I visited a friend’s farm in Castle Hayne North Carolina, his name is Andrew Lorek, a fourth generation farmer on family land who grew up BMXing…
A modest plot of acreage on the outskirts of an old port city, it had been used for just about every kind of crop, mainly lettuce, bell peppers and soybeans. The land was primarily used for mono-cropping before getting his start.
After years avoiding the family traditions, challenges and hardships, Andrew now spends his time figuring out the best way to grow heirloom tomatoes. A self described ‘market farmer’ he makes the rent growing a variety of produce to sell to restaurants, at the farmer’s market and locally on his own.
“These days I’m probably growing about 200 varieties of Veggies…”
Growing up witness to the struggles of farming, whether it was economic, political, or the weather itself, He says he took what he learned as a BMXer and applied it to working the land. Repurposing old material, maximizing resources, doing more with less, thinking outside the box, keeping low overhead, and doing whatever it takes to keep the dream alive.
One of original DIY concepts is using the land to grow food, and it almost seems crazy in this day and age to go in a different direction in a society based on disposable conveniences and instant gratification.
This is just a quick glimpse into one person’s efforts loosely based within some kind of sustainability, creativity, hard work, and Farming in America…
When asked what he does different, he simply replied-
“I don’t wear boots or overalls…”
