Do you want to learn more about gardening methods? Check out our information pages.
At Grey Duck Gardens we believe that everyone should be able to feed themselves and their families. We donate 2% of our seed profits to Heifer International, an organization that helps people in the USA and around the world become self sufficient.
We support the slow food movement. It takes a whole 9 months to hand grow a perfectly flavorful bulb of gourmet culinary cooking garlic or hardneck seed garlic. Supporting practices that encourage the preservation of heirloom varieties is important to us and slow food just tastes better!
Garlic Research
Grey Duck Garlic has a research grant from the Organic Farming Research Foundation. Our grant ‘Effectiveness and economic impact of weed control systems in organic garlic production’ began in the summer/fall of 2008.
Susan Fluegel, PhD designs and implements the garlic research projects. She is a nutritional biochemist with entomology and agriculture degrees who loves to dig in the dirt. Susan believes that food should be good for you and still taste great! Her special interests include developing sustainable garlic production techniques, giving unprompted nutritional lectures to unwary acquaintances on public transport, and indulging in her passion for art.
Edna Hastain managed and was a chef in several large natural foods restaurants. She loves to experiment with exotic foods and says that Grey Duck Garlic is the best organic garlic she has ever tasted. In her spare time, Edna loves to knit colorful wool socks and hats.
Chris Bailey grew up on a large South Dakota farm and ranch. He repairs and operates all of the farm equipment and he designs our custom garlic tools. Chris has two engineering degrees and experience in computer network management. In his spare time, he is a Senior Master Sergeant guardsman with the US Air Force and manages the Wireless Communications Systems section. He is also an Advanced Master Gardener and tutors at the local grade school. In spite of his book learning and military training, he still knows how to make a mean pile of compost and plant a straight row of garlic.
Patty Fluegel managed a large natural health food store. She has experienced a number of adventures, from managing a sled dog camp for tourists to camping out in the Canadian wilderness during winter. Currently, Patty is taking a break from the fast life by caring for a small herd of registered Nubian goats. She is our fastest weeder and a tireless worker. Patty loves our garlic fresh from the field.
About Us
Our Passion for Organic Gourmet Garlic!
Grey Duck Garlic, LLC is a small family run agricultural business committed to growing a high quality organic garlic in a sustainable and fun fashion.
We grow slow food. It takes 9 months to hand grow a perfectly flavorful bulb of gourmet garlic. We also grow two Washington heirloom garlic varieties (one we are currently selling: German Red).
Grey Duck Garlic, LLC is located on a certified organic farm (#1883) owned by Jane Fluegel in the Palouse region of Washington. The farm is nestled between the beautiful rolling hills of the Palouse. Half the acreage is on a hillside dotted with natural springs and dedicated to natural woods and native plants. The other acreage is flat pasture bordering a creek.
Jane Fluegel has grown food organically for over thirty years. Currently Jane manages her small farm and ranch. In her spare time, she draws up beautiful low input xeriscape and native plant landscape plans for local homes, businesses and subdivisions. Recently, Jane fulfilled a lifetime dream of owning a small herd of happily spoiled all natural beef cattle.
The Garlic Farmers
The taste that inspires passion