Field Crew

Packinghouse Crew

Mike and Terra Brownback

Hello, I’m Mike! I am the co-founder of Spiral Path Farm alongside my wife, Terra. We had been first generation farmers here since 1978. Now that my son Will has taken over as owner of the farm, my current duties include mostly consulting, soil preparation, managing the worm beds, cultivating and overseeding cover crops, and helping out wherever I can lend a hand. Before starting Spiral Path Farm, I had first done masonry contract work in Montgomery County, PA where Terra and I had grown up, and then when we moved to the farm at the age of 24, we raised pigs. Terra and I had always believed in and practiced organic principles on the farm since we moved to the farm after purchasing it in 1977. Then in the early 1990s when Terra and I were approaching 40, we decided to pursue having the farm certified organic and transitioning from a hog and crop farm to an organic vegetable farm. We made this choice to be true to our core beliefs, treating the land as if future generations depend on fertile land, We realized the fundamental need to first do minimal harm to the land and subsequently to provide the best opportunity to nourish ourselves, our family, and the customers who eat our food. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite vegetable because I like them all other than possibly okra back when we tried out growing that for a time. In my personal time, I like to garden, believe it or not, and to plant trees, shrubs, and flowers. I also like to build and restore by recycling old materials.

Deirdre Brownback

Hello, I am Deirdre! I am the Chief Financial Officer at Spiral Path Farm and wife of Will Brownback, the owner of the farm. I oversee all the farm finances including accounting and record keeping, monitoring cash flow, financial reporting and planning, ensuring compliance as well as overseeing the information technology and telecommunication systems. My husband had returned to working on the family farm in 2009, and our family moved onto the farm in 2017. Then in 2020, my husband bought the farm from his parents, Mike and Terra. I came on board when Terra then retired from her CFO position in 2022. Before that I was raising our three beautiful children (Khaya, Jonas, and Isla), and I had gotten my certification in Homeopathy and started to see clients in my home and online. I have always been interested in more natural ways to maintain a healthy body and mind, and I’m still exploring ways I can further my studies in that area. I am passionate about helping others live more healthy lifestyles and in balance with Mother Nature! My farm favorites are broccoli, carrots, peas, cucumbers, potatoes, and kale. My favorite recipe is Colcannon, which is made with bacon, kale, and mashed potatoes. In my spare time, I love to garden in my flower beds. The whole process of planning what goes where, then planting, weeding, and seeing what flowers come up from last years hard work brings me such joy! I also love to visit my family in Maine, swim in the ocean, read, listen to music, play with my kids, and spend time with my friends and family.

Brian

Hi, I am Brian! I am the Packhouse Manager at Spiral Path Farm, and I’ve been working here since 2013. I manage all operations and phases of the packhouse. I also manage our Food Safety program and take care of our audits from USDA, PrimusGFS, FSMA, and FDA. I train employees to follow proper food safety procedures and to ensure that you as customers are getting the best tasting veggies while not contaminating the product. Honestly, I came to the farm for the same reason as most people. I was looking for a job and heard that Spiral Path was having a job fair. I never expected it to work out the way that it has. If someone had said that I would be a manager at Spiral Path Farm, I wouldn’t have believed it! I have no regrets, same as any job, you have stressful and tough days, but the good always outweighs the bad! Before coming to the farm, I mostly worked forklift jobs in warehouses, and I did work at a printing company and a burial company (that’s a real good ice breaker for the new employees). My farm favorite is strawberries! Straight from the field, delicious. I wasn’t a veggie eater until I started working at Spiral Path, in the most recent years I have been trying more and more vegetables. I have really grown to enjoy our broccoli and cauliflower. When I’m off work, I love spending time with my family and watching my children grow to be exceptional human beings! I am a dad to 5 beautiful kiddos and the husband to the greatest woman. All 5 of my children are home schooled by my wife and have thrived in all that they do! During the spring-fall I enjoy doing outside work such as lawncare and other outdoor activities. The winter you can usually find me hanging out in my garage building or repairing something. Halloween is my favorite time of the year, I visit “haunted attractions” such as Field of Screams, Jason Woods, etc. and I rate and review them with my “crew”, The Haunt Rater.

Linda

Hello, I’m Linda! I am the Lead Packer here on the farm, and I started working here in 2013. It is my job to keep our packhouse crew on task and guide them as we move through our to-do list each day. I came to the farm because I love getting free veggies as an employee in the weekly CSA boxes! I love working on the farm both in the packhouse and in the field. Before coming to the farm, I was a dishwasher in a restaurant. My farm favorites are tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, and cilantro, but I like all the veggies too much! When I am not working, I like to spend my time at home with my two daughters.

Mark

Hello, I am Mark! I’ve been working as the mechanic on the farm since 2007. I fix and maintain all the machinery, tractors, and vehicles here on the farm as well as sometimes help in the fields or with building projects. Before the farm, I worked as a shed hauler. Work there was slow in the winters so Gene connected me to Mike to do contract mechanic work here on the farm to fill my time for three winters before coming to the farm full time. My farm favorites are radishes and strawberries, but I also enjoy many of the other veggies! In my spare time, I like to go hunting and fishing in Potter County, spend time in the mountains, and work on my own sweet corn field at home.

Rochelle

Hi, I’m Rochelle! I am the Greenhouse Manager at Spiral Path Farm and have been working here since 2015. My current duties include all transplant seeding, day to day plant care, seed inventory, maintenance on greenhouses and seeding equipment, and planning our Open Farm Days flower garden! I came to the farm because I love working outside and was looking for a change from working on a family dairy farm while raising my children beforehand. My farm favorites are asparagus and sugar snap peas. When I am not on the farm, I like to spend time with loved ones, craft, and garden.

