WHAT'S IN YOUR TRUCK TUESDAY: MARIANNE SIMMONS
One of our favorite fun reads is Relish Austin's "What's In Your Fridge Friday." We learn a bit about local notables, their refrigerator contents, and get a glimpse inside. While the city creep is headed Dripping way, many of us would like to fend it off as long as possible. So, in the interest of keeping it a bit more country, we present “What’s In Your Truck Tuesday.” We’ll meet Dripping locals and learn more about what’s in their truck or SUV. So far, we've peered inside (and outside) the respective trucks of Babble regular contributor Melanie Cambron, birding superstar Howard Williams, and John McIntosh, award-winning brewer and owner of Dripping Springs' only bar.
This week, we look in (and under) the beautifully restored 1956 Chevy stake truck owned by Marianne Simmons, organic farmer and dancin' doll. Marianne was produce manager for the first Whole Foods and produce coordinator for their first 3 stores before she was transferred to Los Angeles to help run an organic produce distribution house. After working for a national organic produce distribution house and a specialty-market farm in California, Marianne returned to Texas and, after an exhaustive search of every valley, river and creek bottom in Central Texas, she purchased Onion Creek Farm here in Dripping Springs where she has farmed since 1990.
What is in your truck today?
Well, under my truck today are Bonnie and Clyde, newest staff members at Onion Creek Farm, supervising while I work in the field solo.
Other than proof of insurance, what three things are always in your truck?
Beads from the Founders Day parade, bushel baskets, well worn work gloves.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever transported in or behind your truck?
Full Dripping Springs Farmers Market display in the Founders Day parade.
Where’s the farthest place you’ve ever driven your truck?
White-knuckled it to San Antonio for my truck's restoration. That drive felt like an eternity.
What do you listen to in your truck?
The engine. And the breeze flowing through the wind wings.
Any Dripping-related trivia about yourself?
The site of my farm is on a large bend in the creek, an alluvial floodplain of deep and rich soil that has been farmed since pioneer days. In winter, this site is usually the lowest recorded temperature in the county, rivaling the temps in Mason, Texas. The original frame farmhouse is gone, but the old stone smokehouse remains, as well as hand-stacked rock walls. The "new" farmhouse and guest cottage were built in 1963 as a country house and are completely constructed of salvage materials, including 2x12 timbers taken from an old warehouse in downtown Austin and an old cotton gin, and antique 5 panel doors complete with hardware. I have interviewed several people who lived and farmed here long ago. There is a story that they would move the furniture out of the original farmhouse, neighbors would ride over, fiddlers would take to the porch and an evening dance would ensue. I sure would like a local dance hall!
If you could drive any vehicle other than your truck, what would it be?
Purchased in 1994, parked at a local garage for the past decade, now fully restored and running, this is my dream vehicle, a 1956 Chevy stake bed.
The newest staff members at Onion Creek Farm in Dripping Springs, Texas, prefer What's Under Your Truck Tuesday. Photo by Melanie Cambron.
This week, we look in (and under) the beautifully restored 1956 Chevy stake truck owned by Marianne Simmons, organic farmer and dancin' doll. Marianne was produce manager for the first Whole Foods and produce coordinator for their first 3 stores before she was transferred to Los Angeles to help run an organic produce distribution house. After working for a national organic produce distribution house and a specialty-market farm in California, Marianne returned to Texas and, after an exhaustive search of every valley, river and creek bottom in Central Texas, she purchased Onion Creek Farm here in Dripping Springs where she has farmed since 1990.
What is in your truck today?
Well, under my truck today are Bonnie and Clyde, newest staff members at Onion Creek Farm, supervising while I work in the field solo.
Other than proof of insurance, what three things are always in your truck?
Beads from the Founders Day parade, bushel baskets, well worn work gloves.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever transported in or behind your truck?
Full Dripping Springs Farmers Market display in the Founders Day parade.
Where’s the farthest place you’ve ever driven your truck?
White-knuckled it to San Antonio for my truck's restoration. That drive felt like an eternity.
What do you listen to in your truck?
The engine. And the breeze flowing through the wind wings.
Any Dripping-related trivia about yourself?
The site of my farm is on a large bend in the creek, an alluvial floodplain of deep and rich soil that has been farmed since pioneer days. In winter, this site is usually the lowest recorded temperature in the county, rivaling the temps in Mason, Texas. The original frame farmhouse is gone, but the old stone smokehouse remains, as well as hand-stacked rock walls. The "new" farmhouse and guest cottage were built in 1963 as a country house and are completely constructed of salvage materials, including 2x12 timbers taken from an old warehouse in downtown Austin and an old cotton gin, and antique 5 panel doors complete with hardware. I have interviewed several people who lived and farmed here long ago. There is a story that they would move the furniture out of the original farmhouse, neighbors would ride over, fiddlers would take to the porch and an evening dance would ensue. I sure would like a local dance hall!
If you could drive any vehicle other than your truck, what would it be?
Purchased in 1994, parked at a local garage for the past decade, now fully restored and running, this is my dream vehicle, a 1956 Chevy stake bed.
The newest staff members at Onion Creek Farm in Dripping Springs, Texas, prefer What's Under Your Truck Tuesday. Photo by Melanie Cambron.
Posted by DSBabble.com at Tuesday, August 16, 2011 5:25 PM 
Categories: What's In Your Truck Tuesday
Tags: dripping springs
Categories: What's In Your Truck Tuesday
Tags: dripping springs
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