Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
What began as an honest real estate conversation grew into friendship, service and a community I did not know I needed.
Some of the best relationships in my life did not begin the way I expected them to.
I first connected with the people behind The Laurels Farm through a real estate conversation. They were looking at what a much bigger future for the farm could require, and my job was to give them an honest picture of the property, the work and the cost involved. No transaction came from that conversation. That was the right outcome.
What came next mattered more.
They invited me to the farm’s Pride-BQ. I showed up alone, knowing almost nobody, and felt at home much faster than I expected. That first invitation grew into friendships, hands-on work and eventually the opportunity to serve on the board.
The farm did not become important to me because it was a real estate lead. It became important because it is the kind of place where people can show up, contribute and belong.
Visibility helped them find me. Honesty built the relationship. Community changed me.
A farm built around community
The Laurels Farm is a community-focused farm in Sandown, New Hampshire. Its public-facing name is The Laurels Farm Co-Operative, and it is operated by the nonprofit Sustainable Agriculture & Gardening Education at the Laurels.
The farm’s mission is bigger than growing food. It works to reconnect people to the land, strengthen relationships among farmers and neighbors, share practical agricultural knowledge and reduce some of the barriers small farmers face when bringing food to the community.
That mission becomes real in many different ways: seedlings growing in the greenhouse, CSA shares heading home with local families, volunteers working together in the field, workshops for beginning farmers and community events that give people a reason to gather.
NOFA-NH has described The Laurels as a certified-organic micro farm. The farm has also worked with organizations including UNH Extension on educational programming for beginning farmers.
What a CSA makes possible
CSA stands for community-supported agriculture. Members reserve a share of the farm’s harvest and receive seasonal produce over a set number of weeks. It gives households a direct connection to where their food comes from, and it gives the farm more predictable support while the crops are being grown.
For 2026, The Laurels offered a 12-week summer share and a six-week fall share with weekly pickup at the farm. Each week can look a little different because a CSA follows the actual growing season. That is part of what makes it special: you are not just buying produce. You are participating in the life of a local farm.
Availability, pickup options and dates can change, so the farm’s current store is the best place to see what is open now.
Showing up and doing the work
One of the things I appreciate most about The Laurels is that it gives people meaningful ways to participate. The farm offers hands-on volunteer opportunities and welcomes both individuals and groups.
Depending on the season and what the farm needs, a volunteer day may mean planting, tending seedlings, harvesting, preparing beds or helping with a community event. You do not need to arrive as an expert. The point is to learn, help and work alongside other people who care about local food and community.
That is something I have experienced personally. Farm work has a way of making everything very simple: there is a real job in front of you, people doing it together and something useful at the end of the day.
More than rows of vegetables
The Laurels has also become a place for education and community gathering. Its calendar has included volunteer days, the annual plant sale, Roots and Resilience programs, chicken-keeping education, the Pride-BQ and seasonal celebrations.
These gatherings make the farm feel like more than a place where food is grown. They create a place where knowledge, friendships and community can grow too.
Because event schedules change throughout the season, check the official calendar for the latest information rather than relying on an old date or social post.
Small-farm work with a wider reach
The scale of the property does not tell the whole story. The FruitGuys Community Fund reported that a grant for propagation and bed-preparation tools helped The Laurels improve efficiency and directly reach roughly 2,770 people through customers, food-pantry recipients, volunteers and staff.
That is what I find compelling about this kind of community work. A greenhouse tray, a better tool or a morning spent planting can reach much farther than it appears to in the moment.
What the farm has taught me
Serving on the board and spending time at The Laurels has deepened my respect for the work behind local agriculture. It has also reminded me how important it is to listen before deciding what someone needs.
That lesson carries into my real estate work too. When someone tells me they want land, room to grow food, space for animals or the possibility of a homestead, I know the conversation cannot stop at acreage. We need to understand the soil, water, septic system, zoning, outbuildings, road access and the amount of work the property will actually require.
A beautiful piece of land can hold real possibilities. It can also hold limitations that are expensive to discover later. My job is to help someone understand both before they make a decision.
How to support The Laurels Farm
If the farm’s mission connects with you, the best next step is to connect with the farm directly.
Sometimes the relationship at the end of a conversation matters far more than the transaction that never happened.
Disclosure: I serve on the board of The Laurels Farm. The views shared here are my own. My real estate business is separate from the farm, and this article should not be read as an endorsement of my services by The Laurels Farm. CSA availability, volunteer opportunities and events can change; please confirm current details directly with the farm.
