Sydni Phillips grows vegetables and herbs at Golgi Farm. She's the new produce vendor at Milford Farmers Market.(Photo: Courtesy of Golgi Farm)

Sydni Phillips grows her garden with GMO-free seeds, organic practices and maybe even a little divine help.

The owner of Golgi Farm, LLC works the soil on one-third of an acre at Commerce Church of the Nazarene, where her husband, Matt, serves as youth pastor.

Shes the newest addition to Milford Farmers' Market, which kicked off its new season Thursday, May 11, on Liberty, just east of Main in downtown Milford.

Arugula, baby kale and mint, said Phillips, listing what she brought to the market last week. I actually sold out by 6 p.m. She hopes to have radishes within a week or two, followed by lettuce.

Phillips said she grows unusual and heirloom varieties of familiar vegetables.

I have 10 different colors of carrots, cool varieties of cauliflower, broccoli. Everything is organic. I mostly just pay attention to how I plant things, she said, explaining that some plants act as natural pest repellents.

Phillips said her arrangement with Commerce Church of the Nazarene helps her budding business and brings some attention to the church. She spends approximately 5-10 hours on the farm, Monday-Saturday.

The Redford native fell in love with farming and food justice while in college, where she earned a biology degree, learned about farming and sustainability, and tended to a garden during a life-changing internship in 2013.

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I planted food for the first time in my life and I said, yep, this is my career.

After graduating from college and losing her job at a church, Phillips moved into the basement at her parents home in Dearborn, where she also gardened.

I was able to practice what I preached. I ended up selling a tiny bit of produce at (Dearborn) farmers market. I didnt make a living wage, but I learned so much.

The following year she started a community garden in Dundee where she had been living, and realized that she wanted to farm full time. After their marriage last October, Phillips husband suggested she do what she loved. Phillips received permission from the pastor and church board to garden at the church.

Chris Redman, of Christine's Natural Soaps, makes a sale at the May 11 Milford Farmers Market.(Photo: JOHN HEIDER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

The name, Golgi, is a reference to her love of science. The Golgi apparatus is the part of a cell that takes things and turns them into more complex and usable things, like proteins, Phillips explains on her Facebook page.

At Golgi Farm, my goal is to take simple things like seeds, soil and water (and a ton of hard work) to produce useful things like fruits and veggies. Pretty cool, huh?

Milford Farmers Market, which is volunteer-run, also welcomed returning vendors last week, including Garden Fort, Great Harvest Bakery, Christines Natural Goats Milk Soaps and Dianas Heirloom Produce.

What I like best about market day is the community gathering. I often compare the streets of our market to an Italian town square, said Kelley M. Hovitch-Kirchner, market master. The community comes together to gather their local goods and be social. It is such a sight to see.

The market runs 3-8 p.m.Thursday, through Oct. 19. See local entertainment from 5-7:30 p.m. at the market. Special events include a dog fashion show on Sept. 7.

sdargay@hometownlife.com

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