Southern SOIL
Small Farm
Spotlight
I n t h is series, g et t o kn o w mo re a b o u t t h e sma ll far m o p era t io n s t h a t a re u sin g su st a in a b le met h o d s t o help meet t h e lo ca l d ema n d f o r f resh f o o d . An d meet the f a rmers t h a t a re ma kin g it h a p p en !
Gannon Organics is located on the beautiful campus of Bethesda Academy in Savannah, making use of the land that was used for the now-discontinued farm program. Brendan Gannon, former farm manager for Canewater Farms, uses organic methods to grow seasonal produce. Gannon, originally from South Carolina, was first introduced to farming in New York. After getting a degree in journalism, he interned at a farm in his spare time.
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“I started interning for an urban farm there (in New York City) and I just really enjoyed it. So, I started a garden for a restaurant in Brooklyn and then decided I wanted to get into farming full time,” Gannon explained. He spent three years working at a farm in upstate New York before deciding to move closer to family. “I wanted to move back to the South to be close to family - I’m from the low country originally. I moved
“I wanted to stay in the area because my fiance is
down here and Canewater Farm was an awesome
from Brunswick and we just bought a house. So I
spot and I was glad to help grow that business.”
was looking for land in the area and just reached
Gannon managed Canewater Farms for four years before the family operating the farm decided to move out of State. With the land no longer available for farming, he set out to find a place where he could continue to do what he loves.
out to Bethesda (Academy), knowing that they had land … I didn’t know that their program was ending here … but they asked me if I was interested in using it.” Gannon Organics was officially launched in