Angela and Marc Adler’s first date was to see the documentary Food, Inc. They both worked in technology—he had been in Silicon Valley, and she worked in Web development here. Now, at their homestead in Brentwood, they’re applying their tech acumen to the garden. For example, Marc is adding a Wi-Fi controller to tweak the irrigation system he created, which divvies up the area into four distinct zones and automatically shuts down after a rain. “We are trying to bring in the good things of technology so it can give us time to do other things,” Marc says. “Like plant more,” adds Angela.
The Adlers’ garden harvest includes a plenitude of herbs, berries, and vegetables; eggs from five different breeds of chicken; honey from two beehives; and fruit from apple, fig, peach, plum, apricot, and Meyer lemon trees. The couple has also launched a heritage seed company called SeedGeeks (8816 Manchester, Ste. 114, 314-720-1820, seedgeeks.com). “Our friends joke that if there is ever a food shortage, they are going to come here,” Angela says. “They’ll just sit in the yard and munch all day.”
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The Adlers’ backyard farm will be on this year’s Sustainable Backyard Tour, taking place June 22. For more information, go to sustainablebackyardtour.com.
