Welcome to Ralston Farm, LLC !

My name is Bennett Haynes and I’m a young farmer in my second season farming independently in Mendham, New Jersey.

I’m lucky to be working together with Doug Moran, owner of Ralston Nurseries, Inc., a full service landscaping company that has been serving the area for over 20 years.  Doug has generously leased me a piece of his land and a greenhouse.

We strive to grow open-pollinated and heirloom varieties – vegetables which produce seeds that can be saved over the seasons.  Our vegetables are grown using only organic methods, but the farm is not certified. Instead of using a third-party certification, we hope you, the customer, will trust our practices by visiting the fields and seeing how things grow. I will never, in any circumstance, use chemicals.  The vegetables we sell are grown exclusively on our 1 acre plot.

Our farm stand – located at 327 Route 24 West in Mendham (across from the Ralston Firehouse)  is open on Fridays and Saturdays – please join our e-mail list for weekly updates on available produce.

Before returning home to start this small farm, I worked with an organic farmers network in Thailand called the Alternative Agriculture Network – Esan (AAN).  Small-scale organic farmers in northeastern Thailand are building a regional food system that can be revived in many places around the world.  The AAN organization and the farmers that make it up have inspired me to grow safe, healthy food for my local community.  My experiences in Thailand taught me about the productivity and efficiency of small-scale farms.

I’m also happy be able to manage the farm with family support and offer volunteering opportunities for community members.  The farm will be a safe and fun place for the local community to learn about more about food and farming.