The chickens got an update for ya’ll. Read below

Guess What? Chicken Butt! Guess Why? Chicken Thigh. Guess Where? Chicken Hair! Guess When? Chicken Hen! Guess Who?

You're Investing In:

What: New Farm, Expanded Delivery Menu, Youth Program, Dog Shelter + Camp on unfarmed land

Why: To offer expanded fresh CSA/farm food delivery to you in NYC, foster community & help how we can

When: Projected for late spring 2025

Who: Us together. You, me + people I've worked with

Reward for your support: Inclusive full access key to my farm/vacation on a reservation system for everyone & free founder's membership for food delivery (limited, first come first serve). Share this project with your friends so they can join you. Donations logged. Support on sliding scale & based on what you believe. Higher donations will be honored with priority reservations and menu voting as gratitude. Doors open to all, input taken from everyone!

I reflected on how I can show gratitude and what I can offer in return. It is only fair I share what we build together. I think it's more fun than a t-shirt, but I'm happy to make those too if everyone wants.

Sample menu, project goals, about me, finances and more info below!

LONG STORY SHORT

I'm really excited to be expanding and starting my own new farm. I've learned a lot and appreciate all the experiences from the farms/owners I was involved with. Building upon this mixed foundation of farmwork and farmer's markets, I'm stoked to build out a service designed for you based on years of feedback. My friend has 40 acres of land available which is perfectly suitable for this project. I'm inviting you to join me on this journey. All backers of this project will receive electronic keys and enjoy full access to the farm on a reservation system. Mi casa es su casa. My farm is your farm. Come visit the farm, we're all about checks and balances. Enjoy everything the surrounding outdoors has to offer.

Building upon the current reservation system, I will offer direct personal CSA/food order delivery. We will expand to offer more broth/soup flavors, more pot pie flavors & increased availability of chicken/turkey. We will also build a greenhouse to offer year-round microgreens! The CSA delivery will offer products from other local farms to fill in the gap. The goal is to offer food that is lip smacking good while maintaining quality. We have standards around here, you should too. The average age of a farmer is 58, so now is the time to take action in order to benefit our future generations. All unfarmed land will be used as a dog shelter/camp. It's not what I know or who I know that matters. It's not what I do. It's what WE DO. Let's get eggcited.

This project/campaign will share a lot about me because I understand when you’re supporting a farm, you’re investing your hard-earned money in the farmer to work for you. I sincerely appreciate that. That’s why we’re going to get familiar.

BACKED BY THE FARMER'S HANDSHAKE GUARANTEE. THE OLD SCHOOL WAY

SHORT STORY LONG

We are building a bigger sustainable playground and garden for our chickens, while adding some more friends to the flock! They’ll thank you with more eggs, a token of appreciation! This will be offered as part of a diversified CSA/personal delivery (read below) which I will develop, in addition to markets. The added pasture/land, infrastructure and heating will mimic their natural environment conducive to their comfort. Optimal conditions for their everyday frolicking directly translates into a high yield of tastier and healthier eggs; a linear relationship. Our chickens run around freely outdoors in the grass while having access to shelter and quality nutrition. Its straightforward: the safer and happier they feel, the better and more eggs. The goal is to let them be themselves; thus humanely treated. Leave the hard work & science to us, we got you covered.

Simultaneously we are expanding to offer a greater selection of delicious goods without compromising quality. To keep doing what we’re doing on a bigger while still living life one acre at a time. You can have a say in what we will offer!

Restocking YOUR food pyramid. Making your fridge into a farmer's fridge with home CSA farm food delivery

You may have met me at one of the NYC farmer’s markets and I want to bring you along on this journey with me; my new farm, so tap in! I’m tired of telling people we are sold out of produce, especially eggs and bone broth! “Outa Yolks, Folks” has got to come to an end. We need more resources to accommodate this. The reality is we have to pay for the chickens to play. We have a proven concept, time to get back in the saddle. The goal post has moved, we are getting behind the 8 ball to expand! Join me in building a bigger playground and garden for the chickens with a backyard feel - a sustainable farm with higher yield. The chickens agree, they told me so.

