Secret Farm Hideaways

From Southern Living, September 2010

Whether you want t1o gather eggs and harvest beans or just retreat from the noise of modern life to a quiet farmhouse porch, these seven stays tap into the romance of rural life. 


Photo: Courtesy Greer Farm , Article: Kim Cross, Diane Daniel

Greer Farm

Daingerfield, TX

You-pick berries, grassfed beef, and farm-to-table cooking classes are highlights on a family farm that practices sustainable agriculture. Lake cabins come with Wi-Fi, eggs, homemade bread, and local jam.

greerfarm.com

Illinois teenager makes a stop in Daingerfield



Jeff Varwig prepares to leave Greer Farm in Daingerfield to continue his bicycling mission to raise money for Angel Tree.

By Marlene J. Bohr mbohr@etcnonline.com

A young man with a big heart bicycled through Daingerfield the first week of August and did not let the heat stop the mission that he began July 16. Jeff Varwig, 17, of Chicago, began his quest to raise money for the Angel Tree Christmas project in Chicago at the Canadian border in Minnesota. His overnight stop in Daingerfield was intended to be at the State Park; however, when he arrived, he discovered the park was closed for renovations. He was led to contact Sid and Eva Greer of Greer Farm in Daingerfield where he spent the night of Aug. 3, before continuing on his journey. “I have sponsors back home who are giving money for me to do this ride,” Jeff said. “I also have met people along the way who have been asking me questions. Some people have wanted to give also. I wasn’t expecting as much along the way, but people have been really generous.”

He said his main objective was to get people in Chicago to support Angel Tree.

“They give toys at Christmas,” he said. “It started off giving Christmas presents to children of prisoners, but they also do other things to support them. If they can’t afford to feed their families, the Angel Tree helps pay for the food for families throughout the year.”

Jeff’s parents fully support his endeavor to help others by taking this bike trip.

“My parents are always careful and want me to make sure that I pay attention to my safety as I go,” Jeff said “My dad has done a lot of cycling with me, so they know I am capable. They also know I have prepared well for this, so I shouldn’t have any problems too big for me to handle.”

He said it was a treat for him to spend a night at Greer Farm. Mr. Greer met Jeff at 9 p.m. at Dollar General in Daingerfield and took him to the farm for the night. After breakfast, Jeff continued on his way to Galveston, hoping to be there by Aug. 7.

“I have stayed in a variety of places, sometimes near the road,” he said. “I have stayed in bed and breakfasts and sometimes in motels. It wasn’t as hot when I started, but it has been more of an issue recently. I have tried to ride in the mornings and the evenings and avoid the middle of the day. I stop fairly often to get water during the day as I sweat so much. That helps me get out of the heat every hour and a half when I go get some water.”

The time has sped by for Jeff as he has been averaging 85 to 100 miles per day.

“I usually try to ride 100 miles a day, but have now gotten to where the heat keeps me from riding so much,” he said. “It’s going down to 80 to 85 miles a day.”

Jeff carries bags, along with clothes and supplies.

“I have racks that go over each wheel of the bike,” he said. “I have four bags with things, small bags, but big enough to fit the clothes and supplies that I need.”

In addition to riding for a good cause, Jeff said he has enjoyed the trip.

“I have gotten to see a lot of interesting things as I’m out riding eight hours a day,” he said. “I have enjoyed the scenery and how it changed since I’ve gone across the country. It is different than when I started.”

Jeff will return to school this fall as a high school senior.

Berry Pickers Find Fresh Experience at Area Farm

Berry pickers find fresh experience at area farm


KEVIN GREEN
Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo Sid Greer, left, shows Nathan Wells, 9, how to pick blueberries Friday at the Greer Farm in Daingerfield. Greer owns the farm with his wife, Eva.



Posted: Saturday, June 26, 2010 2:09 am
By Jimmy Alford

DAINGERFIELD — The grass is cool under the tall trees surrounding the Greer Farm. The manicured rows are tight and neat, with only berry laden branches edging into view. Blueberries and blackberries hang heavy and ripe for passersby to pick.
The Greer Farm is nestled deep in the heart of Northeast Texas just outside the Daingerfield city limits. Small signs point the way down a shaded blacktop road that winds past a field of berries and finally past a classic white farmhouse. Sid and Eva Greer open their home and farm to visitors and berry pickers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week and say they will open earlier — if someone is really eager to start picking.

People can buy pre-picked berries, but many people believe the fun is in picking the berries. Pickers walk up the rows of blueberry and blackberry bushes looking for ripened dark berries that fall off the stems at the slightest touch.

