Meet Cory and Shanti Rade of Whipstone Farm in Paulden

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cory and Shanti Rade.

Cory and Shanti, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We are a family farm located in Paulden, Arizona, about 30 miles north of Prescott. We started selling produce door-to-door in 1995 when our large garden produced more food than our family could eat. We have grown every year since then and now have 20 acres in production. We grow over 100 varieties of vegetables and flowers.

We farm with our heart and health in mind. We do not use any synthetic fertilizer or chemical pesticides. We enjoy growing food for our community not only as a means of providing healthy sustenance, but also as a way to bring people together. We welcome you to come out and see our farm, to learn about where your food comes from and meet the folks who grow it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Farming is inherently a precarious occupation, especially if you had no previous experience. We are always at the whims of Mother Nature. But through hard work and tenacity we’ve built a successful business doing what we love the most. Wind, hail, floods, drought, frost, bugs and heat, we’ve learned to weather the storms.

As self-taught entrepreneurs learning the business skills necessary to sustain a thriving farm has been a challenge. But achieving financial stability and becoming better managers/employers are goals that we are achieving slowly but surely.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Slow but steady growth of the business. Financially supporting our family and those of our long term employees. Providing a high quality product that the consumers appreciate. Offering education and healthy food that brings people together. Building community around healthy, local enterprises, turning customers into friends. Respect and stewardship of the land and continuation of the knowledge required for farming, which otherwise might be lost.

Contact Info:

• Address: 21640 N Juniper Ridge Road
  Paulden, AZ 86334
• Website: www.whipstone.com
• Phone: 928.636.6209
• Email: info@whipstone.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whipstonefarm/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whipstonefarm/

Image Credit:
Lauren Ristow

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