Cape Abilities Farm: State Agriculture Commissioner Tour

Katie Stubstad - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Katie has worked in several jobs at Cape Abilities Farm. She is a talented cook - and enjoys preparing family recipes. She has been part of our "Cooking with Cape Abilities" segments on Cape Cod's Channel 17.

Katie also is employed at Cape Abilities workcenter in Hyannis. Katie takes classes at Cape Cod Community College, and is an active participant in many groups on Cape Cod.

Chris Gately - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Chris joined Cape Abilities in 2000. At the farm, he helps sell and bag the vegetables and flowers. In addition to his work at the farm, Chris is also employed at Cape Abilities workcenter in Hyannis. He likes to spend time with his family.

In his spare time, Chris likes going to the Cape Cod Mall and to yard sales, but he insists he’s a picky shopper, looking for value among the myriad  items on sale. What does he like to buy?  “I don’t always know until I get there,” he says.

Mike Rhodes - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Mike helps tend tomatoes, waters plants and does general assignment work at the farm. Mike has been very involved with the farm fields at our new farm in Marstons Mills. He took part in our first fall harvest. Mike also represented Cape Abilities Farm at Farm Aid  2008.

A member of Cape Abilities since 2006, he likes swimming and drawing to relax. His favorite activity is swimming in his pool. Mike says he enjoys working at the farm because "I make good money."

Gigi Gaulin - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Gigi's favorite job is helping to plant seeds in seed beds early in the growing cycle, but she says she also enjoys bagging lettuce for the Salad Club and watering plants. A California native, Gigi has been at Cape Abilities since 1988. Her favorite vegetable is corn -on the cob, of course, with a little butter and salt. Gigi is a gifted artist who draws and paints. She says her favorite Cape Cod place is the Nauset Middle School where she takes regular art classes. In 2007, one of her designs was selected by Rockland Trust for their annual holiday greeting card.

Ann Marie Campbell - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Ann Marie helps to cultivate the lettuce and the tomato plants in the greenhouses. Ann Marie also plants the lettuce seeds and helped to plant many of the annuals and hanging baskets.  She was born in Needham.

In addition to her work at Cape Abilities Farm, Ann Marie is employed at Cape Abilities work center in Hyannis.

The Cape Cod Times selected a photo of Ann Marie as one of the best photos of 2008, to learn more click here.

In her spare time, Ann Marie like to watch movies and play with her cat, Cutie.

Vivian Southard - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Vivian, who is 80 years old, likes working at the farm because of the interaction with the customers. "I love the people that come buy the vegetables. It's just a friendly place," she says. Vivian was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut but has lived on Cape Cod for many years. Vivian joined Cape Abilities in 1984. At the farm she helps customers get vegetables and flowers. "I keep an eye on almost everything so nothing goes out without paying for it," she says with a laugh. Her favorite plant is the tomatoes. "I love the tomatoes," she says. "I like them better than the store ones because they're fresh grown. I love them...I could eat a tomato anytime"  In her free time, Vivian  enjoys candlepin bowling.

Nick Anderson- Cape Abilities Farm Team

Nick had some experience doing vegetable and flower gardening at home before he came to work on the farm. At Cape Abilities Farm he helps prepare vegetable packages for the weekly Salad Club orders. Asked what he likes  most about the work, he laughs and says its easy and he likes the salary.  Nick came to Cape Cod in 1983 .In his spare time, Nick likes to go on visits and to fish. Nick was featured in an article about our farm in The New York Times (read more)

Tom Zurn - Cape Abilities Farm Team

Tom Zurn launched Cape Abilities Farm in the summer of 2006. He grew up on a farm and is dedicated to producing top quality produce and plants. In addition to supervising the growth of Cape Abilities Farm, Tom serves as the Director of Business Development at Cape Abilities.

Jim Knieriem- Cape Abilities Farm Team

Jim is a fifth generation farmer who was born in Mokena, Illinois and moved to Cape Cod in 1992, where he also farmed. He joined Cape Abilities in 2000. Jim is the farm manager. He likes working for Cape Abilities because "it's a strong organization for individuals with disabilities."  Jim's favorite place on the Cape is Cape Abilities farm in Marstons Mills. He enjoys camping on Cape Cod with his family. His hobbies are raising show poultry and heirloom tomatoes.