On this episode of The Inside Dish, Michael Drabenstott talks with John and Aimee Good of The Good Farm, an 18-acre family-run farm in Germansville, PA. The farm operates on a consumer-supported agriculture (CSA) model where individuals can pay to become members and receive a portion of each harvest.
John and Aimee say they have worked on farms since their time in college. From 2006 to 2016, they leased land from the Rodale Institute to run Quiet Creek Farm, which was a certified-organic CSA farm that boasted over 200 members. But it wouldn't be until they turned 40 in 2017 that they decided to fulfill their dream of starting a home farm. Purchasing land at the base of Blue Mountain in the northwest corner of Lehigh County, The Good Farm became a reality.
As John and Aimee explain, their focus on growing high-quality certified-organic produce has been a priority since the beginning of the farm — a practice they say creates noticeably better-quality vegetables compared to store-bought produce. One important factor that the couple focuses on to maintain the quality of their produce? The quality of their soil.
"For vegetables, [the soil] is excellent, very well-drained," Aimee explains about the farm. John is quick to add, "It's a common area for potato production. It's actually what that ground historically was used for in the Lehigh Valley. When we first grew potatoes, we were like, 'Oh, so that's why everyone grew potatoes around here. 150 years ago, they really knew what they were doing!'"
The soil at The Good Farm lends itself to growing many different kinds of produce, though — not just potatoes. "It's really great at tomatoes, melons. It does carrots really well," John explains. It also allows some unique crops to thrive like crockery turnips, which are Japanese-style turnips that will be completely new to most Lehigh Valley residents. "When I used to do farmers' markets, one thing I would always have everyone taste is this turnip," Aimee says. "People were amazed. They would really go nuts for them."
"Oh, so that's why everyone grew potatoes around here. 150 years ago, they really knew what they were doing!"John Good on the quality of the soil in Germansville, PA
Another unique crop grown at The Good Farm is a rare red tomato that they call Good Line. "We are literally the only farm, as far as we know, anywhere that grows this tomato," according to John. They got the seed for Good Line tomatoes from suppliers in England who have since went defunct. This slice tomato was then seemingly forgotten until John and Aimee decided to see how well it fared in the Germansville soil. "We have found that it is maybe the best Lehigh Valley tomato. It just loves it here."
The Good Farm is certified organic, meaning they are inspected every year to ensure that they are keeping up with certain standards. "It takes you the extra step," Aimee explains. "There's just a little more you have to do to be certified organic." From the sourcing of the seeds to the kind of mulching used, the standards for this certification are stringent. "It just ensures integrity throughout the whole process because of that third-party certification."
The Good Farm stands in stark contrast to the average American supermarket where many types of produce are available year-round. If this is an individual's only experience with vegetables, Aimee says there may be a learning curve to overcome as a person adjusts to eating seasonally. But according to Aimee, those who incorporate the farm's produce into their meals will immediately taste the benefit. "People say this to me all the time, once they come to the farm and have our food, they can't go back. They get hooked on it!"
Aimee says the food at her farm isn't only better tasting, it's also better for your health. She says the vegetables that naturally grow during certain times of the year are well-suited to what your body needs at those same times. "In the spring, we need cleansing greens to purify ourselves after the winter. In the summer, we need all those fresh, juicy fruits to hydrate ourselves. In the fall, we need the nourishing roots to really get us prepared for that cold winter again."
"People say this to me all the time, once they come to the farm and have our food, they can't go back. They get hooked on it!"Aimee Good describing the positive feedback she receives at the Good Farm
Aimee says that once her farm's members overcome the learning curve of adapting to seasonal eating, they learn to base their meals around the produce — and not the other way around. "This inspires creativity. You're learning to cook new things in the kitchen," she says. "And you actually just eat more vegetables because you have all this beautiful food to use, so you just feel great about thinking of ways to use it."
Aimee says her and John have received a lot of feedback over the years from the farm's members describing the positive impacts of this seasonal diet — from feeling better to losing weight. After hearing this, Inside Dish host Michael Drabenstott points out Aimee's email signature, which contains a quote from American novelist and poet Wendell Berry: "Eating is an agricultural act." "It's true," Aimee responded. "Everyone is involved in agriculture whether you realize it or not because everyone eats."
Catch The Inside Dish the first Monday of every month from 6:00 to 6:30 PM, following All Things Considered.
(Original air-date: 3/3/25)
