Support Our Farmers
The fields on our Brentwood property that once were working farmlands are slowly being restored to agriculture. These farm acres are leased to six farmers who are required to use organic practices in their farming. The organic vegetables grown on our motherhouse grounds will be available this year for purchase by the local community at two farm stands:
Thera Farms
Farmer Teddy Bolkas will operate his farm stand every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. The farm stand is located near the main entrance to the property on Brentwood Road (near Commack Road). Teddy is selling lettuce, spinach, kale, scallions, radishes, broccoli, and fresh organic eggs this week.
FREE (Family Residence and Essential Enterprises)
Jean Reinhart and the participants from FREE will operate a farm stand every Wednesday and Thursday beginning July 12 (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM). The farm stand is located on the road near the 2nd Avenue entrance to the property (behind Building # 4). The proceeds from the sales are used to support the work of the program participants.
Meet Our Organic Farmers
Thera Farms: Teddy Bolkas, Farmer
Location: Nine acres near the main entrance
Teddy is growing all types of organic produce including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, spinach, kale, scallions, radishes, broccoli, snap peas, onions, garlic, beans, and several types of lettuce.
LINPI (Long Island Native Plant Initiative): Rusty Schmidt, Board President
Location: 1st Plot behind Building # 4
The LINPI staff will be growing plants that are native to Long Island and producing seeds for additional plants. Once native plants have been propagated in containers, they are transplanted to the founder plot on our property that will be used to produce modest quantities of seed for subsequent commercial scale production.
The Mosaic School Farm
: Laurie Murdock, School Farm Coordinator
Location: 2nd Plot behind Building # 4
The educational staff and student participants from The Mosaic School for autistic young adults planted more than 100 blueberry bushes. They plan to plant a variety of produce this summer. The purpose of their farm is to provide educational opportunities for the students.
FREE (Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.): Jean Reinhart, Farm Manager
Location: 3rd Plot behind Building # 4
The FREE staff and participants are growing all types of organic produce including tomatoes, several types of lettuce, peppers, eggplant, summer squash, onions, garlic, kale, shallots, Swisschard and herbs. Fall crops will include broccoli, peas, cabbage, carrots, beets, corn, andwatermelon. The purpose of their farm is to provide educational opportunities for the participants in both growing food and selling the produce at the farm stand.
Napolitano Family Farm: Gina and Daniel Napolitano, Farmers
Location: 4th Plot behind Building # 4
Gina and Daniel are new farmers. Daniel has been working on preparing the soil and planted oat seeds on their one-acre plot. The oats will be sold to a local craft brewery.
Organics Today: Michael Massino, Farmer
Location: Near the old ASJ tennis courts
Michael is the owner of Organics Today farm in East Islip. He has prepared the soil behind the old ASJ tennis courts to grow pumpkins this season. The three-acre pumpkin patch will be planted this month.
Please contact S. Karen Burke (Coordinator of Land Initiatives) at KBurke105@msn.com or 917-353-5153 if you have any questions about our farmers and the farm stands.