Sid and Eva are proud of their stock and have transformed what used to be dark gnarly underbrush into park-like open spaces with plenty of green grass and scenic views.

"We've been here for 12 years, and the first thing we started was thinning timber to get some cash flow," Sid said. "Then we started raising Maine-Anjou cattle."

The Greers have about 400 acres and are involved in seven enterprises that keep them in the black. Raising cattle, selling timber and berries are packed into their busy farm life with maintaining cabin getaways and feeding their goats. People staying at the cabins are well trained to lock gates to keep away curious grass munchers.

Before getting into the farm life, Sid Greer worked for British Petroleum in London. He and Eva decided to give up corporate life. Sid went to high school in Daingerfield and decided to return to the area. Eva was born in Belize and is used to moving around. She said she loves the area and has made a lot friends.

The bell rings and let the Greers know pickers are ready to check out. A grandfather, daughter and grandson lay their picks on the scales, as Eva calculates the cost. At $3 per pound, a bucket of blueberries or blackberries costs about $15 to $18. The grandfather, Jim Tollett, has been coming to the Greers for three years, and said the crop was much bigger than this past year.

"I come over here to pick blueberries, as many as I can eat," Tollett said. "I really enjoy coming out here. We've been picking for about 40 minutes, and we got 15 pounds."

Tollett said he picked so many blackberries this past year that he hasn't been able to eat them all — yet. Another family from Dallas drove out just for the experience of picking their own berries. Mardy Sackley, Jenny Sackley, 16, Ali Sackley, 13 and Arianna Jopling, 13, were busy searching for the best and biggest blueberries.

"The drive wasn't too bad. It was long, but worth it," Sackley said. "First I Googled, then I read an article about all the places in North Texas to pick your own blueberries. I like the premier blueberries the best."

The Greer have five blueberry varieties to chose from: premier, climax, tifblue, Austin and Brightwell. They also have Chickasaw and Apache blackberry varieties. Sid helped the Sackleys pick for a moment and is glad to show anyone the proper berry picking technique. Sid said he and Eva do all of the farm work by hand and just want people to come and have a good time. Eva said they have about 1,000 pickers every season.

"We're getting more and more people all the time," Eva said. "They come pick some berries, sit and have a picnic."

The berry season starts around Memorial Day and lasts for six weeks. The Greers sell some of their wares at the Historic Longview Farmer's Market.

Calling All City Slickers: Get Out To the Farm

After years of living abroad, Eva and Sid Greer settled on 400 acres in the middle of nowhere. And they’d love for you to visit.


by Laura Kostleny
Published 5.19.2010
From D Magazine JUN 2010


COUNTRY BOY: Sid Greer retired from a high-stress job and took up farming.
photography by Dave Shafer
Sid Greer was an oil and gas executive. He traveled 300 days a year, jetting to far-flung places such as Israel, Kuwait, Oman, and the Emirates. He rubbed shoulders, closed deals, and drank hard. And then, in 1998, when he and his wife, Eva, were living in London, the company he was working for went through a merger. Sid had to make a decision: take a new job or accept a buyout package. He opted for retirement, and they left London right away—like, immediately. “We took Christmas ornaments off the tree and tossed them into suitcases on the way out the front door,” he says. It was Christmas Eve.

Leaving was easy; figuring out where to go was more of a challenge. The Greers could have retired anywhere—a pied-à-terre in New York City or a beach house in Belize (where Eva is from). But aside from wanting to be near their four children, all of whom live in Texas, Sid says they were interested in finding a place where they could pursue a healthier lifestyle as well as a change of vocation. The solution: moving full-time to the family farm they had bought years before near Daingerfield, about 150 miles northeast of Dallas. The transition was easier than they imagined. “I already farmed in my mind,” Sid says, laughing.

“When I got here, I bought every animal I ever wanted,” he says. He has French guinea hens, sheep, cows, and horses. He’s on the lookout for a new potbellied pig—while mourning the loss of his last one, Hooch. He wanders his 400 acres in a golf cart, passing farm dogs Pepe and Tux, pens of roosters, and roaming French Toulouse geese. And as he chases an errant rooster into a pen, collects eggs, or hand-feeds their newest goat, Miss Fancy, it’s tough to imagine this guy ever wore a suit.


