Meet the Farm Team at Newfield

Newfield Farm is paving greener pastures in Palm City, Florida – and building a great team along the way! In yet another exciting development for our Newfield master-planned community, Agmenity – Newfield’s supervising farm management company – has officially established its complete Newfield Farm team: Andrew Gerren, lead farm educator and farm manager, is now joined by farm educators Audrey and Janelle.

With sustainability and agriculture at its foundation, Newfield Farm is an integral component of Newfield – Martin County’s largest mixed-use project in more than 40 years. Currently in development, the farm will incorporate sustainable practices to produce year-round access to fresh, nutrient-dense foods for the community.

The Newfield Farm team will be responsible for the farm’s holistic needs and goals and remain actively involved in all agricultural production – from seeding, planting, field health and fertility to pest, diseases and weed management, as well as harvest and distribution. Additionally, the trio will work together to conceptualize and lead Newfield Farm’s robust community programming and engagement.

If you’re as excited as we are to experience Newfield Farm in its completion, you’ll want to meet the friendly and talented folks who are bringing it to life. Read on to get to know our Newfield Farm team – then stop by to say hello (and learn from them) in person!

Andrew Gerren, Lead Farm Educator and Farm Manager

An ethnobotanist and sustainable agriculture specialist, Farmer Andrew was the first Newfield Farm team member, hired by Agmenity this past winter. He brings more than 14 years of experience nurturing the practice of organic-sustainable agriculture and permaculture design in tropical regions.

Farmer Andrew will lead his team to manage Newfield Farm’s year-round food production and core operations, as well as oversee educational programming. He will also continue to work directly with Agmenity to plan the farm’s specific week-to-week schedule.

Though born in Massachusetts, Andrew grew up in South Florida, where he developed an early love for gardening thanks to his dad, who instilled in him a shared passion for agriculture. In 2017, Andrew graduated from The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with a bachelor’s degree in Ethnomedicine and Plant Conservation, as well as a minor in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences – Production Management. He spent the following two years in Jamaica volunteering as an environment and sustainable agriculture facilitator for the Peace Corps before returning to South Florida in 2021.

Prior to joining Newfield, Farmer Andrew owned and operated a successful sustainable gardening business in both Florida and Hawai’i for seven years. Alongside this venture, he immersed himself in the art of wildcrafting and herbalism, blending his professional acumen with a deep reverence for nature. His journey also allowed him to learn and teach diverse agricultural practices across the globe, enriching his approach to sustainability and education at Newfield Farm.

Audrey, Farm Educator

Audrey joins the Newfield Farm team as a farm educator, working with Andrew and Janelle to execute the farm’s initial build out.

Audrey migrated to Broward County Florida, from South America as a little girl. Some of her best childhood memories are climbing mango trees in her grandfather’s farm and enjoying their juicy fruits, as well as taming all nine farm dogs. She has a passion for animals – dogs, in particular – which led Audrey to run her own business incorporating pet services such as dog sitting, walking, and training. Over the past three years, she expanded her experience, caring for various farm animals such as chickens, goats, alpacas, pigs, and cattle.

Audrey lives by the quote, “thy food is thy medicine,” and has always had a gravitational pull towards wellness, cooking, farming, and experimenting with natural home remedies. She is looking forward to serving the Newfield community by growing nutritious whole foods and educating the public on their respective benefits.

Janelle, Farm Educator

Janelle grew up in the heart of the Midwest, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Shawnee National Forest. Her deep connection to the land began early, instilling in her a strong work ethic and appreciation for nature’s rhythms. Her first job on a self-sufficient homestead had her managing vegetable gardens and orchards, laying the foundation for her lifelong passion for sustainability.

She later became an outdoor educator, inspiring young people to forge their own relationships with the natural world.

Drawing on these experiences, she now dedicates her work to promoting environmentally conscious practices. She firmly believes that instilling a love for the land in future generations is key to safeguarding our planet for years to come.

Newfield Farm will serve as a dynamic community resource for farm-based experiences, educational programs, communal gardens, and a multitude of events, including The Market at Newfield Farm, a farmer’s market event which debuted last year and takes place during the high season. The farm will eventually grow to encompass more than 100 acres of raised beds and plotted plantings, encouraging future residents and the broader public to try their hand at cultivating vegetables and herbs for use in their own kitchens, while inviting them to select from vegetables, herbs, flowers and more grown at the farm.

Additionally, the 4,000-square-foot Newfield Barn is set to open next year as a multifaceted operation featuring educational programming, cooking classes, demonstrations, and tastings, as well as a retail store and product stand.

Newfield Farm is managed by Agmenity, which specializes in designing and operating community-based agricultural amenities to facilitate the growth of holistic, healthy relationships between people, place, and food.