Jeremy and Heather Smith have operated Smith Gardens Community Farm in rural Cochrane, WI, since 2003.  Prior to farming, Jeremy, a native Texan, has been involved in sales and marketing within the natural products industry.  His passion and knowledge of medicinal plants and organics led him to the world of sustainable agriculture.  Heather’s interest in working with the land was cultivated on her parent’s, Robert and Barb Secrist’s, dairy farm in Alma, WI.  Her degrees in biology and psychology from Cornell College led Heather to pursue field research and later small-scale organic agriculture. 

The couple met in Ashland, Oregon while caretaking an organic retreat farm, married, and decided to relocate to Buffalo County to pursue their dream of providing local, naturally grown produce to the local communities.  Currently, Jeremy maintains a full time position at Wenonah Canoe/Current Designs Kayaks, Winona, MN, as the paddlesports Accessories Manager, in addition to various duties on the farm.   Heather is the farm manager as well as full-time mother of 2 very active little boys.

Today, the couple works together to continually build their 16 acre diversified family farm into a thriving community asset and sustainable business.  The Smith’s farm is flourishing in diversity and variety with Shitake and wild edible mushrooms, raspberries, orchard trees, pastured goats and chickens, as well as handcrafted milk soaps.  However, the farm has two main enterprises: CSA vegetable subscriptions and wood-fired pizzas. 

Why we farm...

In 2003, we began our farming adventure as a way to provide a rich, nurturing environment for our family, live and eat healthy, and preserve the land for future generations.  We currently raise over 2 acres of vegetables and berries and an unheated hoophouse for extending the seasons.  We also believe in taking raw ingredients to the next level in order to help diversify the farm and reach economic stability.  Handcrafted goat milk soap and our wood-fired pizza fit this value-added niche for us.