Karen' Page: Let's Be Wonderful!

I love supporting farmers! Here I am in Kaua'i Hawaii at the Hanalei farmers market... sharing the Aloha ~ with friends made...
My favorite family photo! Hiking in Kaua'i Hawaii with my men!
Preparing for an "Angel Raid"... at the Amesbury Fire Station (& other places in Town) my way of saying Thank you to our Community for Blessing all of us!
I just love Mo, and the beautiful way he paints

  Glenn & I met in 1979, fell madly in love and our farm journey began when we married 30 years ago 3/21/81, the first day of Spring... and we planted our apple orchard during the Honeymoon!  (we're still on our honeymoon & madly in love!)

People have often asked me what is the secret of my success? I reply that success to me isn't measured by what most people think of when being asked that question... I reply, that I am a fulfilled woman ~ having my Faith in God, the love of my husband when he's looking into my eyes knowing that I am adored, cherished, loved and absolutely feeling the same for him, I am truly blessed.  Having two sons with Glenn and living here surrounded by all this beauty. I could go on and on....

It's all about the "Aloha" and "Ohana" LOVE & FAMILY. I cherish time with my family, friends, employees & our International Agricultural Exchange Students we host here at our farm that makes my life very full, rewarding & interesting. I also love meeting many people here at our farm, at the farmers markets, & have fun during our CSA day, especially with the kids ~ I am often having them come along with their parents gathering the hens eggs, feeding the animals and teaching them about farming ~ I adore them all.

My Dad taught me how to garden pretty much since I could walk and I worked in greenhouses as a teenager.  Both parents taught me much ~ especially how to love & give back... I obviously have a passion for farming and love planting, also using my creativity wherever needed here ~ what gives me greatest joy is spreading love around our community quietly, with "Angel Raids" 

There are things close to my heart & one is participating on Agricultural Day annually at the State House, serving Legislators alongside with my fruit grower farming friends ~ apple pie from Mann's Orchards & handing out Carlson Orchard & Cider Hill's award winning apple cider.  We get to share first hand about the value and importance of Mass Agriculture.  The highlight for me during Ag Day is being able as one of a few invited guests to enter chambers of the Speaker of the House & Senate President, having opportunity to share about pertinent and pressing issues affecting Massachusetts farmers. Some of the things I am personally asked to share is about Cider Hills Renewable Energy & sustainable farming practices and our involvement in farmers markets, what we do here and I love it. 

I am often asked to speak with Glenn at conferences held throughout Massachusetts & New England and we have given presentations of what we do here at our farm with ~ Mass Ag in the Classroom, taught at Professor Holbrook's Entrepeneurship & Business class Endicott College, and many other events.  We love to educate and share about everything innovative we are doing here at Cider Hill. 

When asked during one conference in front of 900 attendee's on a panel of other farmers, "What Business are you in"  My direct reply to that specific question when it was time for me to speak, was that it's not what business are we in, but what we do here at Cider Hill is Cultivate, Nurture and Grow relationships, the by-product of the farm happens to be our lovely fruits and vegetables.  We began with our love, "bought the farm", planted our orchard during our honeymoon having only $500.00, a station wagon and a chain saw ~ and where we have grown today, and what we are doing for 30 years now, is bearing the fruit of that love today ~ it's all about the LOVE.

Another one of my passions aside from farming is hiking!  I love hiking to obscure places in Kaua'i, Hawaii, with my husband, sons & friends...often getting muddy, some of these hikes are 13 miles long! ~ I go shelling, visit the farmers markets, relax and spend time reading, knitting, being with friends made there... especially "Mo" Moses Hamilton, (pictured above) a very talented artist who paints using his mouth... visit his website!  We adore Mo and love his family. 

Traveling abroad to Latvia I attending Intars wedding where I stayed on his Mothers farm and at the wedding met with the Prime Minister of Latvia complete with body guards!   Glenn & I were at another wedding in Romania, where we met Ioan Ratsu, a former candidate for Presidency of that country ~ there were 1,000 guests who attended Ioan Chitas's ceremony!  I Have been on two missions trips to Russia with our sons and a team from the Byfield Parish Church, we worked in orphanages.  We've also traveld with our sons to other interns farms in the Netherlands, France and Belgium. 

I am addicted to a style of crossfit training working out at GymCore ~ keeping shape doing that, enjoy walking and when I can, I go hiking in the White Mountains of NH ~ and on rare occasion, sailing, I love the sea.  Phat Cats is my absolute favorite restaurant in Amesbury and Flatbreads, well ~ that's awesome too!  & my best kept secret, shall I share?  Okay, it's Ovedia Chocolates, need I say more? What's life without chocolate?  If I'm not at the farm, I'm usually there! 

Come, introduce yourself and become part of our Cider Hill Family ~ Aloha!