These are charming but will probably be changed to electronic entry codes for your convenience

This farm project will follow a mi casa es su casa concept. Everyone part of this effort will enjoy inclusive access to the farm, housing and facilities for leisure & group events (think retreats, workshops, weddings, gathering…) Keys will be sent to you on a reservation scheduling system. Even if you’re out of state, you can align yourself with the mission & movement. There are offerings that overcome distance, such as online recipes and workshops. You’re also always welcome to plan a retreat vacation to the farm. Enjoy the outdoors & what nature has to offer; be a farmer for a day, do barn or pasture yoga, swim, hike, make campfires, boat, ski & more. Many places off the beaten path attract similar kinds of people & it’s nice to share experiences with like-minded individuals.

campfire ring made out of glass bottles

Inspired by the Spanish concept introduced to me by chef Francis Mallamnn, I want to form a maitranza. This is a group of like-minded people around you, sharing a similar vision and helping each other. It is a goal oriented, wholesome, romantic and cohesive way to overcome hurdles as a team. Creating something is like tending to a campfire. To keep the fire going you have to keep burning things, and in this warmth you reinvent. Sometimes cooking in the high flames and other times on the seasoned low heat coals. Join the maitranza, mi casa es su casa, my farm is your farm. I want a farm where all of you can escape to.

Maitranza during pandemic market

We Have Standards Around Here. You Should too.

There is a particular story I’d like to share; an experience which coupled with others over the years of bouncing around farms has formulated my personal creed. It’s a non-negotiable standard and one of the reasons I choose a humane approach on my land. There was an organic livestock farm I helped out on. Everything seemed fine until I witnessed two events. One day I went to the local post office and they recognized me. “We’ve been trying to contact the owner for days, their voicemail is full. Your baby chicks are here for pickup.” I was shocked. Several day-old chicks shipped in boxes without food/water. I took them right away and luckily most survived. Soon after, I saw the farmers castrating animals (unfortunately a common practice) way past the correct timeframe. The farm was short staffed & waited too long; the animals were too old to go through this. They didn’t even use any local anesthetics or pain medications. It was horrendous and etched in my mind.

I promised myself I would implement way different farming and business practices on my land. Over time I hope to reshape industry standards elsewhere. It is a privilege to oversee land and animals, something I take very seriously & personally. Leaving the city & seeing where our food comes from really challenged and restructured my views. I strive & maintain to not be disconnected any longer. I learned that sustainable farming means to take care of the environment, land & its inhabitants. To grow vegetables & raise animals harmoniously, balancing and replenishing soil chemistry. Being stewards of the land. As long as there are living things under my care, it is my mission to facilitate the best possible life for them. That is the difference between professionals and amateurs. The difference is not within the pay. Because let's be real, no one goes into farming to become rich. The difference is within the standards used. It's good to keep elevating the standard, because if I don’t miss the standard once in a while, then it's too low. The goal is to always be improving.

Animal Shelter

Doing & managing farmer’s markets for 5 years, I enjoyed welcoming people to the stand as if they are visiting the farm itself or taking a seat at our family thanksgiving table. The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach; food brings us together. Supporting local eco-friendly farms is also one of the most direct ways to save the environment. Doing markets during the pandemic taught me how important local produce is since deliveries to stores from other states were very delayed; supermarkets were empty. This ties into the theory on why NYC is called "the big apple". If the country was an apple tree, then NYC would be the biggest apple taking most of the sap & resources. I grew up in NYC and love this place to death, but we have to start supplying more of our own food. We have to get more of our youth active and spend less time indoors, which I'll be happy to facilitate through short trips to our farm.

My mission is to develop this farm with a multi-tiered system in phases. Once the infrastructure is in place I will build vegetable greenhouses, implement educational programs for the youth, community workshops, agricultural research partnerships with local universities, host laid back dinners with live music & start a dog shelter with the extra unfarmed land. Seeing all the dogs at markets in the city, I want to facilitate a dog camp for them to enjoy the outdoors & stay at while their owners travel. This will be a destination to cultivate with intention, play with purpose, relax and enjoy the scenic outdoors nearby. Afterall, farming IS playing with a purpose.

