Practical experience and the knowledge to confidently start his own farm are the most valuable mementos Robert Lagrosas carried back to his native Philippines.

As the sun rose early Monday morning, a lazy-moving tractor drew its sharp blades gently across the land, coaxing open the soft soil, awakening it after a long winter’s rest. A few hours later, a team of men inched their way along perfectly straight parallel lines, tucking tiny tufts of lettuce into their new outdoor homes.

Field Operations Supervisor, and now an American, Sergey Shapovalov celebrated his new status as a U.S. Citizen earlier this month after first coming to work on the farm as a college student in 1997.

Yes. The team at The Chef’s Garden is as diverse as our plants, coming from numerous walks of life, from different parts of this community, the country, and the world. Many of the members of our team return to us each year, through good times and bad, enriching our small family farm – and becoming part of our extended family.

The team here at the Chef’s Garden is as diverse as our plants. Our Team Members come from many walks of life, different parts of this community, this country, and from other countries around the globe. Many return each year - through good times and bad. They all enrich our small family farm, and become part of our extended family.

Cathy Seamans was at a crossroads. Newly retired from teaching, she needed to “figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life.” And, when she saw that The Chef’s Garden was looking to hire a part time greenhouse assistant in 2005, she decided to apply. After all, what did she have to lose?