Green Acres at Greer Farm
05.09 Picking berries, mingling with the farm animals, and swimming in the lake are just a few of the activities offered at Greer Farm.photography by Dave Shafer

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Eva has made her own mark on the property. "Cooking and flowers are her passion," Sid says. This explains the 3.5 acres of landscaped gardens with everything from 100 varieties of roses to lilacs, caladiums, and lilies.

Both of the Greers are passionate about sustainable agriculture, which means farming in a continuously prosperous yet environmentally responsible way. They've had great success with it. Visitors flock to the farm every summer beginning in May for blueberry picking, followed by blackberries through July and figs in August. "We planted some grapes and raspberry bushes in the winter and different fruit trees," he says. "It will take a few years to see how they grow. But the blackberry and blueberry crop looks to be really good this year."

Berries are only the beginning. Everywhere you look, there's something edible. Take a few steps and you'll spy asparagus, cabbage, and sauerkraut. Go in another direction and find heirloom tomatoes, basil, summer squash, and white eggplant. And then there are the fruit trees: cherry, fig, apricot, and apple.

All of these fresh foods come in handy for Eva's cooking classes. Each month, she hosts up to 10 people at a time for instruction on culinary delights featuring produce from her farm. This summer, check out classes such as "Sweet & Savory: Cooking with Greer Farm Blackberries and Blueberries" and "Mouthwatering Salsas." Students are encouraged to get as involved as they like. "Sometimes people don't like to be all that hands-on," she says.  Some students kick up the participation level only when they sit down to eat the fruits of others' labors, paired with plenty of wine.

Berry picking and cooking classes are great and all, but the best part about visiting Greer Farm is the sleepover. About two years ago, the Greers built four log cabins that have air conditioning, kitchenettes, big bathrooms, flat-screen televisions with satellite, and wi-fi. (That wireless comes in handy. Cell service is iffy at best.) The cabins, complete with cedar swings, overlook the lake, which is stocked with sunfish, Florida bass, crappie, catfish, and coppernose brim. Guests can fish, kayak, rent bikes, hike or run on the numerous trails lining the farm, and "have their own little petting zoo," as Sid puts it. Old structures—some dating back to before the Civil War—litter the grounds, including an outhouse that now houses a croquet set and a sampler that reads How To Be a Mean Mother.

"Camping" takes on a different meaning at Greer Farm. Thanks to indoor plumbing, cooking lessons, CNN, and a bocce court, it's palatable to even the girliest city slicker. And Sid says people leave inspired to look for their inner farmer. "The No. 1 thing people tell me is that I'm living their dream," he says. "They say that when they come to the farm, they feel like they're a part of it."

Daingerfield Senior Ready to Make Food His Career


Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo
Daingerfield High School senior Kaneious Holloman rolls out a pie crust after mixing the ingredients Tuesday at the school.

Posted: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:36 am
By Sondra Fowler Special to the News-Journal

DAINGERFIELD — He burned his first pancakes when he was 7 years old, but he’s still in the kitchen.

Since childhood, Kaneious Holloman — Kane to his friends — says he’s cooked for “family reunions, gatherings, picnics and get-togethers.”

Everyone benefited. Next, the world.

The Daingerfield High School senior has been accepted into the celebrated Le Cordon Bleu School in Dallas. He begins July 7.

“I love to cook,” he said. “It makes people happy.”

His grandparents, Jimmy and Yvonne Lawton of Cason, had fun in the kitchen and encouraged young Kane to join in. He quickly advanced to brisket, fried catfish, ribs and smoked sausage.

His favorite meal? “Smoked pork barbecue ribs, marinated and cooked in foil surrounded by peppers, onions and Kraft Honey Barbecue sauce,” he said.

“I keep the chimney halfway cracked and the side door open so the smoke will rotate over the meat. It takes about three to three-and-a-half-hours to cook three pounds, because you cook it slowly and thoroughly — you don’t want rare pork.”

At an early age, he stayed glued to TV’s Food Network to learn, and discovered the elite, 100-year-old culinary arts school.

“Sports are not my passion,” admitted the strapping starting defensive end for the back-to-back state champion Tiger team. “I played football for fun, as a motivator to keep my grades up, and the teamwork.” He proudly wears two state championship rings, one on each hand.

The rings were quite the conversation pieces when he visited Le Cordon Bleu in February. “They called them my 'Super Bowl’ rings,” he said, “and they welcomed me with open arms. It was very exciting.”

Kane, also a library aide, said football taught him “to give 100 percent — if not 100 percent, then 110 percent.”

With a large supportive family — some of whom live in Dallas — he’s glad he will not be totally on his own, although for convenience, he will have an apartment around the corner from the school.

