Party time at Good Bunch Farm

There was a party atmosphere at the second Farm Stand Friday at Good Bunch Farm in Shelburne Falls, MA. All that was missing was the music, but it was quiet to allow owner Dan Greene’s nine-month-old daughter Phoebe to sleep as he held her in her carryall and waited on customers.

In the space of an hour, about 20 customers came and went, happily browsing through the vegetable plants to put in their gardens or purchasing giant radishes or bok choy grown in two 96-foot hoop houses and one heated greenhouse on the farm.

The farm stand is open for the season from May through Thanksgiving, but Farm Stand Friday gives customers a chance to visit with Dan and his daughter and get farming questions answered.

Everyone smiled and waved to Phoebe as she watched them make their choices.

Dan is a first-generation farmer. When asked if Phoebe would grow up to be a second- generation farmer, Dan answered, “I’m not sure if she’s going to be a farmer. She could be anything she wants to be.”

If she’s like her dad, she could make anything happen that she wanted to.

Dan wanted to be a farmer. He graduated from UMass with a degree in plant soil and insect science in 2008. He grew organic vegetables on different rented pieces of land in the towns of Conway and Shelburne Falls. He gained a loyal following for his produce in area stores and restaurants.

He named his business Good Bunch Farm in 2012, keeping an eye out for land and a farm to buy. He bought what once was North River Bridge Farm in 2018, also known by the locals as the Johnson Farm. The farm had not been in production for decades, but Dan brought it back to life.

On the confluence of the North River and the Deerfield River, the farm offered 13 acres of good riverbed soil. He farms five acres of it, helped by two part-time employees and one Kubota tractor.

He had to completely renovate the 1850 barn and house. “The barn was full of stuff,” said Dan. “The hardest part was moving all my farm equipment that I had set up on rented land in Conway.”

Following sustainable practices, as well as keeping the retail business part of farming manageable, “all of my business is local, in Shelburne Falls and Ashfield,” he said. He brings his plants and produce to Ashfield Farmers Market on Saturdays. He used to set up his booth at Shelburne Falls Farmers Market on Fridays but he is too busy with Phoebe.

Carin Freeman of Freeman Farm in Heath, MA, also migrated from the Shelburne Falls Farmers Market to open her booth at Good Bunch Farm. She sells Freeman Farm’s grass-fed beef, organic vegetables, maple syrup and eggs. “When my daughter is here, she sells lemonade and baked goods,” Freeman said.

Colrain, MA, resident Tony Sperlonga was taking his time choosing between ‘Big Beef’ and ‘Jet Star’ tomato plants. “I’m a loyal customer,” he said. “I love it here.”

Dan has 16 families signed up for CSA shares.

As another plus, Dan’s Australian cattle dog Twyla greets customers with a huge grin, even if they don’t offer her treats.

For more information, access goodbunchfarm.com or freemanfarm.biz.

by Laura Rodley