Come along on the road trip with us

Acknowledgment: We all have our own food pyramids, nutritional needs, preferences and backgrounds. This project transcends that. It is my creed to provide ethically grown food from pesticide free produce and happy animals raised harmoniously on our land. I am not here to convert & recalibrate people’s dietary compasses, but instead offer the highest quality food produced morally. We are all more similar than you realize, and I aim to provide delicious variety for everyone. Thanksgiving marks the end of the busy farming season and with the change in the season I reflect on our community’s needs for next year.

Some of the food we will offer:

(the rest to be voted on by you)

Feed the soul! Forkyeah!

Chicken & beef bone broth. More chicken & beef soups/stews to follow!

Fun fact: Scientists discovered honey in King Tut's pyramid. Although intended for his after life, they happily ate it. Low in pH and water content, raw honey never expires.

Talk Fresh to Me

Building upon the current tightknit and personal market reservation system based on texting, I will spearhead a personal CSA delivery system streamlined through a website. We’ll still be a text away, no worries. CSA is community supported agriculture, where you get to pick a custom designed mix & match box of fresh produce available that week, delivered to you! Available will be a wide selection of produce on top of our current offerings: fresh year-round humanely treated chicken & turkey from happy animals, variety of pesticide-free vegetables, dairy, bone broth, pot pies & raw honey. We will partner with neighboring farms to fill in the gaps and transport the goods to you; small farms that otherwise have no distribution and would never get their delicious product into NYC.

This will be fresher than farm to table, it’ll taste more like bringing and filling your plate right at the farm. I want you to have a farmer’s fridge. Starting each meal with quality, fresh & delicious produce will turn you into a chef; it would be very hard to screw up alongside our provided recipes. Additionally, you won’t have to wake up early and rush to market before something is sold out. Want to sleep in? Go to your yoga class or morning café. Stay up late the night before. I got you covered with reservations/CSA delivery, enabling equal access to everyone. This service will include an online link to a livestream showing where your food comes from. You can see the chickens frolicking on pasture, veggies grown from seed to harvest and more!!! We’re all about checks and balances.

We can do a lot better! A lot left to be desired in food industry

Everyone throws around all these terms: organic, natural, grass fed, free range, non-gmo. What do they actually mean? Buying food from the markets/stores, we are disconnected with what’s actually happening. Big corporate farms and food related business are doing gymnastics through the loopholes in our legal system. Quite frankly, we should know what’s going in our mouth, where it’s coming from and who is growing it.

Food sovereignty should be the status quo, not an afterthought.

Alarming facts & loopholes in conventional farming:

-by law eggs are allowed to be up to 60 days old when sold in store

-The grass-fed label is misleading. It only requires the animal to be fed a grass diet for part of its life & can be supplemented with grain. Look for grass-fed & finished!

-“cage free” only requires 1.25 square ft of floor space (not even grass) per hen

-There are over 1000 different varieties of bananas in the world. However, the Cavendish variety is what you’ll find in stores because it is most commercial and economically profitable. This applies to all foods with varying degree, but imagine all the biodiversity and taste we are leaving off the table

-the average age of a U.S farmer is 58

-over 900 different synthetic pesticides are allowed in conventional farming. USDA organic still allows 25 synthetic pesticides

-food travels for an average of 1500 miles from origin to consumer. 50% of produce in NYC is imported from California. Considering their frequent droughts, this has got to change. It’s not reliable nor is it environmentally friendly

Don’t let California feed us

When the grass is greener on the other side, water your grass more

One of the most amusing questions at farmer’s markets in NYC is if we have avocados for sale. So yes, for that we have to import from California (we love you). The beauty of markets is we have to grow everything we sell, and mother nature just isn’t warm enough in the northeast for avocados. But most other things we can grow ourselves so let's be more self-sufficient! This will alleviate the drought in CA and lower the carbon footprint resulting from distribution networks. There is more to NY than just NYC. NY has the biggest state park in the country. The Adirondacks in upstate NY are bigger than Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks combined. The difference? The Adirondacks is open to be used and has a lot of fertile land with established farms! Let's build more & foster a logical system.

Our food supply chain is so fragmented, why import 50% from out of state when we can build a dynamic network right in our backyard. We saw this firsthand during the pandemic. The average age of a US farmer is 58 so that’s why I want to step in, to equip the future generations and hand something down. The goal is to highlight and improve ingredients in New York City's melting pot by directly meeting food needs, cultivating self-sufficiency through regional agriculture and using local resources. This will enable individuals within communities to take charge of what they eat.

