Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm is dealing with a remission of cancer. Photo: CUESA
A lot of people in the Bay Area farming and restaurant community were saddened to hear that Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm in Dixon has experienced a relapse of multiple myeloma, a form of cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Walker, an English native who often holds court from his farm’s corner spot at the Saturday Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, first got the diagnosis a couple of years back and underwent treatment until he was declared cancer free last fall. Unfortunately, he’s back to radiation and chemotherapy after his doctors discovered that it had returned.
“Thankfully there are treatments. It’s not gonna kill me. It’s just debilitating and time-consuming and expensive and worrying for the family,” says Walker, whose farm produces a range of organic vegetables and fruit, pasture-raised eggs, lavender and wheat. “I’ve got things to do. I’ve got the farm to run. I’m excited about the farm and the future.”
Walker and his wife, Lorraine, just hired someone to step in and cover for Walker while he’s undergoing treatment. In recent years, the farm has expanded its outreach with separate businesses like Drinkwell Softers, a line of fermented sodas, and the Ice Box, a soft serve ice cream and soda truck.
“I have the most amazing people that work for me and family and the most amazing, understanding customers,” he says.
One of the farm’s CSA members is actually on his team of UCSF oncologists. She assured him that he was in good hands.
Still, his medical care is expensive and the deductibles keep adding up. Two years ago, CUESA, which runs the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, hosted a fundraiser with Tacolicious to help cover medical bills.
“The best thing people can do is buy produce from us and support the farm in any way they can,” says Walker.