A stainless steel pot of water comes to a roaring boil on Kathy Howell’s stovetop. Homegrown figs sit in a colander rinsed in the sink, ready to be prepared into jars of homemade jam.
This is just the beginning of her jam-making process.
As the child of a home economics teacher, cooking and baking were a predominant part of Howell’s upbringing. Now, it is her passion project based in her Lexington home.
“When you have a lot of stuff left over, you go, ‘What do I do?’ ” Howell said. “Well, my grandmother always canned them, so I just started canning everything and making jams and jellies.”
Howell started Moonflower Farm about five years ago. The namesake comes from her grandmother, who passed down her love of flowers and gardening. Now, Howell makes unique jams, jellies and preserves, selling her products through in-person markets and orders through Facebook.
What originally started as a way to minimize food waste has expanded into much more.
Howell’s job as a veterinary technician at the University of Georgia brought her and her husband, Mike, to Oglethorpe County. They already owned chickens and horses and were looking for land near her job, which made Oglethorpe the perfect fit.
Now retired, the majority of her time goes to Moonflower Farm.
“My mom was a master gardener,” Howell said. “We always had a garden in the back, and so I guess we always just fiddled with it.”
They grow various types of produce, like blueberries, sweet potatoes, garlic and peppers. She supplements anything she doesn’t grow from Northeast Georgia farmers.
In Oglethorpe County, she buys from Kendall Strickland of Strickland Pride Produce.
When it comes to making the jams and jellies, Howell bears all the responsibility. But her husband helps with loading the car for markets and digging up crops.
In order to make products at home, Howell obtained a cottage food license from the Department of Agriculture when she began her business. She also has a ServSafe food handler certificate to ensure product safety.
Howell has 21 unique flavors, like strawberry balsamic with black pepper, peach bourbon and carrot cake. A half-pint jar costs $7.
“I don’t consider myself original; I just like to make different kinds of jams,” Howell said.
Making jam is a trial-and-error process.
“You can make a whole batch of the same jelly, one that you have made 10 times and it won’t gel,” Howell said. “It depends on the pH, it has to depend on the sugar value in it.”
As the years have gone on, Howell has added goods to meet the requests of her customers, as well as exercise her creativity. She also offers cheese balls, baked goods like pound cake, caramel corn and holiday gift baskets.
Michelle Mobley worked with Howell at the veterinary clinic for over 10 years. Her favorite product is the cowboy caviar, a bean and vegetable dip, because it is “far above” and “that much better” compared to others she’s tried.
Howell will participate as a vendor at the UGA Vet Clinic’s Holiday Bazaar, combining her past and current job.
“We always call her when we know it’s coming,” Mobley said. “Everybody loves her stuff so much.”
Howell frequents Marigold Farmers Market in Winterville, a space to connect with regular and new customers. She’ll also be a vendor at the Maxeys Christmas Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
“I enjoy going to the market,” she said. “I enjoy seeing the people and getting out.”