SWEETEST JOBS AROUND.
ERIKA: THESE CAKE DECORATORS ARE IN THE ZONE.
>> IT IS A LOT ON YOUR FEET AND IT IS BUSY.
WHEN IT IS INSANE I CANNOT EXPLAIN IT.
ERIKA: JOHN OWNS PARTY FAVORS UNBROKEN LINE, ONE OF THE BUZZ HE ASKED AND BUSIEST PLACES AROUND FOR CUSTOM ORDERED CAKES AND CUPCAKES.
>> WE PROBABLY BAKE OFF AND FROST 800 CUPCAKES A DAY.
TAKES, 70, 80.
ONCE THERE WAS 300 ORDERS ON A SATURDAY.
IT WAS INSANE.
BUT EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT.
ERIKA: KEEPING EVERYTHING FLOWING IS A SCIENCE HERE.
>> FIVE PEOPLE TOUCH IT BEFORE THE CAKE IS EVEN DECORATED.
ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH.
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE.
ERIKA: HE GREW UP IN BROOKLINE AND WORKED AT PARTY FAVORS AS A KID.
>> I WENT TO THE CULINARY INSTITUTE IN NEW YORK.
FOUND MY PASSION WHEN I WAS 18 AND WAS A PASTRY CHEF FOR 10 YEARS.
ERIKA: AFTER MOVING BACK HOME, HE BOUGHT PARTY FAVORS IN 1994, EXPANDING THE BAKERY AND THE ATTACHED GIFT STORE.
TODAY HAS 28 EMPLOYEES INCLUDE HIS DAUGHTER.
MANY OF HIS CUSTOMERS ARE LOYALISTS.
>> THIS IS THE BEST.
THEY DID MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW’S WEDDING AND SHOWER.
I CAN THINK OF NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
IT IS NOT JUST TASTY, IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
ERIKA: MAKING THIS MANY GOODIES REQUIRES A LOT OF PREPARATION.
THEY MAKE UP TO 2000 POUNDS OF- BUTTER CREAM FROSTING IN A WEEK.
>> THE BUTTER BILL IS MORE THAN THE ELECTRIC BILL SOMETIMES.
ERIKA: DESPITE THE LONG HOURS, SMALL DETAILS CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.
>> IT IS THE WAY YOU GET IT TO SHINE, IT IS TRICKY.
CRUMBS ARE THE ENEMY.
ERIKA: THEY ALSO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF UNUSUAL ORDERS.
>> PEOPLE SCREAMED.
ERIKA: A CHAIR CAKE FOR A FURNITURE COMPANY.
>> IT WAS A FREESTANDING COCKROACH.
YOU CUT INTO IT AND THERE WAS WORMS COMING OUT OF IT.
IT WAS GREAT.
SHAYNA: GROCERY SHOPPING IS ANYTHING BUT A CHORE WHEN VEGGIES LOOK LIKE THIS.
SIENA FARMS SEES BRISK BUSINESS.
IF CUSTOMERS ONLY KNEW HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES TO GROW THE PERFECT PRODUCE.
>> THE CULTIVATION, THE PLANNING, A LOT OF THIS IS NICELY MECHANIZED ALMOST EVERYTHING IS STILL HARVESTED BY HAND AT OUR SCALE OF 45 ACRES.
SHAYNA: FARMER CURIS OWNS THE BUSINESS.
>> I GREW UP ON THE FARM.
THEY LET ME START THE FARM OUT OF COLLEGE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
NO ROCKS IN OUR SOIL.
SHAYNA: AN ORGANIC FARM PRIMARILY GROWING VEGETABLES, SIENA FARMS HAS A 500 MEMBER COMMUNITY.
IT IS CO-OWNED BY HIS WIFE.
THE FARM IS NAMED AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER.
HERE, OLD TOOLS ARE PUT THE PAST YEAR OR THEY WAIT TO FULFILL THEIR ULTIMATE PURPOSE, LIKE WEEDING.
>> I FEEL ONE WEED --
AS AN ORGANIC FARM WE DO NOT USE HERBICIDES.
WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT OTHER WAYS.
SHAYNA: THE WAR ON WEEDS INCLUDES A FLAME LEADER.
>> UPSIDE DOWN PROPANE GRILL TO SEAR OFF THE BABY WEEDS.
SHAYNA: A BASKET WEEDER.
>> WIRE BASKETS THAT ROLL THROUGH AND FLUFF OUT THE WEEDS.
SHAYNA: AND THE EXCALIBUR OF THE BUNCH, THE BRAND NEW FINGER WEEDER.
>> WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS FROM OTHER FARMERS.
EVERYONE KEPT SAYING THEY WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO FARMING WITHOUT ONE.
A TOTAL GAME CHANGER.
SHAYNA: WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GET FARMER CHRIS SO EXCITED.
>> THESE RUBBER FINGERS THAT GO LITERALLY RIGHT AROUND THE STEM OF THE CROP.
IT IS LIKE HAND WEEDING YOUR CROP MECHANICALLY.
SAVES A TON OF LABOR.
DOES A FINE JOB.
AND WE HAVE ZERO WEEDS.
SHAYNA: THAT MEANS BETTER PRODUCE FOR US ALL.
>> I USED TO SAY MY FAVORITE THING TO DO IN THE WORLD WAS HAND WEEDING CARROTS.
IT IS SATISFYING.
NOW MY FAVORITE IS THE FINGER WEED.
IRONICALLY, I MAY NEVER HAVE TO HAND WEED CARROTS AGAIN.
ANTHONY: WOW.
BACK TO PARTY FAVORS, HE HAS HAD A LOT OF OUTSIZED ASSIGNMENTS.
ONE OF THEM WAS JOHN SINGER SARGENT MADAME X WAS DONE WITH A GOLD FRAME IN A CAKE.
SHAYNA: ANOTHER WAS SO BIG THEY COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF THE DOOR.
THEY HAD TO TILT IT, THEN RAN AROUND TO CATCH IT TO MAKE SURE IT DID NOT FALL.
FAIR TO SAY AFTER THAT EVENT THEY ACTUALLY RENOVATED AND MADE THE DOORS MUCH BIGGER.
SHAYNA