There are a few Indian Summer days as the mercury tips past 100
degrees in Gilroy when the only thing to do is to make my escape.
Fortunately, our valley is in close proximity to many beautiful
(and cooler) areas.
There are a few Indian Summer days as the mercury tips past 100 degrees in Gilroy when the only thing to do is to make my escape. Fortunately, our valley is in close proximity to many beautiful (and cooler) areas. When I can no longer take the heat, and have a day I can take off, there is nothing better than the cool coastal breezes a short distance away in Half Moon Bay. In about an hour of travel time, I find myself in another world.
I recently took my mom to visit the farm of Johnny Muller, who calls himself Farmer John. He is co-owner of Daylight Nursery in Half Moon Bay, and we joined a tour of the farm his wife’s immigrant family (the Adrevenos) started 50 years ago. Flower growers for many years, they now find themselves priced out of the market as many small producers do when faced with the competition of big companies like Home Depot, who can sell plants so much more cheaply. In order to survive, his family has returned to a more traditional style of farming, but with a few modern twists.
One way the farm has found a niche is by growing different and unique varieties of pumpkins (not just orange ones) year round, so that when a set designer calls for a pumpkin on a movie set, a zoo needs a pumpkin to photograph for a shoot advertising the opening of their new lion den, or Family Circle’s food stylist needs a pumpkin for their October recipes, Daylight Nursery can provide them, no matter when what time of year it is.
His wife Eda is the “largest female pumpkin grower in America,” as he puts it and has high hopes for this year’s Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off October 11, which is the largest pumpkin weigh-off in the world. Last year’s winner weighed 1,180 pounds. Contenders from California, Oregon and Washington will be vying to capture the coveted title and a share of $18,000 in prize money.
This year’s winner will be displayed at the 31st Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 16-17. For the first time beauty will share the stage with heft: the pumpkin that wins the title of “most beautiful pumpkin” will receive a $500 prize.
One thing Farmer John pines for these days is the way Martha Stewart used to work with Daylight Nursery. He really enjoyed working with her magazine, and he’s seen a real downturn in business since she hasn’t been around to set the trends.
“With Martha setting the trend, every dahlia sold,” he says of his fields of gorgeous blooms, “But they don’t sell the same now.”
In order to survive as a small family farm, Daylight has become very creative with the 20 farmable acres not used for pumpkin-growing. In describing how they built a “corn room,” they have attracted corporate groups for off-site retreats and who participate in team-building exercises. “They come and carve pumpkins, hike, walk, and hold hands,” Muller describes.
Reach Daylight Nursery at 650-726-4980.