We all want to live the same dream. To eat food that is lip smacking good. Can I do it by myself? It would take forever. There is strength in asking for help. Let’s get eggcited!

Why farming? The forks in the road and what’s on my plate.

Yes, some people think I’m crazy to pursue farming. With extra spare time during the pandemic, many people found themselves pursuing new hobbies. Two of the top new hobbies were baking bread and gardening! This speaks for itself that food and nature intrinsically resonate within people; an innate attraction. People want to get involved. The missing link is the access & together we can bridge this gap. My journey started growing up in NYC, I remember yearning for nature because central park just wasn’t cutting it anymore. At 20 I finally hiked for the first time; Mt. LeConte in the smoky mountains. After studying pre-med, I found a farm up in the Adirondacks accepting volunteers and got a one-way 5 hour train ticket there. No experience, almost no money, just a burning desire and pair of new boots. Of course, that didn’t last long – this city boy got sun burnt like a tomato within 2 weeks. But it ignited a fire of curiosity within me once I saw what was out there. I learned to be ready to handle the heat if you want to stay in the kitchen - that's the recipe I had to follow to entertain my curiosity. After lots of aloe vera, I ended up driving across America visiting many farms for 2 months as part of the organization WWOOF (worldwide opportunities on organic farms). Shortly after, my mother passed away. Feeling lost, I committed to chasing my passion as I experienced how fleeting life and opportunities are. A small farm I volunteered on earlier called me saying their main worker quit, offering me the position. Needless to say, I packed my 1995 Subaru wagon and headed north. After the season was over, I had to come back to the city and help take care of my grandparents. My grandfather sacrificed a lot & raised me since my parents were divorced, so taking him to all sorts of doctor’s appointments really instilled in me the importance of health and not to neglect oneself. Quality food embodied this for me. Afterall, you are what you eat. I came to a critical realization: pay the farmer now or the big pharma later.

Some of my fondest memories were on the farm. Initially I romanticized it but soon all the hard work paid off. Simply put, growing and raising food helped me to grow within. The long physical days were filled with purpose, and I felt integrated into my surroundings. It is so rewarding to see your fingerprints along the entire pipeline, witnessing veggies and animals grow from start to finish, eventually selling the produce to people and restaurants. Farming familiarizes you with the circle and cycle of life, it is honest work, a linear relationship in which you reap exactly what you put in. This is what keeps me on track to pursue what I love. Within a 2 mile radius of the farm I lived on, there was a creamery, brewery, vegetable farm, beekeepers and a bakery. Everything we consumed was produced within walking distance; this is something I really value and miss. The farm store was self-checkout and never manned, open 24/7. People left their cars unlocked and keys on the dashboard. Coming from the city, I was stunned, but quickly saw these ethics and morals translated into the purest quality produce. The lazy guard dog imported from Mongolia always offered the warmest cuddles and would escort you around the farm like a gentleman. There was a tropical herbal smell inside the greenhouse where you can nap after eating lunch. The tastiest and most memorable meals of my life were when halfway through a rigorous day, the farm owner yelled “LUNCH” and this echoed across the fields. The crew would gather and enjoy her cooking; fresh recipes including handmade pasta from scratch. Collecting fallen bruised apples from the orchard and feeding it to the animals. Watching mother animals cross nursing each other’s offspring. Reading the perfectly hand drawn maps made by my boss everyday using the truck tailgate as a table. They depicted the farm and daily tasks such as where to herd animals to. My friend pulling a fresh flower bouquet from her garden for my family whenever I'd drive back to the city. Spontaneously foraging on the side of the road and filling my cowboy hat with berries. Bartering eggs for bread with other farmers. Till this day I barter food with other farmers at market.

Eventually the pandemic hit and I was doing farmer’s markets in the city, living here fulltime. It was quite shocking to see how the supermarket’s supply chain was so disrupted, and more people came to market. Farms are the backbone of our society. No farms, means no food. You can see where a society's ethics and morals lie based on its food supply. Throughout the entire pandemic I was at farmer’s markets while also applying my pre-med college studies as a dental assistant and veterinary assistant part time to support myself and grandparents. Flirting with the boundaries of healthcare and farming: dealing with hungry people, dental patients and mistreated/sick animals solidified my dreams. I finally felt grounded. Going forward I want to entirely dedicate myself to agriculture and shake up the industry. With the average age of a farmer being 58, we need more involvement from everyone. That lands us here today. There is no wrong turn at the fork, only destiny. I’m ready to establish my farm at the end of this long road, with intention.

