OUR MISSION
To sustainably produce and deliver to the wholesale trade, the region’s finest perennials, herbs, veggie starts, and summer annuals.
Over twenty-two years of operation, we’ve expanded from a straight perennial grower into herb, veggie, and annual production. Consistent quality is our mantra, and we work hard every day to maintain the highest of standards across our four product lines. These carefully chosen plant categories enable us sell through the summer and fall, and keep customers well supplied during the entire growing season. We continually update our plant list to feature new and exciting introductions and to eliminate selections with waning appeal and/or performance.
Additionally, we strive for outstanding service, and an owner is always readily available for questions and comments. Matt’s cell number is still printed on every availability we issue. Heck, Martin even drives the truck in a pinch when it’s crazy busy. Our dedicated staff of three managers, Lara, Julie, and Erich, have a combined sixty years of experience in the green industry. And Deb, our amazing road salesperson, who singlehandedly brought us the Wilder Herb program, adds another forty years of invaluable growing and sales knowledge.
Importantly, our incredible crew of twenty-five seasoned veterans bring with them over 200 years of production experience. Through the bitter winds of March, the scalding summer swelter, and the cold November rains, their dedication and attention to detail is second to none. Last but not least, let’s not forget the drivers! We count on Pete, Brandon, George, and Justin to set their alarms early, leave the farm faithfully by 5:30am, and return by 5pm for reloading day in and day out. Kudos to the full Judge’s team!
HISTORY
Matt and Martin Griswold founded Judges Farm on a tract of family land at the mouth of the Connecticut River in 1990. After a ‘brief’ ten-year stint growing choose and cut Christmas trees, the two shifted the Farm’s focus to perennials, citing their popularity, longer season, and much quicker turn around. They borrowed the name ‘Judges Farm’ from their great great great grandfather, Connecticut Supreme Court Judge Matthew, who built Martin’s house in 1798. Judge’s House, Judge’s Farm.
From a barnyard plot of five hundred one gallon plants in 1998, production doubled annually. Today, the Farm boasts ten outdoor acres under production, and an acre under glass. Several tall oak groves provide natural cover for a diverse array of shade selections. The remaining open fields radiate out from a central potting/shipping/office area. When standing in front of the office, one can easily see all four corners of the Farm. That’s just the way we’ll keep it: compact, organized, and efficient.
THE PARTNERS
Upon receiving a BA in British History from Bowdoin College in 1989, Matt moved down the coast to Portland, Maine and opened Granny Killam’s, an outpost for live music and assorted beverages. After serving a few drinks, Matt put his creative talents to work and opened a freelance graphic design business, Big Byte Graphics. Taking his new marketing skills and desire for greener pastures, Matt then moved to Worcester, Massachusetts for a couple of years, finally settling with his family back in Old Lyme. Though his background is diverse, Matt has established a niche as a dedicated grower and production manager. His knowledge of perennial production has grown faster than the nursery, and he is always seeking out new and exciting plants for our customers.
Martin spent five wonderful years at the University of Vermont and graduated in 1995 with a degree in Small Business Management and Environmental Studies. The opportunity to travel after college lured him from Burlington for six months, followed by a move to Boston. A year with an executive education firm in Cambridge provided great experiences, but was also the catalyst for returning home to Old Lyme in 1996 to pursue new business ventures. While working for a local landscape company, Martin and Matt founded Judge’s Farm in their father’s barnyard. With knowledge gained from school, Martin began with the business operations and management aspects of Judge’s Farm. From keeping the books to serving as operations manager, his time is spent ensuring the farm runs as smoothly as possible. Martin and his wife Sondra live near the farm with their two boys, John and Henry, and their two golden retrievers Bauer and Mabel.