Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Bertman.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first moved to Grants Pass in 2012 and spent two years here. That’s when the idea for SOL Revolution was actually born. Life took me elsewhere for a while, and it took twelve years and four cross-country drives before I finally made it back to plant roots for real.
Now SOL Revolution is a solar-powered organic permaculture farm on one acre just outside downtown Grants Pass, growing specialty herbs, edible flowers, and market produce you won’t find at a regular grocery store: sea kale, lovage, sorrel, bronze fennel, borage, shiso, dahlias, fairy tale eggplant, just to name a few!
We sell at farmers markets, supply wholesale restaurant accounts like Black Barn Kitchen, and run a 12-week CSA from summer through fall with weekly or biweekly onsite pickup, giving members a seasonal mix of our unique specialty crops alongside more familiar favorites. We also turn everything we grow, including the imperfect stuff, into jams, pickles, and other preserved goods.
And keep an eye on us going into 2027. We’ve got some exciting things in the works we can’t wait to share.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not smooth, but worth it. One of the biggest challenges has been getting the word out. We grow crops most people have never eaten before, and it takes real effort to help customers understand what these are, why they’re worth trying, and how to actually use them. Farmers markets help, but building a loyal customer base one conversation at a time is slow work, especially with a specialty lineup this different from what people expect to see at a produce stand. Growing a real network of community supporters, people who show up week after week, tell their friends, and believe in what we’re building, has taken time and a lot of patience.
We’re also navigating a county permitting process to expand into agritourism, and farming on one acre means every square foot has to work hard. We’re chasing grants to fund a barn retrofit and replanning our entire 2027 season around direct sowing since we don’t have a greenhouse yet. None of it happens fast, but that’s the nature of building something real instead of something quick.
As you know, we’re big fans of SOL Revolution Farm & Events . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
SOL Revolution is a solar-powered organic permaculture farm, and SOL stands for Sustainable, Organic, Local- the three principles that guide everything we do. What sets us apart is our specialty crop lineup. We’re known for that unusual, chef-driven variety, which is part of why we supply wholesale accounts like Black Barn alongside our farmers market and CSA customers.
What we’re most proud of, brand wise, is that nothing goes to waste. Everything we grow, including the imperfect or overgrown produce most farms would toss, gets used: fresh at market, in CSA boxes, or preserved into jams, pickles, and other value-added goods made right here on the farm. That full-circle approach, growing something unique and then making sure every bit of it reaches someone’s table, is really the heart of the brand.
We’re also working on cultivating a unique farm event space for intimate gatherings, including farm-to-table dinners, concerts, workshops, and private events. We want readers to know this is a small, hands-on operation with a big vision, rooted in sustainability, resourcefulness, and genuine care for the land and the community it feeds.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Epic Gardening is a fun resource I watch regularly. I also follow a handful of other farms because there’s so much to learn and only about 50 seasons to explore as a farmer, so I try to soak up as much as I can from people further along the path. I’m a fan of the Go Wildly podcast too, and I’m excited to be a guest on an upcoming episode this October. My favorite book is The Four Agreements. It’s shaped a lot of how I approach both farming and life in general.
Pricing:
- CSA subscription 12 weeks $300
- Farm-to-table dinners with wine pairing starting at $150
- Curated music and wine experiences starting at $65
- Friends of the Farm memberships at $125, $250, $500
- Private events, please inquire on our website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SOL-Revolution.com
- Instagram: @solrevolutionoregon
- Facebook: solrevolutionoregon
