We grow healthy certified organic food on our 200 acres in the town of Sherman, NY. Sherman is in Chautauqua County, 20 miles west of Jamestown, 90 miles south of Buffalo. Most of our acreage is wooded, but we are able to produce shiitake mushrooms in a hemlock grove. Our vegetables, herbs and fruits are intensively managed on a 1/2 acre near our house. 2008 was our first year having mushrooms and surplus veggies to take to market.

We use the Green Heron in our name because this unique species visits us each summer. We are also visited by the Great Blue Heron Music Festival each July, an event that has been Julie's primary business since 1992. The festival's use of the land has made it challenging for us to envision a farm. Almost every available piece of open land is needed for parking, camping, vending, or dancing. After Steve began to study Joel Salatin's farming methods, we realized that rotational grazing might be a possibility. Why not let animals eat our grass and start reducing the 20 hours it takes Julie's father to mow the festival grounds once around? We'd reduce our use of fossil fuels and grow healthy happy animals. In 2009 we have plans to utilize our open land, and neighboring pastures to start raising grass-fed beef, pasture poultry meat and eggs. During the festival the cows will be safely grazing on the far pastures of Heron Overlook.

When we got married in 2005, one of our goals was to grow as much of our own veggies and fruits as possible. Both of us had enjoyed gardening organically for years and shared beliefs about the importance of fresh, pure food. With our combined efforts, we are growing enough food to cross over from being gardeners to farmers. In 2009 we will increase vegetable production with the use of a new high tunnel greenhouse and more garden beds.

We are pleased to be part of the local food movement by providing an option to the industrial food system for our family, friends and community. We hope you will support us by visiting the farm or trying some of our tasty products in the coming seasons.