Small Farm Spotlight

In this series, get to know more about the small farm operations that are using sustainable methods to help meet the local demand for fresh food. And meet the farmers that are making it happen!

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.

“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 down here and Canewater Farm was an awesome spot and I was glad to help grow that business.”

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.

“I wanted to stay in the area because my fiance is from Brunswick and we just bought a house. So I was looking for land in the area and just reached 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 November of last year and is currently in the process of getting its organic certification. Gannon continues to hold a job off the farm to make ends meet while getting this new operation up and running. He is the sole employee and is working to clear the three acres available to him for farming while also keeping the process of planting and harvesting going.

He is working to build the soil through the use of cover crops, crop rotation, resting the soil and adding organic material through compost. He is currently experimenting with a ridge system that he hopes will help with weed control. Saving time and labor in this one-man operation is an important key to success.

“I’m hoping it will help with weed control,” Gannon explained. “The idea is that I can drive back through and kind of hill it - like you would potatoes. Hopefully it will save time doing that. I want to do semi-permanent ridges, the idea being that when I’m done with one crop I can hill it back up, amend it and replant back into it. So all the tractor tracks will stay in the same spot.”

Gannon grows an array of seasonal crops. This winter, those include: kale, cabbages, baby greens, arugula, turnips and radishes. Gannon Organics produce can be purchased locally in Savannah at the Forsyth Farmers Market and is also used by several local restaurants.

Please help support our local and sustainable food system by shopping from the small farms in your area and by patronizing restaurants and retailers that source locally! The directory on our website is a great place to start your search. Remember to always ask questions about where and how your food is produced and ask your favorite restaurants and retailers to source from local farms!

Gannon Organics contact info Phone: 843-504-1708 Email: gannonorganics@gmail.com Follow on Instagram!