Two years ago, Ivy Phillips (above, left) took over as production manager at Nash’s Organic Produce. She did a great job, but last April she decided to move on to other adventures, very considerately giving us five months notice, time enough to start training someone to take her place. Nash offered the job to Mike Castle, who has been with us since Spring 2016. That’s not a long time, but Mike has proven to be very capable and a real problem solver, which is one of the skills the job requires.
Over this past summer, Mike and Ivy have worked together constantly as Mike grew accustomed to his new responsibilities. “There’s so much to learn,” he says. “I have to stay connected to the irrigation, planting and harvest crews. In the fall and winter there will be maintenance on the equipment and seed orders. The more I learn, the more there seems to be stuff to learn! I’m glad I had a good teacher, like Ivy.”
Mike is enjoying his new job. “I started working here cultivating the quinoa on Schmuck Road, and it was so beautiful, I was hooked!” Farming is an art, as well as a science. We are confident that Mike has the skills and the mind to manage it, and grateful he was willing to step up to the plate!