Putting Down Roots

Starting and growing a farm is a huge undertaking.  It takes a certain level of insanity and perseverance in order to take a piece of land and turn it into a living thing.  Once Kevin and I got going here at Groundworks Farm it seemed to me that there was no turning back.  The land demands to be cared for, the plants need watering, the soil needs to be replenished with compost once it has used the energy it has to produce fruits and vegetables full of nutrients.  We are a small farm and do a lot of things by hand meaning that we really get to know pretty much every inch of the farm. We walk the farm on our knees pulling weeds and transplanting seedlings.  We lie down in the dirt inspecting the health of the crops. 

This kind of commitment to a place takes a lot of energy. Without long term security on a piece of land there is a lot that you cannot do with the farm and it can be limiting to the success of the farm.  Currently we lease the land that we operate on and over the past couple years we have been looking for land to buy. We have looked at farms all over the east coast, our needs being very specific.  The most important factors were a price within our reach, a farm with good high quality land suited for growing vegetables and proximity to people to be members of the CSA (there is a lot of cheap land in places with no people).  We literally looked at land for sale from Virginia to Maine. This winter all of the pieces came together for us. We found a property with 40 beautiful acres of flat, sandy rich soil; ideal of growing vegetables.  In addition to the tillable acres the farm has 14 acres of woods, a house and several small Outbuildings.  It was cheaper than anything else comparable we had looked at. We found out about this farm over a year ago but wanted to keep looking around.  In that year we did not find anything that met our needs like this property.  And so last week Kevin and I took a major step for ourselves and for the future of Groundworks Farm and purchased our very own farm.

The catch is that we will not be able to bring all of you, our wonderful members with us.  The farm we have purchased is on the Eastern Shore in Maryland.  

While we are thrilled to take this step, it is bittersweet for us.  We are sad to leave behind the connections we have made here and the support that we have felt from our friends and neighbors here in Pittsford.  All of you who have made the farm possible with your support.  At the same time we are excited about the new possibilities that this step will bring.  

It has been a privilege growing food for all of you over the past few years.  It is our sincere hope that the experience you have had with Groundworks Farm will motivate you to continue buying farm fresh food from other farmers.  More and more people are doing this good work.

Again, thank you.

Your Farmers,

Margaret and Kevin