Our Story
Where we began… How far we’ve come.
Saco River Farms began as a small homestead built out of faith, necessity, and a desire to live a simpler life. What started as a family effort to grow healthy food has grown into a natural foods farm and community market serving families across Maine.
Humble Beginnings
I didn’t grow up on a farm.
My story begins in a noisy suburb outside New York City. Some of my earliest memories involve helping my father plant tomatoes in our small front yard garden. Even though we lived in a difficult place and times were often hard financially, those simple moments left a deep impression on me.
One of the highlights of my childhood was visiting my grandparents in upstate New York. They were part of the “back to the land” movement of the 1970s and kept a small homestead with fruit trees, gardens, chickens, rabbits, ducks, and goats. Their pantry was always filled with the fruits of their labor.
Books like Grow It and Practical Homesteading fascinated me, and for a time I dreamed about that simple life.
But life eventually took me in a different direction.
Chasing the American Dream
As I grew older, my priorities changed.
Like many people, I began chasing the American dream — more money, more security, and the promise that if I worked hard enough I could someday retire and finally enjoy life.
I worked constantly, investing, renovating houses, and building what appeared to be financial success. By 2007 we seemed to have everything: properties, investments, and the appearance of stability.
Then 2008 happened.
When the financial crisis struck, nearly everything we had built collapsed. I faced overwhelming debt, the possibility of multiple foreclosures, and crushing stress. It was the lowest point of my life.
That crisis forced me to confront something I had been avoiding for years.
A Turning Point
In the midst of that storm, I turned to God.
What followed was something I can only describe as miraculous. One by one, situations that seemed impossible began to resolve. Properties sold that had no buyers. Debt was forgiven. Nearly two million dollars of financial burden disappeared without bankruptcies and without losing our home.
Through that experience I found something far more valuable than financial success — peace.
For the first time in years, I had clarity about what really mattered.
Seeing the World Differently
During those years I had spent a great deal of time studying markets, investing, and global economics.
What I began to see concerned me deeply.
Modern systems that provide food, energy, and essential goods are far more fragile than most people realize. If those systems fail, even temporarily, communities that cannot produce their own food will face serious hardship.
History has shown this many times.
It became clear to me that rebuilding local food production was not just a lifestyle choice — it was a necessity.
Back to the Basics
Around 2010, God led us to begin building what is now Saco River Farms.
At its heart, the farm is about returning to the basic needs that sustain life:
• shelter
• clean water and air
• healthy food
Without these things, nothing else matters.
What began as a small homestead to feed our own family slowly grew into a farm that now produces goat dairy, meats, eggs, and seasonal foods for our community.
Built on Faith
From the beginning, this farm has been built in ways that often seemed impossible.
Much of what exists here today came together through unexpected opportunities and provision. Equipment appeared when we needed it. Land became available. Solutions arrived just when we thought we had reached our limits.
Because of that, Saco River Farms has been built without debt, something almost unheard of in modern agriculture.
We believe that this farm exists for a reason far greater than ourselves.
A Farm for the Community
Today Saco River Farms is more than a place where food is produced.
It is a natural foods farm market, a working dairy, and a place where people can reconnect with the source of their food.
Our goal is simple:
To provide fresh, healthy, sustainable foods that families can trust.
But beyond that, we hope the farm also becomes something more — a place where community, faith, and practical skills come together to help people live healthier and more resilient lives.
Our Promise
Fresh, Healthy, Sustainable Foods
from our farm to your table.
That’s our promise.
Read the full version of the story here: Modern Day Homesteaders
Healthy, Sustainable, Fresh Food…
From Our Farm to Your Table.
That’s Our promise!
