Newsletter—Meet Our Founding Member, John Patrick
John's connection to farming goes way back. He grew up on a large-scale farm with chickens and crops, where he saw firsthand what a non-sustainable farming operation looked like. That early experience planted a seed, and as he grew older, so did his interest in sustainable agriculture, climate change, and the power of local food.
John spent 30 years working at the Environmental Protection Agency, a career that brought him to Washington, D.C. It was there that he and his wife, Rebecca, who were interested in living in cohousing, found and joined Blueberry Hill. This community had been built on the land of Potomac Vegetable Farm, a local organic and sustainable operation. John got involved picking berries and learning about their model of small-scale farming. He saw how a farm like Potomac Vegetable Farm could reach people with local food while stewarding the health of the land. Around the same time, he began a PhD program in Environmental Science and Policy, immersing himself in the science behind why our planet needs more sustainable approaches to farming, both for the earth and for our own health.
Living at Blueberry Hill sparked something in John. He experienced the benefits of a tight-knit community near a working farm and saw the camaraderie that grew naturally between interns and experienced farmers working the land side by side. He became convinced that cohousing and farming was an ideal combination, offering shared purpose and the satisfaction of growing food steps from your front door.
After retiring, John moved to the Nashville area, where his farming journey continued. His son had purchased a farm, and together they worked the land for years, growing specialty crops, fruits, vegetables, and a significant organic blueberry patch. They raised pastured chickens on a small scale, rotating them across the land to nourish the soil rather than deplete it. Their passion for local, sustainable food also led them to start a farmers market in their community to encourage others to eat locally.
Living at Blueberry Hill sparked something in John. He experienced the benefits of a tight-knit community near a working farm and saw the camaraderie that grew naturally between interns and experienced farmers working the land side by side. He became convinced that cohousing and farming was an ideal combination, offering shared purpose and the satisfaction of growing food steps from your front door.
After retiring, John moved to the Nashville area, where his farming journey continued. His son had purchased a farm, and together they worked the land for years, growing specialty crops, fruits, vegetables, and a significant organic blueberry patch. They raised pastured chickens on a small scale, rotating them across the land to nourish the soil rather than deplete it. Their passion for local, sustainable food also led them to start a farmers market in their community to encourage others to eat locally.