Jumping Bean Farm Finds the Magic in Smaller Vegetables in Ames

Farmer Beth Kemp sells a variety of small vegetables at the . She prides herself on growing a small number of quality items. Kemp specializes in baby salad greens like little baby mustard greens, small 3” arugula and loose leaf lettuce.

“It‘s a really efficient crop,” explains Kemp of her favorite greens. “It’s fussy, which is perfect for me since I’m short on space but long on time.”

Jumping Bean Farm sells chemical free vegetables including cherry tomatoes, green tomatoes, collards, Swiss chard, arugula, yellow and white onions all grown on her parents' four acres in Nevada. Kemp also sells her homemade jams, jellies, toasted granola; country bunches of her mother’s wildflowers and farm fresh eggs.

Lori Peake, of Ames, stopped by Jumping Bean Farm’s table on a recent Saturday to purchase some heirloom tomatoes.

“She always brings that basket,” Kemp mentions about her customer.

“I won this basket filled with produce the Ames Farmers’ Market 20 years ago,” said Peake, showing off her purchases.

It seems like Peake has made the most of her prize by refilling her basket every weekend at the Farmers’ Market.

This is Beth Kemp’s third year selling at the Ames Farmers’ Market. Kemp didn’t envision being a farmer while earning her liberal arts degree from Iowa State. Her family’s garden of fresh produce mixed with her love of cooking led her to start her own business. Growing and selling along with her dad the first year, Kemp is working more on her own two years later.

“I just made it up,” Kemp said of her business name Jumping Bean Farm. “I didn’t like to pick green beans. I still don’t like to pick green beans. I thought if I picked a farm name that had bean in the name, then I’ll want to pick beans more. That didn’t work but I liked the way the name sounded.”

Before the North Grand Farmers’ Market started on a recent Saturday, Kemp had already sold her mini collard greens and baby arugula to a caterer for a wedding.

“It’s very creative,” said Kemp of her salad. “One time I had an entire red and purple mix.”

Beth’s husband Dan sells jewelry made out of spoons and forks. DanKartistry.etsy.com  She helps her husband in the fall during the holiday craft sales in exchange for his help in spring during planting.

“My business is a family business,” said Kemp. “I do this because I like to work with my family and with my friends. It comes from a really good place in my heart. And everything is delicious.”