Debbie and Craig Branker-Livermore
Debbie grew up in Queens, but has always felt a deep connection to the earth and its ability to provide health. Craig grew up in Pennsylvania working on the dairy farms of his uncle and neighbors. In the past ten years we have increasingly felt called to re–connect with our farming ancestry (for Debbie the Southern U.S. and Caribbean). We began farming with our friends the Whitmores’s at Forget Me Not Farm five years ago.
More About the Farmers
We grow chemical free food for several reasons: 1) We feel our world is very unstable, and we want to be in control of our own food sources. 2) We want to be able to be sure of the health and purity of our foods. 3) We want to provide healthy and pure (chemical free, nutritionally rich) foods to others. 4) We want to love God’s land (we are only stewards) by producing food in a way that makes the land healthier, instead of extracting nutrients without replenishment. We believe the Earth does not belong to us. It is a gift from God.
Favorite Thing About Farming
Craig’s favorite thing about farming is feeling deeply connected to life’s cycles created by God. Debbie feels a deep peace when she is outside amongst verdant vegetables.
How We Met
We met while on a fund raising walk in Manhattan for those infected with AIDS by being raped during the Rwandan genocide.
Favorite Song
Debbie likes many types of music and doesn’t really have a favorite. For Craig, currently it is “Working Man Blues” by Merle Haggard. Craig is also a huge fan of Chris Stapleton and Billy Strings.
Worst Growing Fail
In 2020 we had bumper summer and winter squash crops. There were literally squash hanging from our Tiny House rafters. In 2021, squash borer beetles got them. Because there was so much rain, it washed away our organic anti-pest products every day. We now know next year to apply neem every day, and to use row covers to keep the pesky little beetles away!!
Debbie’s Favorite Nature Childhood Memory
Riding horses with her family.
Craig’s Favorite Nature Childhood Memory
Bailing hay in the hot sun without a shirt on and having the hay scratch up his skin.