This article is part of Growing Partners, our new series focusing on the farmers, gardeners, seed growers, breeders, vendors and non-profits we work with that are demonstrating leadership in environmental and social stewardship. We’re so invigorated by their trail-blazing work, we want to share it with the world–and hopefully inspire the real food leaders of tomorrow to follow in their footsteps.

Brendan Davison, Owner & Founder of Good Water Farms
Brendan Davison is the owner of Good Water Farms a certified organic microgreens farm on Long Island. High Mowing works extensively with Brendan, providing seeds and support as his business evolves and grows. HMOS: First off, please give some background on Good Water Farms, including location, crops grown, how much space you have in production, and how your product is distributed. BD: Good Water Farms (GWF) is a year round certified organic microgreens farm currently located in East Hampton, NY.  We grow about 26 varieties of microgreens. We have 8 varieties we cut and package for 13 Whole Foods stores and we also deliver living trays to about 30 restaurants from the Hamptons to New York and Brooklyn. Our mission is to feed people, serve people, and we are unique because we grow our microgreens in soil.

Microgreens growing under lights at Good Water Farms' current location in East Hampton, NY
HMOS: How did you get started with Good Water Farms, and how would you describe its growth/expansion? BD: I started Good Water Farms in the driveway of a house I was renting in Amagansett, NY in the spring of 2012. I grew in a 7x11’ greenhouse and distributed trays of living microgreens to restaurants here in the Hamptons. Within one month I had outgrown my little greenhouse, and at the end of the summer I moved into our current location in nearby East Hampton. Our current growing facility consists of a 2,000 square foot warehouse and we also have a 12x36’ greenhouse.   HMOS: What is the relationship between Good Water Farms and your local community? BD: The relationship between GWF and the local community is still a puzzle. We are the only certified organic year-round farm out here, and yet the majority of the restaurants stop using our product in the fall, winter and spring. The Hamptons has this old belief that it can only make money in the summer months—that is why the majority of our business is west of here. But meanwhile 70,000 people live out here year-round. When we move to our new facility this fall, we will have a year-round farm stand and a microgreens CSA. So, the advantage of our area is the amount of wealth, but the disadvantages are the old ways of thinking.

Some large-seeded microgreens crops like cilantro, beets and chard, are trickier to grow than others
HMOS: What are the biggest challenges with the crop(s) you grow, and what innovations have you developed to overcome them? What are the biggest advantages of your crop(s)? BD: Microgreens have a big advantage, which is the fast turn around, but some are tricky to grow. Our most difficult crop has been cilantro—we basically have to change how we grow it every season, and it requires a lot of love and attention. But all the varieties we use from High Mowing work very well. The biggest challenge in our business is finding people to work and creating a consistent ecosystem year-round. HMOS: As your business has grown, how have your priorities changed? What changes have you made to ensure its long-term sustainability? BD: Over time the thing that has changed priority-wise for us is that now we put surfing first and GWF second—for the past 3 years it has been the opposite! We also now have a partner that believes in our vision and has the resources to help us grow.

Good Water microgreens featured on the blog Salad for Presidents
HMOS: What advice would you give to someone just starting out? BD: The advice I give to everyone starting out is: have a clear vision before you even plant a seed, know that's it’s gonna cost more than you think, it’s a 365-day-a-year job, and don’t cut corners. But aside from that, people should develop their own way of growing - growing should come from deep within themselves. HMOS: What are your goals for Good Water Farms? How do you envision its growth in the future? BD: In the short term we are moving to our new 4,000 square foot facility located on 34 acres of farmland in Bridgehampton, NY. We are going to turn the 34 acres into a biodynamic farm and will be quadrupling our microgreens production! In the longer-term, I envision opening up GWF’s all over the country.   To learn more about Good Water Farms, visit them on Facebook or the web at goodwaterfarms.com Brendan grows: Sacred Basil Rosie Basil Santo Cilantro Broccoli, Red Kale & Arugula Microgreens Belle Isle Cress Sunflower Shoots Pea Shoots