Aubrey & Linda Raper: Rogue Harbor Farm

By April Richardson

Tucked in the mountains of Madison County, N.C., is Rogue Harbor Farm, home to Linda and Aubrey Raper. Now in its 35^th season, Rogue Harbor yields crops from early spring to the cold days of winter.

“We sell a mix of vegetables,” said Linda. “We start out with watercress in March, usually. We move through the kales, collards and baby bok choy in the cool season, then bunching onions, lettuces, cucumbers, yellow squash, beans, tomatoes and peppers.” 

Watercress comes back in early August and lasts until mid-October, along with fall greens and lettuces.

Once the warm weather has passed, the farm offers a different kind of crop. “We finish up with Christmas wreaths in December, because we raise a small number of Fraser firs,” said Linda.

Rogue Harbor Farm came into existence as a way for Linda and Aubrey Raper to ensure only the best food would make it to the family table. “We were living over on the coast of North Carolina,” Linda said. “Aubrey was teaching at a community college, and we had two little girls who were ages 2 and 3. We realized at the time, in the mid-’70s, that the food system was not trustworthy.

“We wanted to grow healthy food for our two girls and for us. We rented a farmhouse, had our first vegetable garden in two rows of our landlord’s garden and we were hooked.”

The Rapers set out to find a place where they could raise their food and their family. “We had already bought a horse, a goat and chickens, and we needed a farm to put them on, which is absolutely not the way you’re supposed to do these things,” Linda said. 

Their search took them to the mountains of Madison County. “We came up to the mountains one weekend and ended up staying,” she said. “We found a little farm and just sort of jumped right in.”

Though the Raper family was new to the area and its crops, they managed the work well. Kind neighbors offered guidance and assistance while the Rapers learned the rhythm of mountain farm life.

“Our wonderful neighbors really took us under their wing,” said Linda. “We shared work with them, and it was a great way to learn. Our three children were always involved in the day-to-day running of the farm, assisting in everything we did.” 

The family chose the name Rogue Harbor Farm after a ridge to the west of the farm. Aubrey and Linda could judge the time of day by the sun's progress over the ridge. “We’re a mountain farm in a ‘holler,’ surrounded by timbered ridges and abundant springs,” Linda said. “We’re blessed with the wonder and challenges of living and farming in a national forest [Pisgah]. It was through our early relationship with Madison County Extension, the Forest Service and Soil and Water Conservation Service that we were able to develop a farm management system that protected the natural resources of the farm.” 

Over the years, the Rapers experimented with different crops and practices. They grew tobacco for many years, conventionally and then organically. Initially, they raised milk goats, milk cows, wool sheep, pigs and chickens, produced their own meat, farmed with a work horse and raised a big garden.  “In our more marginal land, we planted Fraser fir Christmas trees,” said Linda. 

They came to realize that the best way to use their land would be to grow organic vegetables and Fraser firs. “With our two girls off to college and our son approaching high school, we couldn’t keep raising animals and vegetables, too.” 

They received their USDA Organic certification in 1997, after three years of transition.

Originally, the Rapers established themselves in the Asheville, N.C., area as wholesale suppliers of quality produce, selling to a variety of restaurants and grocery stores. While they still sell small quantities in the Asheville area, they joined the Jonesborough Farmers Market in 2011. “We were looking for a direct-sale market, and a fellow vendor told us about the Jonesborough market. He sent us the link to the Farm to Table dinner photos, and the website was so inviting. 

“We're thrilled to be selling in Jonesborough. It's such a good market to be a part of,” said Linda.  “And we get the bonus of being able to do much of our grocery shopping from our fellow vendors.”

Visitors to the Jonesborough Farmer's Market this week can meet Linda and Aubrey in their booth near Main Street. In Rogue Harbor’s harvest this week will be organically-grown Romaine lettuce, pickling cukes, yellow and patty pan squash, blueberries, cabbage, kale, collards, and bunching onions. Additional information about Rogue Harbor Farm can also be found online at http://www.rogueharborfarm.com.

Recipe:

Marinated Kale Salad

By Linda Raper  

This is a favorite dish at Rogue Harbor Farm where we grow a lot of kale!  It's a delicious addition to any meal, or just by itself.

De-stem kale, ( any variety). --6 or 7 leaves

Chop the leaves as you would for cabbage in cole slaw--not shredded, but chopped somewhat fine.

Add some chopped green onions, garlic if you like, shredded carrot and/or radishes (optional). 

Toss together.

Pour over 1/4 cup olive oil mixed with 1/4 cup your vinegar of choice--you may need to add little more or a little less, depending on how much kale you chop up.

Add salt and pepper to taste.  Mix all together, cover and let sit at room temperature for several hours - really!  Re-mix occasionally during the marinating process.  The longer you leave it, the more succulent your salad will be--if you have left-overs, refrigerate, and take out to warm up to room temperature before serving.