They’ve been growing garlic on the Isle of Wight ever since Granny Norah planted those first few cloves in her garden over 60 years ago. We have spent the many years since exploring its history and origins, experimenting with the many different varieties here on “the Island” and creating a range garlic infused products from garlic mayonnaise to garlicky chutneys and from black garlic beer to garlic ice cream.
Colin and Jenny (Mum and Dad) have even travelled to the mountains of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Eastern Turkey (see the Garlic Farmer’s Blog) in search of the “Mother of all garlic” and Colin continues to make garlic connections across the globe. Colin and Jenny’s daughter Natasha has written three fantastic books on cooking with garlic and how to get the most of it’s amazing health benefits. Their daughter, Josephine, runs the Garlic Farm Field Kitchen at events, shows and music festivals offering delicious garlic inspired grub to hungry festival goers. Their son, Hugo – together with his wife Mel – look after the farm’s holiday cottages and yurts, as well as playing gypsy jazz guitar in his band, Cat Skellington who can on occasion be found playing in the farm restaurant.
Natasha and her husband Barnaby now oversee the day-to-day business operations while Colin and Jenny remain actively involved in the business. The amazingly hard working and dedicated Garlic Farm team is growing with the business and reaches up to 70 people in the height of the summer season.