Morris

Hello, I am Morris! I am the Wholesale Truck Driver at Spiral Path Farm. My current duties include driving the delivery truck from our farm to Wegmans warehouses to deliver our wholesale produce. Before coming to the farm, I had worked at a paper mill and drove school bus. I came simply because I needed a job, but I have stayed for quite a while now since 2002 as I love the family atmosphere here. My farm favorite is zucchini especially in Zucchini Crab Cakes! When I am not in the truck I enjoy hunting and woodworking.

Dakota

Hi, I’m Dakota! I am a Packhouse Worker here at Spiral Path. I’ve been working here since 2016. My duties include receiving, washing, grading, and packing vegetables as well as maintaining the upkeep of the packhouse. I came to the farm right after I finished high school because I liked the idea of having a more unconventional job. My farm favorites are corn, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts! When I am off work, I like antique shopping, camping, and being with my family.

Will Brownback

Please send me a response to the following questions when you have time for our new team website page:

Years of leaving and returning to the farm?

What are your Current Farm Duties?

What do you love to do in your spare time?

What are your favorite farm veggies/ recipes?

What brought you to the farm or why did you want to work on the farm?

What did you do before coming back to the farm?

Anything else you want included in your bio?

Stef

Hi, I am Stef! I am an Office Worker here on the farm. I have been worked here since 2006 although I started out as the CSA Manager before transitioning to Office Worker. My duties include employee onboarding, payroll, wholesale scheduling and invoicing, bill entry, general bookkeeping and anything else that may be needed. I came to the farm from being a stay-at-home mom of 3 daughters because they had a part-time CSA/Office position available while the girls were all in school, and it was local. I also have always canned and preserved food, so the abundant benefit of vegetables has been a blessing! I like most all of the veggies here at the farm but my favorite would have to be zucchini (fried, roasted, grilled, baked… so many options!). When I am out of the office, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and reading (peaceful adventures).

Bethany

Hello, I’m Bethany! I’ve been the CSA Manager since 2022. It’s my responsibility to answer all the emails and phone calls we get from our CSA members, run our social media pages, write our weekly newsletters, plan our truck routes, and manage our farmers’ markets. I came to the farm looking for work after college because I wanted to work locally and loved being a CSA member myself as a kid. My favorites on the farm are cantaloupe, strawberries, and asparagus! But I also love a good Collards Shepherds Pie or Rhubarb Crisp. I am always trying to find new recipes for the back of our weekly newsletters so I am often finding new favorites as I experiment in the kitchen too. My husband went to culinary school and works as a cook so he helps me adjust recipes to include what veggies are in season at the same time. When I’m not on the farm I love to take my mini poodle on walks around town to talk with our neighbors, and my husband and I love to invite coworkers, friends, and family over to our house for dinners, campfires, and game nights. Half of our house was unfinished when my husband bought it so we spend a lot of time DIYing as well with the goal of it being a great social area for guests when we are done.

Nico

Hola, I’m Nico! I am the Farmers’ Market Manager here on the farm. I have been working here since 2017. My duties include driving our box truck down to our farmers’ markets in Maryland and running our stands there each weekend. During the week when I’m back on the farm, I work alongside the field crew planting and harvesting. Back home in Guatamala, I also drive as a taxi in the winters! My farm favorites are lettuce, beets, corn, and spinach. When I am not working, I like to spend my time reading or calling my family.

Gene

Hello, I’m Gene! I’ve been working in the field and on maintenance around the farm since 2000. My current duties include working in the fields, especially running tractors to turn each field from a field of cover crop into a field ready to be planted with veggies and then just the opposite after the harvest there is done for the year. I also help out with any electrical or plumbing issues that come up around the farm. I came to work on the farm after seeing an ad in the paper for the job. Before this I did petroleum work. My farm favorite is yummy peppers! Outside of work, I like to hunt, hang out with my friends, and be involved in local activities. I am the Township Supervisor in Southwest Madison Township and am also a part of the Blain Volunteer Fire Company.

Missy

Hello, I am Missy! I am the Assistant Greenhouse Worker here on the farm and have been working here since 2015. My job is to seed most all the crops the farm grows, watch all the transplants in the greenhouses until they are ready to go to the fields, grow the flowers for our Open Farm Day flower garden, and help with seed inventory. You might also find me helping in the packhouse once seeding season is over. I came to the farm from my HR job with a bussing company because I was searching for something local and I love gardening and growing flowers. Now I am known as ‘Mama Missy’ here as I am the oldest worker on the farm other than Farmer Mike. My farm favorites are asparagus, gold potatoes, leeks, mixed greens, and strawberries, and I especially enjoy a warm bowl of Potato Leek Soup. When I am off work, I enjoy spending time at my family’s camp, going hunting, going camping, riding motorcycle, dirt bikes, and dual sports, working in my own flower beds, spending time at the lake, cooking, and spending time with my family and grandkids!

John

Hello, I’m John! I have been the CSA Driver for Spiral Path Farm since 2023. My duties include delivering all your CSA boxes throughout the week in our box truck. I came to the farm because it is very rewarding to be a part of an organization involved in organic and sustainable food practices and the sustainable agriculture community! I also love that my position is part time, and the early mornings mean I get to stargaze before each work day. I came to the farm from a job in non-direct spending and procurement with advertising and media. My farm favorites are squash, onions, peppers, eggplants, and melons. When I’m off work, I like to swim, bike, run, spend time at the Jersey Shore, and spend time with my three now grown happy, healthy, and loving children.