We’re very excited to welcome our seasonal workers back this spring with exciting news… Koinonia Organic Farm at Gramercy Mansion in Stevenson, Maryland is expanding! The demand for local organic herbs has continued to grow. To keep up with that demand, Anne has purchased a 28-acre farm with six greenhouses just a few miles from Gramercy Mansion in Baltimore County. Clean up is now underway with anticipation to begin growing our current variety of organic culinary herbs at the new farm in the coming months. Raina Gover, sales executive for Koinonia Farm and Anne’s right-hand lady, is busy at work organizing the new operation.
Koinonia Farm fields and packing shed at Gramercy Mansion in Greenspring Valley, Maryland.
As we spring forward with our growing organic farm operations, we thought we’d reflect and share some of the history (the roots, so to speak!) of Koinonia Farm. In 1951, the 45-acre estate that is now Gramercy Mansion became a spiritual community center for Koinonia Foundation. The Foundation was created in response to world needs during the era of World War II. “Koinonia,” a term used often by the early church, is a Greek word for “community.” The spiritual community that existed on the Greenspring Valley property during Koinonia’s residence centered on nonsectarian Christianity with strong Quaker influences. Programs focused on retreat study and training to take literacy, agriculture, health and other practical skills into the undeveloped world. It was during this time that volunteers began training in organic agriculture and the property’s organic farm was born.
Koinonia Farm is the oldest continually-operated organic farm in the state of Maryland, receiving its first organic certification from Pennsylvania as Maryland did not yet have an organic certification program in place. The fields remain healthy with crop rotation, soil amendments and green manure. We build and enhance the soil used at Koinonia naturally, protecting the environment and our resident wildlife by avoiding the use of toxic substances. The healthy living soil at Koinonia is free of dangerous agricultural chemicals and pesticides, fostering a healthy ecosystem. The herbs grown from that soil are fragrant, nutritious and delicious, treating consumers to a healthy alternative for food preparation. Koinonia Farm is certified organic by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
Look for the Koinonia Farm label at local Giant, Whole Foods and Mom’s Organic Markets. Culinary herbs currently grown here on the farm include basil, chives, oregano, tarragon, cilantro, stevia and many more. For a complete list, visit our Koinonia Farm page. If you are interested in purchasing wholesale herbs or scheduling a tour of the organic farm, contact Raina at 410-486-2405.