Cultivating Connection
Most mornings at Green River Preserve, Campers board the cheerfully painted “Carriot” and head straight for our GRP Farm. Along the way, they hum camp songs and dream of tasting wild onions, crunchy carrots, fragrant edible flowers, or the elusive pink lemonade blueberries. Once they arrive, they sometimes sink their hands into rich soil to unearth potatoes before rinsing off in the river that skirts our fields.
The Heart and Hands Behind the Fields: Meet Farmer Geoff
Farmer Geoff Whitesides began his journey into regenerative agriculture in 2007 in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Drawn to the power of small-scale, diversified food production, he witnessed how local cultivation can strengthen community bonds from farm to market to table. Since first visiting GRP in 2017, Geoff has embraced our mission—teaching campers the responsibility and joy of nurturing both land and community while feeding them delicious, homegrown produce.
Farm to Table: Edible Adventures at GRP
Each Mentor Hike to the farm reveals something new. In the herb garden, Campers inhale the scent of oregano and thyme before sampling green beans and “wizard fingers.” They peer into Cobba the Hut, our handcrafted pizza oven nestled among hundreds of white bees, then wind through rows of apple trees, blueberries—especially our signature pink lemonade blueberries—and a lush orchard. In warm months, buzzing honey bees and other insects illustrate the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem.
Wild Neighbors and Barnyard Buddies
Our barnyard is home to chickens and runner ducks eager for gentle hands, three playful pigs, and our long-time residents Elvis Pigsley and Kevin Bacon, who prefer napping under the shade. Goat pens invite head scratches and friendly headbutts, while a couple of sweet farm cats prowl the fences. This season even brought a nest of four baby birds, growing stronger by the day—a perfect mirror of the campers who arrive hesitant and leave brimming with confidence.
Join the Journey
The GRP Farm is more than rows of vegetables—it’s a classroom under open skies, led by Farmer Geoff’s passion and expertise. Whether you’re a Camper discovering the magic of seeds or an adult reconnecting with the land, this living classroom awaits. You can support our agricultural and scholarship programs by joining us at our next Farm Feast, coming this fall on October 4-5 (visit our Events page for more info). Together, we can cultivate growth in both soil and soul.