Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher And Jennifer Tolen
Hi Christopher and Jennifer , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our story is one of passion, resilience, and a shared love for healthy living and creativity. Christopher grew up in South Carolina, where he spent much of his childhood on his great-grandparents’ farm, gaining a deep appreciation for the land and the cycle of life. This hands-on upbringing, coupled with a love of science and reading instilled by his mother, laid the groundwork for a lifelong curiosity about sustainability and wellness. After spending over two decades in Chicago as a musician and actor, he sought a lifestyle that was more grounded and connected to nature, leading him to Central Florida.
Jennifer’s journey is equally rich. Growing up with hardworking Italian roots, she developed an intense passion for art, creativity, gardening, cooking, and a healthy lifestyle. Her family’s musical success and her love for problem-solving, chemistry, and math shaped her into a natural innovator. Spending over 20 years in hospitality and events management, including time with the Smithsonian Institute in New York, she honed exceptional organizational skills and a knack for bringing visions to life.
When we met, our shared values and vision naturally aligned. Together, we discovered the incredible benefits of microgreens for health and realized there was a need for fresh, high-quality produce in our community. That realization led us to launch Ferpher Farms—a labor of love and purpose.
Starting in our backyard, we combined Christopher’s farming roots and scientific knowledge with Jennifer’s culinary and business expertise. Our goal was simple: to grow organic, nutrient-dense microgreens sustainably while educating others to grow their own microgreens and inspiring the local community to incorporate them into their daily lives. Today, Ferpher Farms is a thriving part of our community, offering workshops, delivering microgreens locally, and growing a movement toward mindful, healthy living.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most meaningful journeys, our path to building Ferpher Farms has been anything but smooth, but it’s in the challenges where we’ve found the most growth. One of the biggest hurdles was starting from scratch with a vision and a bedroom that could be converted into a temperature controlled grow room. Growing microgreens requires precise conditions, and early on, we faced unexpected issues like mold and inconsistent harvests. These moments tested our patience and ingenuity as we worked tirelessly to refine our methods.
Another challenge was educating our community about the benefits of microgreens. While many people are familiar with fresh vegetables, few understand just how nutrient-packed and versatile microgreens are. It took a lot of effort to raise awareness, through workshops, farmers markets, and direct customer engagement, to build trust and loyalty.
Balancing a new microgreens company with our day jobs also came with its share of obstacles. A new microgreens company required us to learn an entirely new business model. We’ve had to navigate marketing, scaling, and balancing our personal lives with the demands of entrepreneurship.
That said, every struggle has reinforced our commitment to what we do. Each problem has sparked innovation, like experimenting with our growing methods when the advice of the “experts” didn’t align with our environment or finding creative ways to demonstrate the value of our products. The support of our community and the joy of seeing our customers thrive because of what we grow make every bump in the road worthwhile.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ferpher Farms is a family-owned microgreens business dedicated to providing the highest-quality and widest variety of organic, nutrient-dense greens to our community. We specialize in growing microgreens that are non-GMO, pesticide-free, herbicide-free, fungicide-free, and nurtured with unadulterated well water. What truly sets us apart is our use of Sonic Bloom technology, which enhances plant growth through natural sound frequencies, resulting in more vibrant and nutrient-packed greens.
We’re known for offering two sizes of microgreens: large containers for $14 and small ones for $7. Our microgreens are perfect for adding flavor, texture, and nutrition to meals, whether you’re a chef or a home cook. We also deliver locally to Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Poinciana’s Solivita community, Frostproof, and Avon Park through a subscription service that makes eating fresh microgreens simple and convenient.
Our workshops are another cornerstone of what we do. We love educating people about the benefits of microgreens and showing them how to grow their own at home. Our most recent workshops, including those at Bok Tower Gardens and Solivita’s Green Thumb Club, have been incredibly well-received. A take home microgreens grow kit is included with our workshops and the responses from attendees expressing gratitude for their growing successes warms our hearts.
What makes Ferpher Farms truly unique is the heart and passion behind our brand. Everything we do, from cultivating microgreens to connecting with customers, is rooted in our belief that food is life. We aim to inspire others to take charge of their health through small but impactful lifestyle changes, starting with what they eat.
What we’re most proud of as a brand is the trust and loyalty we’ve earned from our customers. Their stories of improved energy and wellness fuel our passion and remind us why we started this journey. We want readers to know that Ferpher Farms is more than just a business—it’s a way of life, a commitment to quality, and an invitation to “eat life” with us.
What’s next?
At Ferpher Farms, the future is all about growth—both literally and figuratively. We’re continually expanding our offerings to meet the needs of our community and further our mission of promoting health and sustainability. One of our most exciting plans is the launch of our “Verticle: Life Elixirs” microgreens extracts line. This new product will offer a concentrated way to enjoy the benefits of microgreens daily, and we’re in the process of organizing a clinical trial to validate its impact.
We’re also looking to expand our local reach through additional workshops, including workshops specifically designed for homeschoolers, farmers markets, and partnerships. Educating people about the ease and value of incorporating microgreens into their lives is at the core of what we do, and we’re planning even more engaging events to inspire our community.
Another significant step forward is scaling our subscription delivery service. We’ve been thrilled with the positive response so far, and we’re working on streamlining the process to make it even more convenient for our customers.
In addition to product and service growth, we’re excited to continue improving our cultivation techniques. With every harvest, we learn more about optimizing our processes to provide the freshest, most nutrient-packed microgreens possible.
Long-term, we hope to expand our footprint beyond Central Florida and make Ferpher Farms a household name for high-quality, sustainable organic produce. Our goal isn’t just to grow microgreens but to grow a movement toward mindful eating and living.
The journey ahead is full of possibilities, and we’re excited to share it with our customers, community, and partners.
Pricing:
- Grow Kit $25
- Microgreens $7 Small, $14 Large
- Organic Ground Hot Pepper Powders $25
- Mushroom & Microgreens Tinctures $25-$35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ferpherfarms.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ferpherfarms
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ferpherfarms
- Twitter: https://x.com/ferpherfarms
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@ferpherfarms
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/ferpher-farms-lake-wales
- Other: https://TikTok.com/@ferpherfarms
Image Credits
Tolen Media
