You'd think we'd have more sense than to take on a 19-acre farm in addition to our full-time jobs. However, we've set out on this venture in order to expand our experience in the most wonderful profession of all...horticulture!

Joel has a B.S. and M.S. from Penn State where his focus was on plant pathology - specifically diseases of fruits and vegetables. His Horicultural Science Ph.D. from North Carolina State University focused on production issues and breeding of strawberries, brambles, and blueberries.

Holly's B.S. and M.S. are from the University of Georgia (go Dawgs!) - where she earned a bachelor's in Agricultural Economics and a Master's in Horticulture. Specializing in greenhouse and nursery production of ornamental plants, she also completed her Ph.D. in Horticultural Science at NC State Univeristy.

A fortuitous (and romantic) partnership emergered from our time at NCSU... and we relocated to Virginia Tech in 1999 to begin our careers in academia. We were thrilled to find this beautiful farm and benefit from Robert and Patricia Adam's work in establishing a quality blueberry operation.

As the Adam's farm name "IdyllEase" had special meaning for them, so does ours - it comes from the feature that sold us on the place - the happily burbling creek which borders the south side of the acreage.