Lindeken Farms was started in 1949 by Jim Stanlick and his wife Dot. The name - erroneously thought to be their last name - was derived from the couple's first two children, Linda and Ken. With produce offerings of little more than sweet corn, tomatoes, and squash, they built their business "from the field up" until their oldest son, Ken (half of the namesake), became partners with his father in 1971. It was then they added annual bedding vegetable plants and flowers and the much sought-after Mother’s Day hanging baskets. In 2003, sole ownership passed to Ken and his wife, Nancy.
In a time of dwindling farmland and fewer and fewer farmers in general, Lindeken Farms was a fixture in the Berkshire Valley section of Jefferson Township. Lines often formed outside the farm stand on Route 15 and Berkshire Valley Road on a weekend morning just waiting for the doors to open. It became the summer job to have and was like a family. Both of Ken and Nancy's daughters and two of their three grandchildren worked there, not to mention so many others who still keep in touch with the family today.
When Ken decided to hang up his straw hat at the end of the season in 2017, he knew he wanted Lindeken Farms to live on. He was thrilled when two young couples with lofty aspirations in the farming industry stepped up to show interest. Ken is proud to pass the torch to the next generation of farmers and is thrilled for the expanded offerings and emphasis on local growers that Joe Briganti, Tom Moke, and their wives are bringing to the store.
Changes on the farm
Tom and Joe are looking to make some environmental changes to the farm. The farm was always run in order but there’s new information and systems that are announced every year. This year the farm will be adapting to a new water system, a new way to protect their crops without the use of any harmful pesticides, and they plan to offer a CSA program.
The new water system will allow for water run off to go to targeted areas and not effect a main water source. As the water runs off from crops it can sometimes pick up any debris that it passes by. To ensure that the water doesn’t contaminate the area’s main water source, (comma) a new water system has been made by a group of engineers.
A new water system isn’t the only change being made to Lindeken Farms. Tom and Joe have planted a new crop of plants over the plants and vegetables that they will harvest. The added crop of plants is to disinterest any bugs from the fresh produce growing underneath. The plants serve as a food source for the bugs while the fruits and vegetables grow underneath. By the time the produce is ready to be harvested it will surpass the decoy plants. These are all great changes being made here at Lindeken Farms. If anyone is ever interested to see these changes for themselves feel free to ask Farmer Tom or Joe for a tour.
Lindeken Farms jumped on the CSA program that many other local farmers have begun. The CSA program is short for community supported agriculture. Our Farm Share program is a co-op that offers fresh and local produce from our fields right to you. Each week during the growing season, we offer you hand selected fruits and vegetables, in portions that are perfect for your family. Our program is designed to offer you the highest quality produce picked during the peak of the harvest, especially for you. Bring home a taste of the farm each week and enjoy delicious, farm-fresh produce.
Aside from getting great and fresh produce every week you’re also helping the environment. By supporting your local farmers, you help reduce the carbon footprint that’s put on the world from the food trading industry. When you don’t buy from big corporations you reduce the carbon footprint because at a local farm we don’t send our produce overseas or to the other side of the country.
Kathryn Brennan is a senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Tom and Joe are looking to make some environmental changes to the farm. The farm was always run in order but there’s new information and systems that are announced every year. This year the farm will be adapting to a new water system, a new way to protect their crops without the use of any harmful pesticides, and they plan to offer a CSA program.
The new water system will allow for water run off to go to targeted areas and not effect a main water source. As the water runs off from crops it can sometimes pick up any debris that it passes by. To ensure that the water doesn’t contaminate the area’s main water source, (comma) a new water system has been made by a group of engineers.
A new water system isn’t the only change being made to Lindeken Farms. Tom and Joe have planted a new crop of plants over the plants and vegetables that they will harvest. The added crop of plants is to disinterest any bugs from the fresh produce growing underneath. The plants serve as a food source for the bugs while the fruits and vegetables grow underneath. By the time the produce is ready to be harvested it will surpass the decoy plants. These are all great changes being made here at Lindeken Farms. If anyone is ever interested to see these changes for themselves feel free to ask Farmer Tom or Joe for a tour.
Lindeken Farms jumped on the CSA program that many other local farmers have begun. The CSA program is short for community supported agriculture. Our Farm Share program is a co-op that offers fresh and local produce from our fields right to you. Each week during the growing season, we offer you hand selected fruits and vegetables, in portions that are perfect for your family. Our program is designed to offer you the highest quality produce picked during the peak of the harvest, especially for you. Bring home a taste of the farm each week and enjoy delicious, farm-fresh produce.
Aside from getting great and fresh produce every week you’re also helping the environment. By supporting your local farmers, you help reduce the carbon footprint that’s put on the world from the food trading industry. When you don’t buy from big corporations you reduce the carbon footprint because at a local farm we don’t send our produce overseas or to the other side of the country.
Kathryn Brennan is a senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
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