April 8, 2009
Welcome to our new Farm Blog. It's my hope that you'll follow us through the long process of our quest to start a small scale (20 acres) organic farm, education center, and event space. We're proud to present our first entry and i've got a few people to thank and introduce first.

We're so overwhelmingly pleased that we have teamed up with Jason Stigal and John Botta. Both of these guys love working at the pace in which Green Planet does business and have made some outstanding connections within the community. Jason owns and operates Southport Seafood so we also get a great source for local seafood to serve our customers.  John, while learning more about production from our Farm Director, will also eventually take on the task of managing meats we produce on site. 

I also want to thank Katie Featherstone who has accepted the task of Farm Director (as well as Sous Chef). If you want to see someone smile from ear to ear, give them free run of a farm as soon as they are done with their Sustainable Agriculture Degree. Along with our "farm dogs", Pete Pagano, our existing farmer's Ben and Charles Keefer, and myself, we've got the start of a great team who is envisioning big things for GP Farms.

(L to R: Katie the Farm Director, Barley the Security, and Daniel the Managing Partner)

Our plans for this land are vast and most of it focuses around the obvious farming but also pays close attention to the educational aspects this venture has to offer. Each of us has our own dream for the property but one of the major concerns i have is to reconnect individuals with the land. I've spoken to many school groups and corporate suits about the benefits of going organic, using local produce, and minimizing waste and i'm shocked at the lack of knowledge people have regarding something as simple as where a tomato comes from. The plans for the future include year round produce (greenhousing), an aquaponics system (symbiotic relationship between fish and plants), biodiesel production and classes, educational trips, and the space will be available for events.

On day one out at the farm we walked the full 20-acre site (we're only farming the front 2 acres or so for this first year) and found incredible soil, some hidden smoke houses for tobacco, and even a landing strip for the land owner's prop plane. Almost immediately the front plot was tilled under and the soil was prepped. Soil samples were done and seeds ordered towards the end of March.

Our plans for crops in year one include:
Radish, Daicon, 15+ different types of greens, Edible Flowers, Rutebega, Beets, Scallions, Onions, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Pumpkins, Carrots, Snow Peas, several types of peas, Cucumbers, Melon, many types of peppers, various beans, Watermelon, Brussel Sprouts, Leeks, Parsnips, and over 40 different types of Heirloom tomatoes.