cherry tomatoes.

They harvest on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, just before the market.

Since few chemicals are used on the farm, Ann tells customers to expect a bite or two on the vegetables.

And the couple does not give in to modern trends. They always grow what they love – even things like eggplant and sweet yellow corn that don’t sell well in the market.

“You’re not going to get rich at the farmer’s market,” she says. “We pretty much grow what we love. We grow things that don’t even sell – like eggplant. We love it, but people won’t buy it.

“We can and freeze as much as we can. We were very lucky that it was so productive. “

She has occasionally questioned the decision to move from a pleasure garden to a business garden.

“I’m going to think I’m not going to do this anymore, so I’m going to have a good day.”

What’s the saying? A bad day in the garden is better than a good day’s work.

Ann Anderson can attest to this.