Deborah Triplett

Green Goddess: Kim Shaw | Farmer

Although Kim always loved gardening, she didn’t plan to turn her hobby into a career—until, that is, her position as an event planner for a private club was eliminated. During her time at the club, she had worked with the chef to create a kitchen garden, which reignited Kim’s passion for coaxing beauty (and food) out of ground.

Deciding to make something wonderful out of her newfound freedom, Kim created Small City Farm, an organic backyard garden crowded into a jam-packed half-acre that produces beautiful vegetables, ornamental and edible flowers, and herbs.

“It’s been hugely rewarding,” she says. Her farm sells produce to a few local restaurants, and you can find Kim and her Small City Farm goodies on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Charlotte Tailgate Farmer’s Market in South End.

“Seeing our name on a menu—what a thrill!” She says. “I guess my favorite part is knowing that people are eating things I’ve grown from seed. I think growing food is a really important job.”

~Aleigh Acerni