John's Backstory - Part One: Inception

I count myself lucky to be able to make a living doing what I love – farming. Being a farmer is challenging, but immensely rewarding. My life has taken many interesting and sometimes unexpected turns, which have brought me to where I am today. Throughout all the adventures that led me to start my own farm, three guiding principles have been at the forefront of the decisions I have made: having tastier, healthier food; being in control of my own destiny; and being an active part of a community. 

This journey began after I graduated from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, with a degree in design and technical theatre. In 2007, I moved to New York City with Kate, then my girlfriend, now my wife, and landed a sweet gig as a lighting tech for the Howard Stern Show. I enjoyed the job, but I was stuck sitting behind a lighting board, staring at screens all day. I needed more physical activity. That’s when I discovered long-distance bicycling. Cycling not only gave me a fun way to exercise, it also became a serious hobby. I joined an amateur league, and was soon winning races as a category-4 road racer.

The more I got into cycling, the more I became aware of the food I was eating. The right nutrition was key to my performance as a competitor. I began to wonder, “Where does my food come from?” About that time, I visited a friend’s organic farm in Seattle, WA, where he lent me a book about our modern food systems and the food choices we face as consumers. That book – “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” by Michael Pollan – blew my mind, and totally shifted the way I viewed modern food production. As I prioritized and then sought out healthier food, I began to realize what a food desert New York City really was.

While my thought process about food and food production was evolving, my employment with the Howard Stern Show was in turmoil, with contracts for the whole crew due for renewal. Negotiations were kept tightly under wraps, and none of the employees were able to get information about when – or even if – contracts would be renewed. The days and weeks passed by, and the crew grew more stressed. By the time of the holiday break in 2010, the crew didn't know whether or not we would come back to jobs. This was not how I envisioned my life. I wanted to succeed or fail on my own terms, rather than on terms dictated by someone else. I wanted to be in control of my own path in life. 

The employment contracts were finally renewed, but I had already decided I wasn’t returning to the Howard Stern Show. My decision wasn’t solely because the job was not as inspiring as it had been, or even because of the uncertainlty of the contract renewal. I wanted a more fulfilling life, and was seeking a holistic change, a major shift. I was experiencing what I half-jokingly call my quarter-life crisis. 

Kate and I had gotten married in 2010, and together we planned a year-long bicycle trip around North America to visit small farms and breweries. I had also developed an interest in craft beer, and the idea of starting my own farm was already taking shape – I had been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. So, in the spring of 2011, we packed our bikes with gear and set off on a 6,000-mile adventure across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to discover how we could make farm life work for us. 

During our cycling excursion, I learned so much – about farming, and about myself. I learned the technical and logistical aspects involved in operating a farm, I explored how and why other people chose to farm, and I gained insight into the benefits and challenges of farm life. I found myself slowly being folded into the “back to the land” movement. I was becoming part of a community of farmers, many of whom were first-generation, career-change farmers, with the same set of core values, beliefs, and commitments that I held. 

After the bike trip, I had a clear direction for the path I wanted my life to take. Owning and operating my own farm business would allow me to be intimately connected to the place where my food came from. It would allow my entrepreneurial spirit to run free, and give me the chance to succeed – or fail – on my own terms; I would be the one in control of my own destiny. Farming would allow me to be part of a community of like-minded folks who were all working toward a common goal. I had learned that our health and the health of our planet is directly tied to the food we eat and the soil it grows in. I wanted my life’s work to be dedicated to this idea, so I could leave the world a better place for my kids, and for future generations. 

Now, with my direction firmly set, the great task before me was to start a farm…

Read about how I started my first farm business in John’s Backstory - Part Two: Starting My Farm.