Producer: Meadowstone Farm
Location: Bethlehem, NH
Found at the Littleton Co-op: Produce, meat, and eggs
Website: meadowstonenh.com
It’s more than Meadowstone Farm’s proximity to the Littleton Co-op that sets it apart; although, the mere 2.1 mile drive makes it our “most local” farm. The first farming on the land known as Meadowstone Farm was dairy farming in the mid-1800’s through the 1970’s. The modern iteration of the land began in 2003 when it was purchased by current owners Tim Weinrich and Jess Griffiths. Teachers by trade, they transitioned to farm owners; however, they integrated their “past lives” by opening a private school, Woodland School, on the farm property. Tim’s original vision for the farm was to focus on compost, so as to have the widest impact on the local food system. In the early 2000s there were fewer major outlets for local farm-fresh food, and the community convinced Tim of the need to offer the North Country good food. On the same ethos of his original compost vision, Meadowstone continues offering seeds, plants, compost, training, home garden support, donations, and more to foster increased regional food independence. In Tim’s words, “It would be wonderful if Meadowstone Farm worked itself out of its current business because all of its customers produced what they needed.”
Meadowstone Farm was previously certified organic, but dropped its organic certificate in 2008. However, the change had nothing to do with a shift in the farm’s own standards and practices. Meadowstone opted out organic certification as a statement against, as they see it, a dilution of the organic standards by “big business agriculture,” and a focus on only eliminating certain ingredients, rather than a focus on making positive improvements. They continue to uphold their own “Beyond Organic” standards and prefer to be accountable to the community and their customers, rather than a certifying agency. Read more about the story behind “Beyond Organic” here.
Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.
