ABOUT

Somerford Gardens

Founding

Somerford Gardens was founded in 2016.  After receiving his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State, Joe made the decision to take those self-driven skills which allowed him to complete 7 years of graduate school and start an organic produce farm.  The family moved west of Columbus to London and purchased a small piece of land to make the dream a reality.  Being raised on a dairy farm laid the groundwork for the farming bug, and recognizing the growing desire for people to have a connection to their food made the decision to stay small and grow organic easy.

Philosophy

Somerford Gardens is about taste and sustainability.  This means we are dedicated to finding the tastiest varieties for central Ohio, and grow them in a way that builds the soil.  The best soil makes the best vegetables.  We also utilize season extension techniques such as row covers, high tunnels and greenhouses to offer extended access to fresh produce into the spring and fall.

Why Organic?

We are officially a certified organic farm as of the summer of 2018, and have used all organic growing methods for fertilization and pest prevention since our founding.

This doesn't mean we substitute conventional products for organic and use conventional methods and thinking.  We are committed to continuously improving the soil over time, and believe that healthy, stress free plants are much less likely to fall prey to pests and disease.

In this era of shrinking diversity both in the plant and animal world, developing our little haven of bio-diversity is extremely rewarding and important.  

Organic controversy?

There may be some ongoing conflict and discussion around the organic movement, and there can be tension between the conventional farmers and those who have chosen to go organic.  There is a popular saying among those who oppose the organic movement that you "cant feed the world" by growing organic.  We don't pretend to know the answer to that question, but thats no reason why we can't feed our neighbors as healthy and delicious as we know how, and to us, that means organic.