Heron Pond Farm

In 1998, the farm began on a small two-acre plot of rented land at David Bachelder’s farm. By 1999, with the help of James and Jocelyn VanBokkelen, it found a more permanent home in South Hampton. The farm took its current form when Walter and Blanche Syvinski retired from Valley Acres Farm and turned operations over to Greg Balog and Andre Cantelmo. The VanBokkelen's commitment to open space has kept the land available, while the Syvinskis have been valued mentors in New England small farm practices. Over the years, the farm has grown and changed, aiming to become a permanent part of the landscape in southern Rockingham County.

The farm strives to be biological farmers, maximizing biological activity in the soil. They have developed management plans that keep air, land, and water in mind, growing a whole-farm ecosystem. They are one of the largest cover crop growers in the area and work with the Southeast Land Trust (SELT) to conserve parts of the farm. They are FISMA and GAP inspected and certified, with Water Use and Soil Saving Management Plans. A native pollinator protection plan has been implemented, developed with help from the NRCS and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. They fertilize almost all crops with organic, composted chicken manure and use biologically based pesticides, avoiding GMOs and not spraying leafy greens or berries. Weed control is primarily done with a flame weeder and tractor implements called cultivators. Non-biological pesticides are used only as a last resort, prioritizing the safety of employees and families on the farm.

The farmstand is open daily from May through November and Wednesday through Sunday from December through April. They participate in various farmers markets, including Portsmouth, Newburyport, Somerville Winter, and Seacoast Eat Local markets. Their summer CSA served more than 650 families in 2022, providing an abundance of produce each week from June through October. The farm is owned and operated by Greg Balog and Andre Cantelmo, friends from college who studied soil science and have been a team for more than twenty years.