Barker Garden August 6, 2007

Lance and Jennifer Barker live on 40 acres in the Bear Valley about 20 miles south of John Day, Oregon. They call their property Morning Hill Forest Farm.

At 5000 feet elevation, the growing season is short. There's no month of the year that frost can't be expected. Lance is the main gardener and over the last 20 or so years has learned numerous techniques that let him grow most of the produce that he and Jennifer eat. The vegetable garden set in a clearing in the Ponderosa Pine forest is gorgeous and highly productive, with crops both for fresh eating and for winter storage. They've off-grid and much of their solar power goes to run their drip irrigation system.

All photos © Mark Turner. Call 360-671-6851 or e-mail Mark Turner to arrange licensing for publication.