Who We Are

Meet Jamie and John Bender — a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, business owner, educator, collector, gardener, and professional DIY-er who have turned their property into something truly special.

Jamie is a retired Director of Student Services and former special education and sixth-grade science teacher. While she continues to work part-time in consulting, her favorite titles will always be “Mom” and “Mimi.” Her love of living off the land was inspired by her mother, Dixie, who had a gift for taking almost any ingredient and canning, drying, preserving, or preparing it in a way that made it taste heavenly. Today, Jamie’s favorite things to grow are her flowers — Dahlias, Peonies, Tulips, Ranunculus, and, at the very top of her list, the whimsical Cosmos.

John is a business owner, stamp, sport card, and antique collector, dad, grandpa, and lifelong professional DIY-er. He built their home from the ground up, along with nearly every structure found throughout the property. His inspiration for transforming their land from simply a wooded forest into something more came from his late father, Jack (John). John’s favorite things to grow include potatoes, currants, elderberries, raspberries, and, of course, rhubarb. He’s also known for his sourdough bread and the many creations that come from it.

What started as a hobby has grown into a family-owned farm. Married for 29 years, John and Jamie share a passion for fresh, organic, wholesome food and take great pride in the way they grow, prepare, and enjoy it as a family.