LAWNSIDE, NJ (CBS) — George Washington, the first president of the United States, once described farming as “the healthiest, most useful, and noblest occupation of man.” One New Jersey family shares that view and is determined to make the world a better place with every bite of farm-fresh produce.
Tucked away among the buildings in Lawnside you’ll find Free Haven Farms, run by husband and wife team Micaiah and Cynthia Hall.
“People are always surprised that there are black farms, especially here in New Jersey, because it’s pretty rare,” said Cynthia Hall, who has a doctorate in geochemistry. “But after the surprise, people are always very happy to hear that we’re continuing the legacy of black farmers here in the U.S. because there are so few now.”
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Less than 1% of New Jersey’s nearly 10,000 farms are Black-owned, and Free Haven Farms is an even bigger exception, as it is one of only 81 U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic farms in the state.
“We have living soil. We are proud of our soil,” said Micaiah Hall. “I think our soil reflects the relationship that Cynthia and I have as a farmer and she as a scientist.”
It was Cynthia who led the family back to Lawnside. She grew up here when it was still a rural, wooded community. In 2015, they returned with their children to start the farm.
Free Haven has a rich history. In the 19th century, this area was known as Snow Hill and included an abolitionist settlement called Free Haven. Later, Snow Hill and Free Haven became Lawnside, the first incorporated black town north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
“You know, we have our philosophy,” said Micaiah. “We say, ‘Happy plants make happy people.'”
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Micaiah is known as “Micaiah the Pharmacist,” which he says is because “my farm helps people.”
“It helps people grow food,” he said.
He provides pharma assistance through lessons on Instagram and “Farmalosophy: Nature’s Lessons That Help Your Grow,” a book he wrote about farming.
Currently, the farm consists of a 1-acre and another 5-acre plot that provide much-needed produce for the Food Bank of South Jersey and train the farmers of the future.
“We have a lot of students,” Cynthia said, “from high school students to university students who come here for hands-on learning.”
The farm has become a family business whose philosophy is to stay rooted and grow in all aspects of life.