Hindsight is 20/20 but locked in on

the goal ahead with both barrels

Her husband draws a shopping list for them every market

I was lucky enough to co-organize & lead this class trip at market.

They even sang a farm song!

Pickpockets get treats at market. Paw right in my pocket!

I got to know many familiar faces and characters over the years. Although there were definitely some not so ordinary situations sprinkled and peppered throughout. One of the most fulfilling moments was co-organizing a kid’s class field trip to the farmer’s market from a local school near union square. They came prepared with a cute song. I hope to see more youth getting exposed to and involved in the food system. Another time, an EMT double parked his ambulance and bought a dozen eggs. Minutes later I thought he wanted a refund when returning with the carton. Noticing the carton was light, I opened it and saw tiny poked holes in each egg. He used a toothpick and then drank all 12 eggs raw. I suppose it's good he works in an ambulance. On a different day someone returned around 40 cartons. This time they were all empty without eggshells, soley recycling containers. Wonder how long that collection took and where they had all the space. All the gracious and grateful people in need we donated to and/or provided discounts on food to left a lasting impression on me. On thanksgiving people swear by the turkey weight they want. Most want the smallest, others pick an exact weight. We aim for a range but can’t just stop feeding the birds. Last year a family went from tirelessly emailing about a 12 pounder, but then on the last day opted for our biggest bird, a 26 pounder! I guess leftovers are the best part of any holiday. The creative puns that people tossed around: “Lettuce feed you”, “Let’s link up” & “Don’t you carrot all about me?” to name a few. A dad joke: “Why was the tomato blushing? It saw the salad dressing.” Someone actually sampled a Sungold once and said “Fantastic. I’ll take 14 pints right now!” It wasn’t for a restaurant, although getting large super last-minute wholesale orders from establishments was always an adrenaline rush. The grandmas that would share special secret recipes every week – absolutely priceless. A recipe another regular shared with us every Saturday: he would mix vodka with milk in a Gatorade bottle while walking his dog. He was really sweet and funny, plus it all made sense after he showed us photos of his rock band from nearly 50 years ago. Watching an elderly person carefully pack and cushion their produce, meticulously reorganizing the bags on their walker before a long trek home, saying “precious cargo over here” hit it home for me. Doing markets in all-weather conditions year-round and small restaurants graciously providing free food for us during the pandemic. A masked lady would walk around buying produce with a 5-foot stick extended, not letting anyone near her. All her change was requested to be put in a bucket, avoiding any contact. A homeless man once attacked us and the NYPD terrorism unit patrolled our tent for several hours as protection. A regular was facetiming me about what produce to pack for her flight to Florida and I said this probably won’t get through TSA. She told me it's going on her private jet. Jamaicans at market asking for callaloo (Jamaican spinach) seeds since we had a Jamaican worker on our farm. Trading seeds in general at market. Every week I would see a customer’s elaborate hand drawn shopping list with visuals, all curated by her husband. When I first started markets and never drove a huge box truck before in the city traffic, I was training for the first time on Canal street. Stuck in traffic, my trainer hopped out suddenly to go lychee shopping in Chinatown. I was solo driving for several blocks and right before I got onto the Manhattan bridge, he hopped back in.

To sum it all up

We sell the steak, not the sizzle. We’re farming in the future, which means farming in the past.

We well surpass the requirements for: pasture raised, cage free, non-gmo, rotationally grazed (move animals to fresh pasture periodically to allow for fresh nutrition & pasture/soil health regrowth) and regenerative farming. Using heritage chickens and heirloom non-gmo seeds for produce. This lends to taste, slow growth, long life, natural mating and genetic diversity. Lets not get too nerdy about it here, we have it figured out for you. You’ll be able to check it out on our live feed farm stream. Or come visit the farm. We’re all about checks and balances. We have standards around here, and you should too. The result will be nutritionally dense & delicious food at the intersection of agriculture, gastronomy & self-care. Leave the farming & science up to us, we got you covered.

