“The goal is to feed people,” Teresa Shiraishi says, eloquently and simply explaining the motivation behind Tampopo Farm, the 2-acre Sequim-based farm that she runs with her husband, Matt Rohanna.  

Teresa and Matt grow a variety of vegetables, as well as some flowers, using organic practices, with the goal of becoming a no-till farm within the next few years. Their growing practices center around the soil, with good-quality soil being the most important factor in the success of their produce.  

Although Sequim tends to have more mild temperatures than other parts of Washington, their produce was still hit by the recent cold and wet spring. A late frost killed more delicate plants, like flowers, and the cold made transitions into the field more difficult. “Mother Nature always wins,” Matt says, which seems to capture the way they roll with the challenges as they arise; accepting of the fact that there are some things that are just beyond their control.  

Despite the challenges, Matt and Teresa continue farming with positivity and grace, happily making the 2-and-a-half-hour journey from Sequim to the Phinney Farmers Market every Friday. “It’s like a homecoming for me,” Seattle native Teresa says. 

They also enjoy their time at the market as an opportunity to engage with shoppers who are passionate about plants and produce. The pandemic was a motivator for many people to try their hand at gardening, and Teresa says that it has led to many engaging conversations at the markets, with people asking for advice or wondering about growing methods.  

It is no wonder people are coming to Matt and Teresa for advice, or simply to strike up a conversation. They are knowledgeable and kind, and they put the food first always. “The goal is not to be bigger,” they explained. Their goal is to grow even higher quality produce by improving the quality of their soil by adopting no-till methods and high-quality, homemade compost. The small scale of the farm makes things like weed management and compost composition easier to control for the two-person team.  

Although the Tampopo team is small, their community is big. They lease their land from River Run Farm, and there are multiple farm operations on the land, which has provided a built-in community for Teresa and Matt. The farmers share tools, swap advice, and generally support each other, which is so important in a field that can be otherwise isolating.  

You can join Tampopo Farm’s community of supporters by stopping by their booth at the Phinney Farmers Market on Fridays from 3-7!