‍ “The Captain and the Farmer”  sounds like a good summer novel, full of rich characters and earthy plot lines. In reality, the characters are a local husband and wife team who are living the dream, on land and sea.

Patrick Gormandy is the Captain, who owns the shrimp boat, Captain Sam B, which was his Grandfather’s name. Patrick began shrimping as a child with his father, worked with his Dad for years, and when Dad retired, he purchased the boat, left his other job, and began Shrimping full time. His wife, Kathy, the Farmer, explains,“ He was never as happy as when he had just come in off the water.” Heritage Seafood, the business name, is a tribute to his carrying on the family tradition.  

I found Heritage Seafood years ago on Facebook when he posted about selling his freshly caught shrimp right off the boat. I rushed down to Fairhope Docks Marina, at the end of Seacliff Drive, and loaded up my ice chest, with beautiful heads-on shrimp. I was reminded of my childhood when we used to buy shrimp directly off the boats on Dog River, so I now follow him on Social Media and arrive exactly when the boat comes in.  

During the shrimping season, the Sam B. docks around twice a week with affordable (large $5 to $6 a pound) and so fresh, they were swimming into the nets that day. In the early days, I was one of 3 or 4 customers but the last time I went down to the Marina, there was a long line and he frequently sold out in an hour or two. Enabling customers with the unique experience of purchasing the freshest seafood possible is the name of his game.

The above-mentioned wife, Kathy, is the Farmer. Kathy bought a home and a 3-acre farm in 2016, as a single mom, with dreams of being a farmer. When she married Patrick in 2017, P and K Farm was conceived. She started growing vegetables and herbs for her family and the local community. Adding flowers to jazz up her farmers market booth, she found that her petals were the most popular of her produce. She steadily expanded her flower production and now sells wholesale to florists and retail shops and directly to the consumer. I purchased 4 bunches of beautiful zinnias, sunflowers, and cosmos from Kathy last week and she delivered them to my door. I loved that the flowers were picked that morning, just like my shrimp swimming in the Bay, FRESH!

Kathy said her goals for P&K Farms include expanding production area and doubling spring flower output next year while continuing to build soil health. “We have invested in new equipment which will allow us to scale up to meet the demand for fresh locally grown flowers in our area. We plan to create a flower studio and workshop space to facilitate classes, hands-on activities, and events for our customers.  

I also have a children's book coming out this fall called David's Farm- Healthy Soil. It is inspired by my son David who is often by my side in the field. It is a soil-focused children's book that touches on compost, worms, beneficial insects, and how healthy soil grows the best food and flowers. It will be available on my website, on Amazon.com, and Barnesandnoble.com “ 

Patrick and Kathy both grew up in the Scenic 98 Coastal area, she in Loxley and he in Mobile. They first met in high school at McGill Toolen when they were in the band together, They reconnected 20 years later and have been happily married for 5 years. Working on the land and sea, hands-on with nature and the environment, all while doing what they love and making a living.  Who could ask for anything more? 

Find them on :

Facebook: Heritage Seafood, LLC- Captain Sam B

Instagram: @heritage_seafood_llc

Website: www.pkfarmlife.com

Facebook: pkfarmlife

Instagram: @kathyzitnik

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