Southport Magazine

Greenlands Farm Store, where products from the farm and other NC providers—such as polenta cakes and pimento cheese—are available for purchase. Photo by Bethany Turner

While driving to Greenlands Farm Store from Southport or Oak Island is more of a trek than just stopping by Lowe’s Foods, what folks will discover between the pines on Midway Road is a haven for local, organic groceries. From honey made by the farm’s own bees to soap made from the farm’s goats’ milk, the trip is worth the eight- to 12-mile ride.

Greenlands Farm is owned by Heather and Henry Burkert, who got their start in landscape architecture and civil engineering with a focus on environmentally responsible design. The duo earned degrees in landscape horticulture from Michigan State University before eventually acquiring property in Bolivia, NC.

“They didn’t start out farming—they started out gardening for themselves,” Brittany Taggart, an employee of the farm, explains. “And then it slowly expanded. They had milking goats when they were younger, so they got some goats. Then the herd got a little bit bigger and they started using the milk for soap. So it’s just been a slow progression into actual farming for a living.”

Greenlands Farm offers more than fresh eats; check them out for a petting zoo on Saturdays, too. Photo by Bethany Turner

Taggart’s focus has been in the NC food scene for quite a while; she previously worked with Feast Down East, a non-profit striving to build a strong local food system by connecting farmers to the market. With a love for sustainability in farming, she took an interest in Greenlands Farm and joined the team after fulfilling an internship with the farm. Today, she runs Greenlands’ education programs while working a bit in the store and coordinating events.

“Greenlands has been in operation for about three years now,” Taggart continues. “A lot of their landscape-design background shows on their property because they’ve integrated all sorts of plants that you wouldn’t normally see on a farm. They grow tea, for example, but if you looked at their backyard you would think they’re just bushes because they line the entire perimeter of the backyard—but they’re actually plants you can harvest tea from.”

Everything grown on Greenlands Farm is organic. It is the foundation, while “from the field to the fork” is the mantra. The store houses a café where fresh sandwiches, homemade ice cream and smoothies, and vegan and gluten-free desserts are the norm. Even the salad dressings are made by hand.

Veggies are picked fresh at Greenlands Farm and sold at the store, such as pickled okra and pickled Hungarian hot wax peppers. Photo by Bethany Turner

“Heather does all the jams, pickles, jellies—that’s all from the farm and done by hand in small batches,” Taggart reveals. “We didn’t have cabbage this year—we planted it but the worms got it because of all the rain—but we got organic cabbage from another farmer and Heather makes homemade sauerkraut. She bakes all of the bread [with organic flour]. So everything is really, really fresh and homemade. It takes a lot of time but it’s worth the effort.”

From Greenlands’ hens come free-range, pastured, hormone- and antibiotic-free eggs. Likewise, fresh fruits and veggies line the shelves of store refrigerators, resting beside local milk. North Carolina-raised meats are for sale, too.

“We do carry milk in the store from a dairy farmer in Duplin County,” Taggart confirms. “We have a relationship with them; they bring down milk and cream so we can make our own ice cream. The beef and chicken comes from Mebane, NC. Farmers can’t do everything, so what they do is work with people who are farming in a similar style; they’re all either organic—or like the dairy farm is hormone-free and antibiotic-free. So that’s in line with the same healthy effort that we’re going toward.”

Taggart’s favorite treat from Greenlands Farm is Mrs. Burkert’s lemon-rosemary polenta cakes. Photo by Bethany Turner

Greenlands’ grocery list goes on, including sugar, flours, herbs, spices, coffee—and even popcorn—that is all organic. Bakery treats include the usual suspects—coconut cake, carrot cake, German chocolate cake—as well as unique items such as Caribbean fudge pie and Scottish shortbread. Of course, the desserts are made by Mrs. Burkert in small batches, so the selection varies daily.

Rosemary from Greenlands Farm goes right into Taggart’s favorite treat. “Heather makes a lemon-rosemary polenta cake and it’s really unique,” she begins. “Polenta is generally thought of as a cornbread type of thing; it winds up actually being not savory but more sweet. I really enjoy that a lot.”

Taggart says many customers love Mrs. Burkert’s liverwurst. “For a lot of the food in the store, she uses family recipes,” the employee tells. “So the liverwurst is her mother-in-law’s recipe. She carries on a lot of traditions that way.”

Another family tradition is the love of tea, rooted in Mrs. Burkert’s Scottish heritage. A high tea is scheduled for the fourth Friday of every month; details are available on the farm’s website, www.GreenlandsFarmStore.info. Of course, the farm can accommodate groups of 10 to 15 for private tea parties. Classes are also a popular event for the farm.

“Heather has done a tea class in the past where you help harvest tea and learn about how it’s processed,” Taggart shares. “Generally the classes are about healthy cooking, healthy eating, and baking for your needs—such as gluten-free baking. All the classes revolve around fresh food and the farm.”

Pinky and Pepper are rescue pigs on Greenlands Farm, and kids can meet them at the weekend petting zoo. Photo by Maud Kelley

Actual vegetable production at Greenlands takes place on five acres. But a slew of animals call it home.

“They have a bunch of rescue animals, from organizations all across the state,” Taggart reveals. “Some of them are local, such as the equine rescue and the llama rescue. They have two llamas, two Shetland ponies, one miniature Shetland pony, a couple pot-bellied pigs, and a miniature donkey who came from a local farm that donated her. Horses and equine work on a pecking order [like a hierarchy], and she was the bottom of the pecking order, so she got picked on constantly. But she came to us and she’s my favorite; her name’s Miley.”

Families can meet Miley and the rest of the animals on Saturdays, weather permitting. “Educators are there to talk about each animal and bring them to the front so you actually get to pet them,” Taggart says. “You get to see them up close and learn about them, so it’s a pretty cool experience. We try to keep it affordable, so it’s $4 per kid and $2 per adult. On Saturdays we also do pony rides with one of the rescue ponies named Dudley (cover photo). He came to us about 150 pounds underweight, and now he’s a healthy young man.”

The rescued llamas even offer cart rides during special events, such as the spring and fall festivals Greenlands hosts. Folks can keep up with all the farm’s events online, particularly the upcoming kids’ summer camp.

Rhubarb pie is just one of the vegan dessert options available, baked in small batches and varying day to day. Photo by Maud Kelley.

“I think we’re running seven sessions throughout the summer. It’s a homesteading camp, so we’re teaching them the basics of what the farm is like, from helping maintain the animals to egg collection, to actually seeing how they bake the bread and they’ll make their own lunch,” Taggart offers. “They’ll help pick vegetables. We’re not going to teach them how to be farmers but we’ll teach them life skills and they’ll also learn about food, its importance, and what it takes to grow food, so they can get an appreciation for that.”

Starting in May, customers can take part in Greenlands’ CSA (community-supported agriculture) program. For 10 weeks, participants will receive a half-bushel of the farm’s organic fruits and veggies, from arugula to watermelon, every Wednesday. Complete details are available online, and registration is now open.

Currently, Greenlands Farm Store (668 Midway Rd.) is open Thursday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (910) 253-7934 or stop by www.Facebook.com/GreenlandsFarm.