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It all started in Wantagh, New York, in 2021-2022 when my family began looking for a new house. As we were scrolling through Zillow, we came across a farm in Center Moriches. I already had some family in the area—cousins, aunts, and uncles—so that made the idea even more appealing. But I was firm: I wasn’t going to move unless we bought that farm.

We visited a few other houses before finally checking out the one at 87 Bernstein Boulevard in Center Moriches. We came back several times to see the property, and I was only ten years old at the time. In January 2022, we officially bought the house, but we didn’t move in until July, as we spent six months renovating it.

On the last walkthrough before buying, the owner knew we were serious, so he gave me a surprise gift—the last horse he had on the property. That horse, Mickey, became the heart of our farm. The property had a barn and a horse run where Mickey could play, and even though we hadn’t moved in yet, my parents would drive me back and forth from Wantagh to feed him. It was about a 45-minute trip, but it was worth it.

In March 2022, we drove all the way to Seneca Valley, New York—a seven-hour trip—to get another miniature horse, Jax, as a companion for Mickey. By July, we were finally living in the house, and my dad started a garden on the southeast side of the property. Inspired by him, I started my own garden on the northeast side.

Fast forward to August 2022, we added two pigs to the farm—Penelope and Willow. As the harvest season came around, my dad’s garden didn’t do too well, but mine really took off! I immediately wanted to set up a farm stand at the end of the road, but my parents told me to wait until next year.

 Between August 2022 and June 2023, our farm grew even more. We added rabbits, chickens, and two goats. On June 3, 2023, I finally opened my first farm stand, selling flowers and produce. It was a great    

success, and I kept the stand going all the way until October.

In January 2024, I faced a tough moment—Mickey, my first horse, passed away. It was hard, but we continued to move forward. In March 2024, we adopted orphaned goats from a local farm, and they lived in the house for the first few months. The farm season began again on April 20, with my first farm stand of the year, and it was one of the best ones yet. From then on, I held a few farm stands each month.

In August, I was honored with the Young Entrepreneur Farmer Award from the Long Island Farm Bureau at Waterdrinker Farm in Manorville. By the end of September, we were getting ready for the second-to-last farm stand of the fall season, and the farm continues to thrive.

Looking back, it’s amazing how much the farm has grown since we first found it on Zillow. It’s become more than just a home—it’s a real family farm where we work hard and enjoy what we’ve built. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our farm. 

Matt Gartelman