By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. — Spring brings fresh produce to countless markets around Kentucky, but an Anderson County producer is working to make sure that fresh produce lasts longer than just through the warmer months.
Joe Cleary, along with his daughter Adrienne Lewis, operates their 87-acre farm, Cleary Hills Farm, overlooking the Kentucky River in traditional and non-traditional ways.
This diversity ensures a steady stream of flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables make it to local farm markets by way of conventional growing methods and the use of a greenhouse and high tunnels for their hydroponic operation.
Cleary, an ex-furniture maker and former chef, took his love of preparing food to its origins after going into farming in 1984. His first farming endeavors were traditional to this part of the country - raising tobacco and livestock. But the dwindling tobacco market would eventually lead him to his present business.
“I moved here from New Jersey when my father was transferred in 1973. I was 20 years old, and I thought I might like farming,” Cleary said. “I was building furniture at the time and made enough money to buy my first farm in 1976. I turned around and sold it in 1984 and doubled my money and bought this farm.”
Through the help of his local University of Kentucky extension agent, he learned how to grow tobacco and tend cattle but the labor market hindered his seven-acre, burley operation.
“I got out of tobacco because I couldn’t find enough help to cut and house it, but little did I know I was going from the pot to the frying pan as far as labor was concerned,” he explained. “I thought as tobacco was winding down I would try my hand at raising a few vegetables. My agent got us involved in the local market and it went pretty well.”
After that first year Cleary and his daughter began to give the greenhouse a thought as a way to grow flowers and get outdoor plants started. The two built the greenhouse and tried their luck at hydroponic lettuce and spinach before going into tomato production.
“We did a few rows the first year, but I decided if you put out a few rows why not put out a few acres. If you hit on it and you only have a little then you kick yourself for not having enough,” he said with a laugh. “We have close to six acres of fields produce but all of our tomatoes are grown inside.”
After growing tomatoes outside, Clearly soon realized he could plant half as much inside and in high tunnels and still get the same yields without the insect and disease problems. “I plant in April and when I clean the tunnels out around Christmas or New Year’s, I still have tomatoes that are good.”
Cleary also said he hasn’t experienced the growing pains many face when undertaking a new venture crediting his location relative to the river basin.
“Our growing pains have been small and few for us. We’ve had very few major problems. Generally, before we do something we do some research; reading and talking to our agent,” he said.
Lewis came back to the farm after a time away as many children of farmers do saying you have to love the dirt to do it.
“I thought I wanted to get away from the farm life, so I went to college, got married and had kids but I found I wanted to come back and wanted my kids to enjoy the same environment,” she said. “I came back five years ago as my dad was getting out of tobacco. We had a small garden and raised some things for our own use and sold to a local produce vendor.”
During her time away in college, Lewis studied biology not thinking at the time that background might come in handy in the new business.
“The greenhouse started as a way to raise some flowers and start our field plants. That was our original plan. Now, if you can raise it in Kentucky we probably raise it,” she said adding that every year they try to add something new to grow.

Hydroponics 101

Growing plants through hydroponics isn’t new but many people are still unfamiliar with just what it is and how it works.
The Virginia Extension Service (VES) describes it as being defined as “the cultivation of plants in water. Research has since determined that many different aggregates or media will support plant growth; therefore, the definition of hydroponics has been broadened to read the cultivation of plants without soil,” according to the VES website.
It also stated that, “hydroponics offer many advantages for commercial agriculture. Cultivating plants without soil eliminates the need for vast farmland and allows crops to be produced in greenhouses or even in the desert sands. Hydroponic techniques also allow for precise water and nutrient application directly to the roots of each plant. Water is reused in these systems and less is lost through evaporation and run-off. Therefore, arid lands, such as deserts, can be transformed into productive lands using limited amounts of water.”
Cleary and Lewis know it has created an extra opportunity for them that goes hand-in-hand with their more traditional produce. Besides the local market, the two make regular trips to farmers’ markets in Frankfort, Versailles and Lexington as well. They also sell produce to a couple of area restaurants.