about

Our story begins with our team—us. Communitas Farm is powered by a two-person partnership, Nick and Shosh.

Since meeting in college in 2015, we’ve held a variety of government, non-profit, and university jobs focused on different aspects of environmental and human health. After graduating college, Shoshana found her calling in organic farming while working at Moon Valley Farm in Baltimore County. She held several jobs after Moon Valley but returned to the field a couple years later, this time in Howard County, as a full-time organic vegetable farmer at Clark’s Elioak Farm.

As the Covid-19 pandemic worsened throughout 2020, the economic fallout suddenly caused many people to, for the first time in their lives, become food insecure. In addition, the impacts to food systems—disrupted supply chains, empty grocery store shelves, and limited availability—forced many people to start considering the source of their food. Watching this unfold, Shosh partnered with a local non-profit to provide produce for food distribution centers in Howard County. Over the course of three years, she helped grow and donate several tons of food to local residents. She worked throughout the pandemic to increase food production and ensure the supply of fresh vegetables throughout Howard County.

In 2022, we decided to create our own farm, specializing in sustainably grown produce, to support ourselves and nourish our community. After searching for several months, we found a property that was ripe for this adventure and decided to put our roots down in northern Baltimore County, where Nick grew up and where Shosh began farming.

Shoshana Nachman

I remember going to Larriland Farm, in western Howard County, as a child. I used to pick apples, blueberries, and pumpkins with my friends and family. Little did I know that an activity as simple as picking delicious fruit would become such a large part of my life. In fact, I didn’t think farming could be career for myself until I entered my mid-to-late 20s.

In college, I studied environmental science. I knew I wanted to work outside, but I also wanted to support my community and help address climate change at a local level. For a while, it was difficult to reconcile these values. I worked various jobs looking for “the right fit.”

Unexpectedly, I found that farming combined my values with my desire to be connected to nature. I’m excited to enter the next phase of my farming journey, starting a farm that is ecologically and sustainably minded.

Check out my interview with VoyageBaltimore to learn more about my journey.

Nick Healy

I love vegetables—salad has always been my favorite food—but I didn’t really think about food until I read Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which forced me to consider the source and quality of my food.

A connection between my background and farming may not be immediately clear; however, my penchant for creating, learning, and getting my hands dirty provides a strong foundation for this endeavor. I hold master’s degrees in biotechnology and professional writing as well as a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. I’m drawn to farming because of the breadth of skills, knowledge, and innovation it demands.

acknowledgements

Helping hands extend far beyond their touch. To help once is to help for infinity.

More than 30 people have taken time out of their busy lives to help us put this farm together. A huge shout out to all of these wonderful and kind folks who shared their time and expertise throughout our start-up phase. We are so grateful to have this network in the DC-Baltimore area. Our farm would neither look nor function the same without all of the invaluable contributions from our community.

Whether it's a breakfast delivery, an extra set of hands, positive words of encouragement, or a light-hearted joke during a physically demanding task, we've been blown away by all the support we've received over the past two years.

In particular, we would like to thank the following individuals:

  • Bryan Alexander (field work)

  • Brendon Buck (construction)

  • Molly Burton (field work, marketing)

  • John Laudick Dougherty (field work)

  • Julie Laudick Dougherty (field work)

  • Kristine Dennis (field work)

  • Leslie Ehrmann-Rossen (field work)

  • Hanna Gunnoe (field work)

  • Leo Hastings III (field work)

  • Leo Hastings IV (construction, field work, marketing)

  • Dan Healy (construction)

  • Keith Hollister (construction, field work, farmer’s markets)

  • Emily Holloway (field work)

  • Colton Kief (construction, artwork)

  • Ashlynn Kief (artwork)

  • Yun-Yun Li (construction)

  • Morgan LaRocca (field work)

  • Brody McAllister (construction, field work)

  • Kaela Murphy (farmer’s markets, field work, marketing)

  • Robert Nachman (field work)

  • Joan Nachman (field work)

  • David Pearman (construction)

  • Samantha Parry (construction, field work)

  • Billy Pearson (field work)

  • Ian Reid (construction)

  • David Royer (field work)

  • Tyler Saron (construction)

  • Neta Shwartz (artwork, field work)

  • Ed Stettinius (construction, marketing)

  • Mark Townsend (construction)

  • Ellen Verner (field work)

  • David Wacker (construction)

  • Helana Zagami (artwork, construction)