August 20, 2004 Post-Tribune

Naturally Good
By Mike Truax

Leann Landgrebe-Stephens recognized the difficulty of finding organic produce around Valparaiso. Instead of complaining about it, she decided to do something about it.

"I've loved gardening since I was a child," Stephens said. "Some of my earliest memories are of picking string beans at my grandfather's farm."

When she got married, her love of gardening flourished as she and husband, Michael, installed 14 raised beds at their Westville home. They came in handy when she decided to expand and begin Crème de la Crop, supplying the area's first full-scale naturally grown produce. While some produce is grown at their home, most is grown on the old family farm at County Road 250 W. and U.S. 30. Generations of Landgrebes have farmed the land since long before U.S. 30 went through the farm.

"We planted three acres this year and will plant more next year," Stephens said. "We have more than 70 acres available to plant."

There are literally dozens of different vegetables Stephens will have available but because of this year's small planting, not all of them will be ready at once. She says to drop by frequently to see some surprising but flavorful selections or to check her catalog to see what is coming soon.

Future plans call for planting raspberry plants across U.S. 30 for a U-Pick market she also wants to start. The plans will take about two years to establish before they will bear fruit.

As much as she loves gardening, it was not her first career choice. After graduating Valparaiso High School about 10 years ago, she became an interior designer but after five years, she realized she loved working outdoors more.

"I've always loved beautiful things and there are a lot of beautiful vegetables out there," Stephens said. 'Most people don't realize that so many vegetables are really gorgeous."

Besides beauty, a vegetable has to be delicios, she said, because in the end, it is all about flavor. She searched for varieties that would provide both.

I found an organic seed supplier in Maine that had some really great varieties," Stephens said. "Everything we sell has been grown naturally by us from certified organic seed. No chemicals are used at any time."

She torts her produce as being chemical-free because she has not been certified by the government as organic yet, but she is working on that.

Some of the varieties are unusual and others are will known. She grows Lincoln leeks, which are preferred by most gourmet chefs, and a variety of French carrots that are also sought after by chefs in the know.

Among the dozen or so varieties of broccoli she grows is Nutra-Bud, known for having a higher nutrient level that any other broccoli and there are a few attractive broccoli selection that are as pleasing to the eye as the palate.

Then, there is the eggplant. She has Italian Pink Bi-colored, Italian White, Turkish Orange and the 11 - inch Pingtung Long eggplants from Taiwan for starters. But, there are many more to choose from.

Those who are in the market for tomatoes may need to calculator to keep track for the varieties she will have ready soon. Name the color or use and Lean can recommend several choices to try including Goldie a huge yellow tomato with great flavor and San Marzano, recognized for making the best tomato sauce.

"We also carry Lady Godiva squash, "Stephens said. "It's called that because it's seed make a great snack and with no shell, do not have to be shelled before eating."

Finally, the veggie she remembers as a child, beans. She has a number of them to choose from, including Rattlesnake, a string type of bean with purple spots on the pod and the beans inside. They can be eaten fresh or dried for later use.

Crème de la Crop also carries many different herbs, like the lemon balm, cilantro and catnip, but also offers many unheard of varieties including a score of basils to choose from.

A business' first year is not easy, but she says it has been fun. Even though she did much of the restoration work on the grandfather's old corn planter, including sandblasting decades of rust and dirt and locating pars for the antique machine she helped restore he3r dad's antique tractor to plow the fields. But, she doesn't take all the claim or blame.

"I couldn't have dome it all myself," Stephens said. "I owe a lot of the credit to my best friend, my mom Beth Landgrebe. She helped me so much and I try to reciprocate. We work well together."

She has two nephews spending the summer with her while their new home is being built and Stephens says their help has been instrumental in getting the business started.

Her husband Michael is mostly confined to a wheelchair but finds ways to help like mowing the weeds between the crop rows and whatever other jobs need done.

When he's not busy with the farm he's working to get a pet therapy program started at Porter Hospital's Valparaiso Campus. He also breeds and raised Labrador retrievers with 3/4s of each litter being donated to service dog organizations who train them as leader and service animals for the blind, handicapped or disabled.

Crème de la Crop is located at 250 W and U.S. 30, opposite the turn to the Aberdeen development. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. as long as it isn't raining. For more information call the farm at (219) 462-9587.

Please contact Crème de la Crop at cremedelacrop@msn.com for more information.