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. In her spare time, Ann Marie like to watch movies and play with her cat, Cutie.
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 had some experience doing vegetable and flower gardening at home before he came to work on the farm. Here 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 and joined Cape Abilities in 2006. In his spare time, Nick likes to go on visits and to fish.
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 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.
Kyle’s favorite activity is picking lettuce. “It’s easy,” he explains, with a smile. He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Andrew enjoys grilled corn on the cob - a favorite Janiak Family recipe. Andrew describes his farm job as “a little bit of everything.” He joined the Cape Abilities Farm team in the spring of 2008. A native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Andrew said his favorite job is selling to customers at the farm stand. His favorite hobby is playing cards.
What Shanda likes best about working at Cape Abilities is "the caring people that are here," both staff and workers. In the farm operation she handles administrative work, notably the Salad Club. A native of Rainelle, West Virgina, Shanda came to the Cape in 1972 and to Cape Abilities in 2005. For 10 years, she ran an azalea farm in Brewster. Her favorite Cape place is Paines Creek in Brewster. Shanda, who still has a noticeable West Virgina accent, says her favorite local activity is letting Cape Cod people think she's a tourist then telling them she's from Brewster. Her favorite hobby is photography.
Richard has operated his own nursery business for three years as well as helping to resurrect the public blueberry patch in Dennis. A native of Pearl River, New York, he came to Cape Cod in 1999 and joined Cape Abilities in May 2008. At the farm he does maintenance and helps sell at the farm stand. He likes working at the farm because "it's fun." His favorite type of plant is the tomatoes. They're "to die for," he says. His favorite Cape place is South Dennis and his favorite activity is fishing. Another hobby he has is wood turning,
Bud is a former West Texas cotton farmer who immigrated to Cape Cod at the age of 40 in 1976. A native of Lemesa, Texas, he joined Cape Abilities in 2005. At the farm he is in charge of mixing the nutrient soup that feeds the hydroponic plants. His favorite type of plants - the tomatoes "to work and to also to eat.". He likes the farm because he enjoys working with plants and because of "the opportunity to work with people with disabilities." His favorite Cape Cod place is Nauset Beach. In his spare time, Bud enjoys woodworking.