For now, Kane is focused on high school graduation and the one-and-a-half years of course work ahead of him. Even more importantly, he is scraping together the enrollment fee — a hefty five-figure number. Family support, scholarships and several loans, one available through the school, will help. But after graduation, he will have a large debt.

“They say that if I do well, I will likely have a job waiting,” he said. His sights are set at the top: chef of a five-star restaurant. “I know there will be a lot of work and many jobs before that, but it’s my dream.”

Part of his curriculum will be working in the school’s restaurants, which are open to the public.

After graduating, possible positions are many and varied, depending on ambition, education and drive. A graduate can advance to master chef, food stylist, confectioner, pastry chef, chocolatier, caterer and research chef, to name a few. Destinations are just as broad: restaurants, hotels, resorts, cruise ships, country clubs, convention centers, corporations, schools and hospitals.

Recent grads include restaurant owners, personal chefs, resort chefs and organic caterers. One is an executive chef for the Minnesota Vikings, another a special assistant to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Others work at Disney, MGM, Hyatt, Hilton, Target, Whole Foods and Aramark. Another appeared on “Iron Chef America” and won the competition.

He recently received more encouragement from Daingerfield’s Greer Farm Chef Eva Greer at the high school’s career day.

If his high school record is indicative, Kane will rise to the top.

His grades, character and attitude already have won him the high school’s “Principal Award” — its highest honor — for leadership, academic standing and integrity. He gives credit to his grandparents, Coach Barry Bowman and his church, Faith Temple, which he’s attended since birth.

“I try,” he said, with a grin.

Learning Vacations, Texas Co-Op Power Magazine April 2010

Learn the Chef's Secrets


On Greer Farm west of Daingerfield, Maine-Anjou cattle graze in lush pastures around a restored circa-1850 Texas home. Guinea hens bob around the herb gardens, and goats mow grass near four guest cabins overlooking a stocked lake.

This working farm makes a perfect setting for Cooking with Chef Eva, aka Eva Greer, a graduate of the Art Institute of Houston’s Culinary Arts program whose work reflects a Belize upbringing, European parents and world travels with her husband, Sid.

A recent class focused on roasted meats, which attracted Bob Hewes, his son Greg and son-in-law Jay Boerner. They spent the weekend at the farm’s guest cabins, where their wives and children relaxed during the midday class. The attendees also included two women from Dallas celebrating a birthday and several repeat customers from nearby towns.

During the whirlwind three-hour class in the spacious, well-lit kitchen, we watched Eva prepare beef roast, lamb chops, pork loin, butternut squash soufflé, potatoes, mint sauce, gravy, roasted fruit and toasted pound cake. She handled this complex dance with practiced ease, even managing to involve us in pureeing, seasoning, turning, beating and mixing. Delectable smells permeated the kitchen, and we dug appreciatively into the finished dishes. Chef Eva made it fun and had us convinced that we could cook like this ourselves. And while I likely won’t tackle such a complex menu at home often, if at all, Eva shared general cooking tips in addition to teaching specific recipes. Placing the roast on a rack inside the pan, for example, keeps it out of the drippings for more even cooking. Kosher salt’s larger grains make it easier to tell how much you’ve applied. (And Chef Eva uses a lot of salt and pepper, rubbing it into the meat with her hands, which she washes constantly.)

Besides, with her enthusiasm, the hands-on opportunities, easy banter among the students and delicious food, it felt more like an afternoon with friends than a cooking class. The only thing better than heading home inspired to upgrade my cooking would have been the chance to stroll across the green lawn, through the shade of tall trees, and onto the porch of one of the cabins to digest a wonderful meal while watching the breeze ripple the pond.

The Hewes family got to do that and apparently left the next day suitably inspired as well. “On our way home, we got a call from our daughter, who was at the grocery store buying a roast,” Bob Hewes says. “We had it that Sunday night, and it turned out great. Then Greg made the pork loin and squash soufflé for his in-laws when they came to visit.”

Cooking class students can work off their homework by visiting area attractions such as the Daingerfield and Caddo Lake state parks or Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards in Pittsburg, which offers tours and live jazz in the dining room on weekend nights.
 
Greer Farm: 1444 CR 1125, west of Daingerfield. Classes range from $60 to $75 per person. Cabins are $135 a night for two people, $10 a night for each additional person. Can sleep four adults, includes kitchenette. For a schedule and directions, call (903) 645-3232 or visit http://www.greerfarm.com for more information, including about pick-your-own berries.