This season we have expanded our Apprenticeship program and have 3 great Apprentices. Jennifer LaMonaca is back for a second season and she is joined by Rob Eckman and Brooke McMinn. They are working hard and getting lots of “on the farm” training here at Fernbrook.
Fernbrook’s 2009 Apprentices — Jen, Rob and Brooke
Brooke installing the pig fence
Jen dropping spring cabbage
Rob running the farm shop
Tara and Jamie helping the crew plant lettuce
Fernbrook Farm CSA is located on the grounds of Fernbrook Farms in Bordentown, NJ. Fernbrook Farms has been in the Kuser family for three generations. The family-owned farm currently blends agriculture, horticulture, education and community. Besides the CSA, you will also find:
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Fernbrook Nursery Inc
A wholesale tree nursery growing shade and flowering trees, conifers, native deciduous azaleas, and general nursery stock
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The Inn At Fernbrook Farms
An historic Bed and Breakfast available for weddings, special events and overnight accommodations
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Fernbrook Farms Education Center
Offering summer farm camp, homeschool programs and year-round educational activities for children and adults
A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a natural fit at Fernbrook where they are dedicated to growing plants, connecting people to the land, and being involved in the community. Please visit our contact page to get in touch with someone at Fernbrook Farms.
Jeff Tober is the Farm Manager and is very excited to be managing the CSA. Before coming to Fernbrook, Jeff spent four years at Brookfield Farm in Amherst, MA where he was the Assistant Farm Manager. Jeff and his wife Becky Free are from Pennsylvania and are happy to be back in the Mid-Atlantic (with baby Hank!). Why don't you say a few words Farmer Jeff:
We have begun our 3rd growing season here at Fernbrook and we’re very excited to be adding acres and growing food for 240 families this season. There is undoubtedly a growing wave of demand for foods that are fresh, healthy, unprocessed and grown from nearby farms. Last season we had 26 weeks of distribution and provided over 50 different crops throughout the season for less than a dollar a pound. And although we are not a USDA certified organic farm, we grow using no chemical fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides. Our philosophy is to grow healthy food by growing healthy soils. We eat this food too and we simply do not believe in using chemicals!
We’ve been really fortunate to have a wonderful group of shareholders at Fernbrook. Every week we have people of all ages in the shop and in the fields. Besides getting loads of farm-fresh food, they have the opportunity to pick strawberries, visit livestock raised on grass (as they should be), pick flowers, buy locally grown goods and get in the flow of a full agricultural season on the farm. We know of some small children who turn their nose up at most veggies until they are in the fields eating snap peas and raspberries that they harvested. It’s all about connecting people with their food, and giving them an excellent value for their food dollar.
So please check out more information about our food and our farm on the website and join the waiting list for a share for next season. And please contact us if you have any other questions about our farm. Thank you for your interest in locally grown foods!