A Farmer's Life
A Farmer's Life
Notes from Terhune Orchards
by Gary Mount
6” x 9”, 172 pages, softcover perfect bound
ISBN: 978-1-59152-305-5
$16.95
In 1975 Gary and Pam Mount bought Terhune Orchards, a 55-acre farm near Princeton, New Jersey, determined to create a prosperous working farm and retail operation. Now with 250 acres and hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, the farm is celebrated through the articles Gary published in Terhune Orchard’s newsletter—now collected in this book, illustrated with color and black and white photographs.
About the Author
Gary Mount was born in Princeton, New Jersey where has lived most of his life. Magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University in 1966, he married high school sweetheart, Pam Hasenzahl and they served together in the US Peace Corps for three years.
Having grown up on a Princeton fruit farm, being a full-time fruit grower has been his life’s delight for almost 50 years. He and Pam have raised three children, two of whom have joined the farm business, one serves in the US Army. As he says, “There are grandchildren all around.”
Gary’s community contributions have been many. As a member of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture from 1983-87—the youngest member ever up to that time—he contributed significantly to founding New Jersey’s farmland preservation program. He later served two terms on the State Agricultural Development Committee, which administers farmland preservation efforts. He helped the board support the renowned Jersey Fresh marketing program, helped pass the state farm winery law and revitalized New Jersey’s annual Outstanding Young Farmer Award. Other local involvements have been with the Mercer County Board of Agriculture, Howell Living History Farm, the New Jersey State Horticultural Association, New Jersey Water Supply Authority, and the Mercer County Soil Conservation District.
Of wider significance has been his involvement with the International Fruit Tree Association, serving 11 years on the board of directors (the longest of any member), and continuing as chair of the association’s research committee (over 20 years). He is a founding trustee of the association’s Research Foundation, which is raising an endowment to further research in fruit growing.
Gary’s new book, A Farmer’s Life, shares his interest and joy in farming with all readers. Reminiscences of boyhood on the farm are mixed with stories of his connection with modern technology.
