Miller's Tomato Basket: Hydroponics Greenhouse and Trout Fishing in Staurts Draft

Merle Miller grew up on a farm in the upper Shenandoah Valley town of Stuarts Draft, helping his father raise chickens and sell eggs. He eventually left home to study agriculture. In a few years he was back in Stuarts Draft and landed his first job at a local nursery, Milmont Greenhouses. While he was working there he learned about growing hydroponic tomatoes.

"There is something about growing a product that people enjoy," Miller said. "The reason for tomatoes is that that they have the highest demand, but they are one of the most difficult crops to raise hydroponically."

Hydroponics is the a technique of growing plants in artificial soil. Miller's own initial work with hydroponics began as a family project that included the construction of a greenhouse. "We chose to do that in a greenhouse to give us more control over temperature, insect, and disease problems. This does not mean that we do not have problems with these things; you can handle them better in a greenhouse," says Miller.

The Miller family project turned out to be a success and in 2001 they opened Miller's Tomato Basket. They started growing hydroponic tomatoes for the local market, particularly for sale during the off-season. By 2005, their business had grown to the point where a second greenhouse was needed, and the expanded facilities made it possible to provide a wider variety of produce for retail sale.

Most, but not all, of the produce is locally grown. Locally-produced cider, cheese and crafts, as well as jams, honey, holiday fruit baskets and organic foods are also now available.

In 2006 Miller and his father stocked their spring-fed pond with trout and began to offer public trout fishing. The water quality and temperature was just right for trout and since then, the pond is stocked approximately once a month. The trout pond provides good fishing for anyone, including children.