Location: Town of Henrietta, Monroe County
Size: 57 acres
Description: Stonecrop Farm, founded in 2016 by Greg Hartt and Jenney Stringer, is the only certified organic livestock farm in Monroe County. The couple raise about 150-200 turkeys every year for Thanksgiving. They also have a year-round laying flock of 125 hens.
When they first purchased the land, it was both vacant and neglected, as it had not been farmed in over 15 years. Since owning the land, Greg and Jenney have grazed organic pigs on all of the fields and in large sections of their woods in order to remove invasive species, promote soil fertility, and encourage pasture growth. In recent years they shifted to focus on selling their organic turkeys directly to a loyal group of customers. The holiday birds sell out quickly every year.
“Our goal is that when we're gone, a new generation of farmers will be able to pick up where we'll eventually leave off so they can keep growing amazing food for the community,” Greg and Jenney shared in a blog post about their decision to protect their farmland.
The couple have been very active in the local organic farming community, and Greg served on the advisory committee for theHenrietta Farmland Protection Plan. Additionally, Stonecrop Farm received the Henrietta Architectural Heritage Award for saving and relocating a ~190-year-old timber farm barn to the property.
History: Greg Hartt was about halfway through a chemistry PhD program when he realized something… his true calling was as an organic farmer. He completed his PhD and immediately started training on other farms. In 2016, he and his wife, Jenney, bought the 57-acre property in Henrietta which is now home to Stonecrop Farm. You can learn more on their site: Home - Stonecrop Farm.
