CHESTERFIELD: Paradise open for business

By Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer
   CHESTERFIELD — Tomatoes, zucchini and lettuce, oh my!
   Lothar Ehrich, co-owner of Paradise Vineyard, is giving back to the community — one box of organic vegetables at a time.
   Mr. Ehrich, 64, of Cranbury, has been putting his green thumb to the test by infusing his 210-acre property — known as Paradise Vineyard and Gardens of Chesterfield — on Bordentown-Georgetown Road with a myriad of organic produce.
   In his latest business venture, Paradise Organic Farms, members of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program can buy a share in Mr. Ehrich’s farm and receive a weekly box of mixed, fresh and all-organic vegetables.
   For a about $18 a week, an individual can either have their vegetables delivered or they can come to the garden, where they can pick their own share and enjoy the aesthetics of the property while they’re at it. The latter is Mr. Ehrich’s ultimate goal.
   ”We want to get people involved — we don’t want to be a shopping center or catering facility; we want people to be a part of this place,” Mr. Ehrich said. “As far as I’m concerned, this is going to be their front yard.”
   Growing up in West Germany, Mr. Ehrich and his family never had a front yard. In the 1950s and 60s, lawns were a luxury few could afford and the Ehrichs were not among them. Instead, his father had a small farm and Mr. Ehrich, his brother Herb and sister Gisela would often be out picking a variety of berries and digging up potatoes in the field.
   The Erichs immigrated to New York in the 1960s and from there, both Mr. Ehrich and his brother graduated from Rutgers University and went on to form their successful L & H pool and spa construction company. The 15-year-old company has won over more than 50 awards and garnered high profile clients that pay the Ehrichs millions of dollars for their work.
   ”But people like that don’t really appreciate you. I built a pool that won best in five states and the guy never even said ‘thank you,’” Mr. Ehrich recalled. “So, I’d rather grow vegetables because those people really appreciate you. When you’re an immigrant, you don’t care what you do, which is why I’m very happy picking a box of vegetables.”
   The Ehrichs will always have L & H Pools, but plan on focusing on the vineyard and the gardens. For Mr. Ehrich, the business that has earned so many accolades seems to be becoming simply more of a means to fund the vineyard and the expansion of his CSA program.
   ”This box of vegetables will feed a family of four for the week and that beats beating your head against a wall for a guy who doesn’t appreciate you in pool construction,” he added. “That’s the difference.”
   Mr. Ehrich said his current endeavor has “gone from 0 to 90 mph in the last six months” and has already cost him “millions.” The Ehrichs picked Chesterfield to build Paradise five years ago because of its rich soil quality, but Mr. Ehrich was still shocked at how quickly everything flourished.
   ”It floored me; I felt like I was in the Garden of Eden,” Mr. Ehrich said. “The stuff is growing like crazy and it was very encouraging to see that.”
   The CSA program is barely a year old, but members can already expect to look forward to new features and benefits. They already put up four greenhouses to launch its Winter CSA for the next winter season so members can receive seasonable vegetables all year round.
   Alejandro Tovar, the farm’s manager, already has big things planned for gardens that would make their selection stand out from the rest. He plans on offering items that are uncommon in supermarkets, such as Jerusalem artichokes, heirloom tomatoes and broccoli raab. Mr. Ehrich estimated they would probably be boasting around 90 different types of vegetables.
   Members are able to sign up on Paradise’s website and pay the membership through PayPal. The individual share runs at $387 a year and the family share is $684 for twice the supply. An e-mail listing that week’s harvest will be sent out every Monday so members can plan that week’s meals.
   Mr. Tovar is also considering doing a “Pick-Your-Own” for next season and Mr. Ehrich said members could expect farm fresh eggs in June. He is currently toying with other ideas such as opening a Paradise Organic Farm store on Route 9 in Manalapan for non-CSA members, raising fish in the vineyard’s pond, creating horseback riding trails and adding livestock to the mix.
   To Mr. Ehrich, the ideas and possibilities are endless and it appears he doesn’t plan on stopping his efforts any time soon.
   ”I will do so until I kick the bucket. When I’m 6-feet-under, then I will be finished and retired,” he added. “I will do whatever it takes, it doesn’t matter.”
   For information on Paradise Vineyard and Gardens of Chesterfield, visit www.paradisevineyard.org.