There is no better time to build this than now. We do it for those that can’t, because together we can. It is not about what you know, not who you know. It’s not about what you or I do. It's about what WE do! Together with your help, along with an experienced team, we will get it done.

The Farmer's Handshake Guarantee

That's a season ya'll. I feel farming helps make me a better person

We’re farmer’s not bankers. We’re here to do our part with your support. Taking care of yourself with quality food has a direct ROI for you. The plan is simple, yet not easy. These are the approximate associated costs, and it will be done with full transparency. I hope this project can offset part of the hundreds of thousands it will take to get rolling. The margins on small organic farms are pretty tight, so I’ll have to execute effectively with a lean budget. We will cross the t’s and dot the i’s. Realistically we can only raise so much, the rest will have to be taken out in loans. Preferably we would like to have a deal with people aligned and interested in our project, you. Farming is generally capital heavy because of infrastructure buildout and land acquisition, but once properly built and the ball is rolling, it will sustain itself. The experienced team I have, including myself, will make sure of this. We will all reap the rewards soon after and as stated above, mi casa is su casa, my farm is your farm. Thats my farmer's handshake to you.

Early bird gets the worm

Dealing with agriculture, I've learned firsthand that in life timing is everything. That is why I'm trying to tackle this now, before hitting the average farmer's age of 58. The sooner we get off the ground and execute this project, the longer we can have a positive impact and hand something down to future generations. There is a right time for everything & I feel a synergy right now with all the moving parts to make it happen. I understand we are all at a different spot, so this is most definitely on a sliding scale. You can also always tap into this project at a later time as well. I truly appreciate any level of support.

At the end of the day this all done with you in mind. I’m all ears on feedback and advice. Tell me what you want to see happen & being offered. That’s the benefit of being a part of this project from the start; you can help mold it. What does it mean to be a backer of this project? Our visions align and you will have a say in the trajectory of this project. Things like menus, events, farm visits, programming & so on. Talk fresh to me, talk dirty to me. Say what’s on your mind! Closed mouths don’t get fed. No worries if you can’t donate now, sharing this project with someone that may be interested is just as helpful and moves it along in the right direction. I truly appreciate each and every single one of you. Thank you. We can do it. Toucan do it.

Food for thought - a farm hack: Can you tell if an egg is raw or hardboiled without checking inside? Hardboiled eggs spin easily and raw eggs barely spin, they wobble. Try it out yourself.

Risks & Challenges

A Recipe for Success, A Gut Feeling

Any business is inherently risky, let alone farming. If it was easy, more people would venture into it. I made a promise to see this through & I’m certain my experience, coupled with a team I personally put together, will propel us in accomplishing this together. Some of my favorite principles and quotes were instilled in me by my grandpa. I use them as my north star and let me share them with you. “No one drowned in their own sweat.” “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg.” “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” “Never leave the restroom without high fiving yourself in mirror.”

We also do have street cred around here. I’ve been part of many farms and oversaw wholesale accounts with top restaurants around NYC including 11 Madison, Tocqueville & ABC Kitchen. It was humbling to see our food used in the finest Michelin star kitchens and at private parties catered by personal chefs, but now I want to deliver this food directly to you. I’ve sought out advice from mentors and will continue to do. Experiencing the full scope of our food pipeline, from farming to markets to restaurants and having worked in catering helps me keep a pulse on the different facets in this industry and how each working part comes together. Studying biology/pre med has given me a great foundation I can apply and build on. Our team has collaborated with Cornell on agricultural research studies. Working in veterinary and clinical settings taught me critical thinking, focus, dexterity, office work & teamwork. Those of you that reserve food with me know I love staying organized. Farming and doing markets in all weather conditions showed me the importance of perseverance. Being a part of one of America’s busiest flagship farmer’s markets & managing multiple stands during the pandemic equipped me with what I want to apply while branching out into more communities across NY. I’m the person that would pack a spice pack in my apocalypse bag, I care about food, where it came from and where it ends up. Thank you for believing in us.

Updates on project to follow, stay in touch. I truly appreciate you taking the time to check this out.

See you around on the farm or in the city,

Gregory