From left: Janet, Chloe, Lesa, me, my mother Molly, and Eilis. Even though he has a strong feminine side, Joe our cook declined to be in this photo. He did however drive us there and back and played Barry Manilow loudly
Last Thursday night was the 2010 Women’s Initiative Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award Ceremony for Silicon Valley and the Peninsula, California. There were thirteen awards this year, for businesses ranging from a school for children with movement disorders to dog day care. We each brought family and friends to an evening of dinner and short, poignant speeches.
On the right is award-winner Jesse Ziff Cool, owner and chef at the Flea Street Cafe. Jesse’s philosophy? The customer comes last, after passionate attention to gloriously-cooked and sustainably farmed organic food. Jesse is a hero, for her dedication to real food and her gusto in bringing nurturing food to Stanford Hospital and in gardening and cooking projects with local elementary schools. Jesse began her organic restauranteur and cookery book career in 1975, when her kids "wished she was more like Betty Crocker", but now she’s absolutely mainstream.
"Women of the Year" is the headline, but our farm depends upon everybody, from the milkers to the cheesemakers to the tour guides, the farm manager and the farm cook. All our awards reflect the Harley Farms community.