In 2010, seeking a way to become responsible for the food on their table and to simplify the typical life of 2 full time professionals balancing careers and a blended family of four children, Jim and Mary Competti set out to create Old World Garden Farms.
Starting from scratch, they worked together to convert an overgrown 3 acre field into a self-sustaining farm that could feed their family and their soul. Their only requirements were to build the farm using recycled materials when possible, grow their food without the use of chemicals or pesticides, and create it all without incurring debt. Most important of all – was the mantra to always have fun in the process.
They now grow nearly 75% of their own food, while raising chickens, keeping bees and maintaining a fledgling orchard and vineyard planted in 2013. In the process they have used reclaimed and recycled materials to build everything from their barn, chicken coop, compost bins and more.
In early 2012, they created the website oldworldgardenfarms.com to document the entire process for others looking to do the same. The website has grown in just 3 short years to over 16,000,000 visitors and 125,000 followers from over 223 countries around the globe.