Name:
Johanna Halsey
Company:
The Green Thumb Organic Farm
Contact info:
ph. (631) 726 1900, email: greenthumborganicfarm@gmail.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenThumbFarm, website: http://www.greenthumborganicfarm.com
How many years have you been in business?
Since 1961, 55 years
How did you get your start and what was your initial inspiration?
My dad, a tenth generation farmer, started the Green Thumb. My three siblings and I began transitioning to organics in the mid-seventies. My dad let his children forge ahead into organics, leaving many of his peers scratching their heads in bewilderment. Kudos to my dad. Others who inspired us were Rachel Carson, Rudolf Steiner and Wendall Berry.
What do you feel differentiates you from others in your field?
Each farm has its own “terroir,” or character, shaped and molded by the philosophy of the collective individuals. I feel fortunate that, in my case, my family shares the same vision: farm organically even if we lose crops due to weeds or pests. Farming organically is not always farming sustainably. Like the word “natural”, sustainability has become another “buzz” word.
What do you feel gives you longevity when there are so many options?
The farm’s longevity will continue with some of our committed 12th generation “kids” taking the reins - so we’re good to go for another generation! Yay!
How do you positively impact your clientele?
We keep it real and we keep it honest. We don’t “spin” what we’re doing.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love when my sister and I start seeding in the greenhouse in early March. It’s so peaceful and still remains exciting when the little seeds sprout and fill the greenhouse with green vitality! I love when the seasonal vegetables begin - the first asparagus, the first fava beans, the first yummy, drippy tomatoes, etc. It’s a calming reassurance that all is right with the world, the cyclical rhythms continue - no matter what! I love re-connecting with customers and the Green Thumb staff; we’ve traveled through births & deaths, marriages & divorces, sickness and everything in-between.
What is your favorite secret spot?
I would have to say it’s the farm, a place where I can still remember my grandparents and feel close to my dad, a place where my ancestors lived. It is the place for me to go to be recharged, to ask for guidance. In this quickly-changing, fast-paced East End, the farm remains steadfast, a sacred oasis that never fails to recharge my heart and soul.
How do you benefit mamas?
We listen to and value our customers’ wants/needs/and opinions. For instance, when someone suggests a particular product, we will track it down and add it to our inventory. Also, by farming organically and using biodynamic methods, we grow wholesome and nutritionally dense food - better for the consumer and better for the planet. Local does not mean organic. Someone once asked me why we bother to grow flowers organically. And, of course, the answer is because the chemicals leach into the ground water.
What is the most memorable feedback a client has given you?
When unsolicited customers thank us for what we’re doing and thank us for being here. It reconfirms what we’re doing, leaving us humbled and gratified.
Pay it forward and name your top colleagues in the same field or related field:
Just as it is important to be mindful of what you eat, it is also important to be mindful of your skincare. Skin is not only your largest organ but also the thinnest. It is highly permeable, allowing what you apply to your skin access to your bloodstream (and thereby to the rest of your body). My go-to person is Veronica Taylor, Skin by Veronica. She’s amazing. I also greatly respect Marders in Bridgehampton for their steadfast commitment to organics. You won’t be finding any Scotts or Syngenta at their place! What’s wrong with those pretty little dandelions popping up in early spring? The onslaught of chemicals to “get rid of that weed” baffles me! Dandelion tea is a great liver tonic, great for your skin, eyes and general well being. It begins with a shift in how we look at things.
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you? Or what is your "mantra" / words to live by?
Our words to live by: We value raising our children in a clean environment; we value preserving and improving the land for future generations and we value being part of the solution by farming organically.
As moms, the day can escape us, what is your best time-saving trick?
My kids are all grown now and so I’m fresh out of time-saving tricks. However, regarding children, someone once said to me, “The days are long but the years fly by.” Nothing is more important than raising healthy, inquisitive, honest and loving children. It’s what the world needs now. Their first and foremost role models are their parents.