🌾 Our Roots, Our Farms

This fall, we’re celebrating the hands and hearts behind our food. Through the Our Roots, Our Farms series, Martindale’s Local Roots Team is visiting regional growers and makers who bring the freshest, most sustainable foods to our community. These are the people—and the fields—that make eating local possible. Join us as we explore where our food begins and meet the farms that nourish our tables and our towns.

🍂 Harvesting Local Goodness at Robin Hill Organics Farm

Our journey this autumn led us to Robin Hill Organics farm, a shining example of sustainable local farming in Willistown Township, Pennsylvania. The rolling hills and crisp air set the scene for fields bursting with color and vitality. Rows of radicchio, little gem lettuces, tatsoi, bok choy, rainbow chard, and kale sway gently in the autumn breeze. Each vibrant shade of red, green, and gold tells a story of dedication and care, rooted in the farm’s respect for healthy soil and mindful growing.

Founded in 2017 by husband-and-wife team Justin Donaldson and Karen Brogan, Robin Hill Organics farm began with a simple mission: to provide healthy, high-quality food for their community. From the start, they shared a deep love for the land and a vision of growing food the right way—with patience, integrity, and respect for nature.

🌿 A Family Farm with Deep Roots

The farm sits on the historic property of Garrett Mill Farm, preserved through a conservation easement with the Willistown Conservation Trust. This partnership ensures that the land will remain safe from development for generations to come. As a result, the farm thrives as a sanctuary for sustainable agriculture and family life.

For Justin and Karen, the land is more than a workplace—it’s home. It’s where they raise their three children and teach them to value clean food, hard work, and a lasting connection to the earth. They believe that when you care for the soil, the soil gives back. Every crop they grow reflects that belief.

👩‍🌾 The Story Behind Robin Hill Organics Farm

Justin Donaldson, a native of western Pennsylvania, has always had a green thumb. His love for the earth began early and only grew stronger with time. His career as a farmer started near Pittsburgh, where he apprenticed on a small organic farm. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for growing food sustainably.

After several years, Justin and Karen moved to Media, PA, where he managed and expanded Hillside Farm CSA. Those experiences—along with his entrepreneurial spirit—eventually inspired him to create Robin Hill Organics farm. His vision combined years of hands-on experience with a deep respect for natural growing practices.

Karen Brogan, a Philadelphia native, brings her nurturing touch to the farm’s mission. As a registered nurse specializing in women’s health, she understands the connection between good nutrition and overall well-being. Her professional background fuels her passion for wholesome, chemical-free food.

Together, Justin and Karen embody the heart of sustainable local farming. Their work reflects care for the environment and love for their community. In fact, they find great joy in sharing the fruits of their labor with local families each season.

🌾 A Look Through the Fields

Every visit to Robin Hill Organics farm tells a story of balance between people and the land.

🧺 Organic Abundance: Rows of leafy greens shimmer with morning dew. Spinach, kale, and lettuces grow in rich, living soil.
🥕 Rooted in Nutrition: Beets and carrots burst with color and flavor, pulled straight from the Pennsylvania earth.
🍅 Taste of Late Summer: Plump tomatoes ripen under the autumn sun—a final burst of sweetness before cooler days.
🌻 Sustainable Beauty: Between the rows, cover crops and wildflowers attract pollinators and strengthen the soil.

Each crop is a small miracle, grown with care and purpose. And each harvest reflects the family’s belief that real food starts with healthy soil.

Select any photo to view it in a larger size.

🛒 From Field to Market

At Martindale’s Natural Market, we are proud to partner with farms that share our values of integrity, transparency, and care for the earth. Robin Hill Organics farm represents those ideals beautifully. Each harvest brings us a colorful array of local favorites. Every bunch of greens tells a story of stewardship and family dedication, grown with respect for the land and a passion for feeding our community well.

When you shop at Martindale’s, you’re doing more than buying produce. You’re supporting sustainable local farming and helping preserve Pennsylvania’s agricultural traditions. As a result, you become part of a larger effort to protect our land and our local food systems.

Come explore what’s in season at Martindale’s this week. Experience the flavor of Pennsylvania’s fall harvest and see how good local food can be. 🍁

🌱 What’s Next in Our Roots, Our Farms Series

The Our Roots, Our Farms series will continue to travel through the region, visiting the farmers and artisans who grow your food. Stay tuned as we share more stories that connect our tables to the soil—and the people who make it all possible.

Because every meal has a beginning, and we’re proud to show you where yours begins.

Credit: Special thanks to Karen, Lexy, and Ashley from our Produce Department for capturing the wonderful photos featured in this article.